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Training and technical assistance (T/TA) are key components to implementing the president's initiative. They are also key components of normal Commission activities. In the absence of additional resources to fund more grantees, capacity-building training and technical assistance can offer unsuccessful new applicants a value added and accomplish Commission and CNCS goals of increasing volunteerism. It builds relationships with new organizations and prepares them for future funding
opportunities.

Challenges

• Lack of funding availability for all these new organizations being brought in through increased outreach.
• Cuts in State Commission budgets due to state budget shortfalls affects capacity to conduct outreach to and partner with community organizations (secular and faith-based).

Benefits

• Training and technical assistance provides a useful building block in preparing potential grantees for successful experiences with AmeriCorps.
• Accomplishes other goals such as engaging more FBOs and CBOs in encouraging and supporting volunteer activities.

Strategies

1. Look at ways of combining CNCS resources across programs to build the capacity of FBOs and CBOs within the state (such as using VISTA's to help build the capacity of FBOs or CBOs new to CNCS or to help manage the application and administration of an AmeriCorps Grant or a Learn and Serve America Community-based Grant.)
2. Tap into the newly funded organizations responsible for providing training and technical assistance to community organizations (secular and faith-based) through the HHS Compassion Capital Fund. See Toolkit: Compassion Capital Fund Grantees Appendix V.
3. Utilize resources currently available to provide training and technical assistance to FBOs and CBOs such as higher education resources, in-state nonprofit associations providing training for members, community education courses on nonprofit management provided by local school districts, and resources available nationally such as Centers for Applied Prevention Technology (CAPT) Centers. See Toolkit: T/TA—Capacity Building Resources Appendix W.

Outputs

• Training and technical assistance resources to support new FBO and CBO partners.

Title: Compassion Capital Fund Grantees
Tool Type: Reference
Purpose: List of recently awarded T/TA providers. Good reference for potential partners.
Location: Appendix V

Title: Centers for Applied Prevention Technology
Tool Type: Capacity Support
Purpose: National organization helping nonprofits build capacity.
Location: www.captus.com

Title: T/TA—Capacity Building Resources
Tool Type: Reference
Purpose: A list of helpful resources for building capacity including the following:
- Government resources
- Information on corporations
- Foundations, contacts, coalitions
- Grant and proposal writing
- Nonprofit and volunteer management
- Prospect research
- Technical consulting options
Location: Appendix W

Title: Corporation for National and Community Service
Tool Type: Capacity Support
Purpose: This is a network of training resources available to strengthen the capacity of national service programs and projects to get things done in local communities.
Location: Training

Title: Resource Center
Tool Type: Capacity Support
Purpose: Our mission is to act as a central point for sharing training and technical assistance information and resources with Corporation-funded programs, State Commissions, other AmeriCorps training and technical assistance providers, and the Corporation.
Location: www.nationalservice.gov/resources/

Title: Federal Funds for Organizations that Help Those In Need
Tool Type: Capacity Support
Purpose: This is a comprehensive reference containing federal funds available for community organizations (secular and faith-based).
Location: www.whitehouse.gov/government/fbci/catalogue.pdf

Title: National Service-Learning Clearinghouse
Tool Type: Capacity Support
Purpose: Supports the service-learning community in higher education, kindergarten through grade twelve, community-based initiatives and tribal programs, as well as all others interested in strengthening schools and communities using service-learning techniques and methodologies.
Location: www.servicelearning.org

Title: Serving Those in Need: A Handbook for Managing Faith-Based Human Service Organizations
Tool Type: Reference
Purpose: Book offering practical guidance for religions communities preparing to meet increasing demands for human services. (Edward L. Queen II, editor; San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2000).
Location: www.josseybass.com

Title: Implementing Charitable Choice
Tool Type: Reference
Purpose: This outlines the provisions of "Charitable Choice" legislation and discusses the beginning of a study. The study focuses on five major areas including organizational capacity to compete for funding. (Edward L. Queen II)
Location: http://ccr.urbancenter.iupui.edu/PDFs/publications/implementingCC.pdf

Title: Rural Information Center Volunteer and Nonprofit Organization Resources
Tool Type: Reference
Purpose: This website contains helpful resources on how to start and run a volunteer and/or nonprofit organization.
Location: www.nal.usda.gov/ric/ricpubs/volunteerism.html