Building Changes’

Economic Opportunities Initiative

Mark Putnam, Consulting Services Manager

Nick Codd, Economic Opportunities Specialist

Charlie Corrigan, Homeless Programs Specialist

Building Changes

A public-private partnership that expands the availability of supportive housing for families in need by providing stable, long-term funding to agencies with the best models for ending family homelessness and strengthening communities throughout Washington state.

• Funding partners: 23

• Fund total: $26 million

• Awards-to-date: $15.8 million

• Counties: 15

• Nonprofit programs statewide: 43

• Service-enriched housing units: 618

• Families supported: 1,009

Washington Families Fund

Washington Families Fund Grantees

Pacific Lewis

CowlitzWahkiakum

Yakima

Thurston

Pierce

King

WallaWalla

Whitman

Asotin

Garfield

Stevens

PendOreille

GraysHarbor

Jefferson

Clallam

Kittitas

Snohomish

Okanogan

Chelan

Adams

Lincoln

Ferry

Clark

WhatcomSan Juan

Island

Mason

Skamania

Klickitat

Skagit

Grant

Benton-Franklin Columbia

Spokane Kitsap Douglas

At least One Funded Program

Improving Economic Opportunities

In 2006, we began an initiative to improve employment outcomes for people experiencing homelessness.

Since that time, our Grantmaking and Consulting activities have been tailored to support nonprofitproviders to help their clients:

• Develop the skills and receive the support needed to find and

retain good jobs, and

• Attain access to state and federal benefits and tax credits for which they are eligible.

Washington Families Fund

Economic Opportunities Activities

Grantmaking and Evaluation

• Multi-year grants (up to

10-year grants) to

nonprofits

• Grants are available to

nonprofits from all 39

counties

• Employment services grants

are prevalent

Consulting and Technical Assistance

• BC delivers 4 trainings per

year on Economic Opportunities topics

• We facilitate a Peer-to-Peer

grantee learning network

• We provide stipends for

agencies for training

Building Changes’

Economic Opportunities Initiative

In September 2009, Building Changes received a $1 million Strengthening Communities Fund (SCF) Grant Nonprofit Capacity Building Program grant from the U.S. DHHS (ARRA stimulus funding.)

Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and The Boeing Company are contributing an additional $300,000 to this project.

The focus is to build capacity of nonprofits to assist clients in economic recovery, through jobs and access to benefits.

Building Changes’

Economic Opportunities Initiative

Overview

• Provides training, technical assistance and financial

assistance to participating agencies to help them develop

the capacity to address broad economic recovery issues

present in their communities, including helping low-income

individuals access employment and benefits.

• Approximately 30 nonprofit agencies will be selected to

participate in Building Changes’ Economic Opportunities

Initiative through this competitive application process.

There is no fee to participate.

Building Changes’

Economic Opportunities Initiative

Grantmaking and Evaluation

• Capacity-building grants (not

direct services)

• We will grant $600,000 to 30 agencies ($20,000 average size)

• Evaluation of impact of grants, training, and technical assistance will be conductedby outside firm, Clegg and Associates

Consulting and Technical Assistance

• At least 30 agencies will participate

• 100 hours of training will be provided to the grantees

• 480 hours of 1:1 technical assistance will be provided

• Focus will be on improving employment outcomes and access to benefits

Building Changes’

Economic Opportunities Initiative

Benefits to Nonprofits

• Improved agency capacity and staff skills to support

ongoing delivery and expansion of services;

• Increased sustainability of social services

programs;

• A financial assistance grant that may be used to build

agency capacity averaging $20,000 per agency, not to

exceed $45,000;

Building Changes’

Economic Opportunities Initiative

Benefits to Nonprofits (continued)

• A powerful statewide network of peers and experts

to continue providing support and assistance in

developing and improving programs; and

• A stipend of $1,000 per agency to apply toward

travel costs for quarterly in-person trainings.

Building Changes’

Economic Opportunities Initiative

Application Submission

• Competitive process

• BC and external reviewers comprise Review Panel

• Electronic proposals must be received by March 15th

at 4:00 pm

Building Changes’

Economic Opportunities Initiative

Application Submission Timeline

February 12, 2010 Application materials sent out

March 4, 2010 Information session by teleconference

March 5, 2010 In-person information session in Everett

March 15, 2010 Proposals due to Building Changes by 4:00 pm

April 2010 Announcement of selection of participating agencies

May 2010 Contracts in place with participating agencies

Building Changes’

Economic Opportunities Initiative

Eligible Applicants

• Nonprofit organizations

• Faith-based or community-based

• Committed to capacity-building of agency and

economic recovery programs

• Doing business in one of 31 WA counties

Building Changes’

Economic Opportunities Initiative

Building Changes’

Economic Opportunities Initiative

Eligible Applicants – Priority Considerations

• Experience or intent to develop capacity to provide

employment services and / or benefits access

services

• Experience or intent to develop capacity to serve

people experiencing homelessness

• Partnerships to connect clients to TANF

• Operating budget of under $500K per year

Building Changes’

Economic Opportunities Initiative

Expectations of Participants

• Technical assistance

• Training

• Financial assistance

• Grant monitoring and evaluation

Building Changes’

Economic Opportunities Initiative

Proposal Summary

1. Agency Mission and Experience

a. Mission and accomplishments

b. Current programs and partnerships –

homeless, employment, benefits

c. Experience – homelessness

d. Experience – TANF

2. Commitment to Capacity Building

a. Interest in Training and Technical Assistance

b. Participating Staff

Building Changes’

Economic Opportunities Initiative

Proposal Summary (continued)

3. Community Needs Statement

a. Define area

b. Economic recovery needs of your area, specifically related to employment and benefits needs and gaps

c. Make case that your agency can help meet need

4. Agency Size

a. Operating budget size

Questions and Answers

We will answer questions during session.

We will post FAQ at www.buildingchanges.org and send an email to our mailing list by Tuesday, March 9th.

Feel free to contact us at any time to discuss your application.

Reminder of Timeline

February 12, 2010: Application materials sent out

March 4, 2010: Information session by teleconference

March 5, 2010: In-person information session in Everett

March 15, 2010: Proposals due by 4:00 pm

April 2010: Announcement of selection of agencies

May 2010: Contracts in place with participating agencies

BC EOI Contact Information

Please feel free to contact us:

Mark Putnam

BC EOI Project Director

(206) 805-6127

Mark.Putnam@BuildingChanges.org

www.buildingchanges.org