Overview
Grant Partners Build New Relationships and Increase Capacity
For over 20 years, Full Circle Fund’s (FCF) programs have connected nonprofit organizations with professionals interested in applying their skills to support community groups. The FCF program model is unique. While some grantmakers provide funding and other organizations provide volunteers, FCF provides both. The program also is a great way for companies to increase their community impact.
In a recent FCF survey, nonprofit Grant Partners report that as a result of our program collaboration:
100% My organization has increased its capacity to fulfill its mission;
90% I have formed new relationships that will help my organization succeed in its mission.
These findings are included in our new “Insights Report: Grant Partner Experience” along with project highlights from our Grant Cycle issue areas including Economic Opportunity, Education, Environment & Energy, and Health, as well as Tech Accelerator Fund and Corporate Accelerator Fund.
FCF is a trusted partner to help companies reach Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals, as well as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion/Belonging (DEIB) goals, bolster employee engagement and retention, and fulfill leadership development objectives.
Project team members participate in a “Power and Privilege” training to learn how to work collaboratively and effectively with professionals from diverse backgrounds. In some cases, volunteer Members from the business sector are invited to join a nonprofit’s board of directors. Other team members continue to volunteer with a Grant Partner on other projects or in an informal advisory role. This substantive level of employee engagement can help businesses with professional development goals beyond grantmaking.
When partnering with companies, FCF takes the issue area of their choosing, sources nonprofits, and carefully scopes projects to complement the strengths of their team; helps recruit the right employees for project teams; trains them to be effective volunteers; launches and manages projects, and then reports on outcomes. And...it’s all turn-key.
To learn more about how to become a Corporate Partner, contact me at dan@fulcirclefund.org.
Introduction
After 20 years, Full Circle Fund (FCF) continues to be at the forefront of connecting high-impact nonprofits with local professionals who are ready to apply their skills and experience to advance social justice. In partnership with the community, FCF identifies and engages individual volunteers with nonprofit community organizations advancing social justice initiatives and innovative solutions in the Bay Area and beyond.
Central to FCF’s Participatory Grantmaking work is a selection process designed to elevate voices of community members: FCF staff, volunteer Members, and Alumni Grant Partners do the due diligence. The process also elevates the impact of Members and Corporate Partners, connecting them directly with organizations with innovative structures, thoughtful strategies and solutions, strong leadership, and proven impact.
Nonprofit Grant Partners, who receive $15,000 each in unrestricted funding, along with their assigned teams of volunteer Members, collaborate during four-month long, hands-on engagements that help solve critical nonprofit needs. Projects are designed to help nonprofits at an inflection point develop strategies, unlock growth opportunities, and scale current and new ways to ultimately fulfill their missions. FCF funding areas include:
● Grant Cycle connects individual business leaders with nonprofit organizations working on Economic Opportunity, Education, Environment & Energy, and Health;
● Tech Accelerator Fund (TAF) connects individual tech leaders with tech nonprofits building original products or services that use a nonprofit business model to scale social impact;
● Corporate Accelerator Fund (CAF) connects with companies to launch a nonprofit accelerator that pairs top employees and executives with nonprofits to scale their impact.
FCF is a trusted partner to help companies reach Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals, as well as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion/Belonging (DEIB) goals, bolster employee engagement and retention, and fulfill leadership development objectives. Project team members participate in a “Power and Privilege” training to learn how to work collaboratively and effectively with professionals from diverse backgrounds.
In some cases, volunteer Members are invited to join a Grant Partner board of directors. Other Members continue to volunteer with a Grant Partner on other projects or in an informal advisory role. This substantive level of employee engagement can help companies and Bay Area professionals with leadership and professional development goals beyond grantmaking.
After the project, Members and Grant Partners are invited to complete a survey to help FCF evaluate and improve our program design and impact. This report includes survey highlights and project summaries.
SURVEY
FCF impact on Grant Partners’ capacity building
As a result of this program...
my organization has increased its capacity to fulfillits mission
I have formed new relationships that will help my organization succeed in its mission
Marketing & Communications (i.e. website development,strategic communications plan, messaging)
Vision and impact model (i.e. theory of change,impact metrics, strategic direction)
Internal operations & management
Program delivery
resulted in the development of some deep and meaningful professional and/or personal relationships
given me important professional and personal skills
Connected with individuals in this network
Improved my organization’s communications strategy
Improved my organization’s programs
Identified new volunteer prospect
Received deliverables that we can put into action immediately