“Capacity building has given us the capability to take advantage of great opportunities, strengthen our vision, and grow in new directions.”
--Melanie Scheetz, Executive Director, Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition
Launched in 2004, the Deaconess Impact Partnership is a capacity building effort to strengthen the operations and leadership of child/youth-serving nonprofits in the St. Louis region. Deaconess Impact Partners receive focused multi-year support and participate in a range of consulting, peer exchange and training opportunities.
Since 2004, Deaconess Foundation has allocated approximately $6 million to eight Round One Impact Partners. In October 2008, the Foundation announced a new round of eight Impact Partner agencies.
The OVERALL GOALS of the partnership are multiple. They include the following:
1. To build the sustainability of crucial child-serving nonprofits in St. Louis area;
2. To strengthen leadership skills amongst nonprofit leaders and boards; and
3. To model a more trusting and candid relationship between funders and grantees.
WHAT IS CAPACITY BUILDING? Deaconess defines capacity building as a set of activities and decisions that strengthens an organization’s operations and enables it to better achieve its mission.
CORE ELEMENTS OF THE IMPACT PARTNERSHIP. The Partnership includes:
1. Development of a multi-year capacity building plan with funds to implement it;
2. Ongoing training and education sessions;
3. Peer exchanges and learning;
4. Regular coaching and consultation from Deaconess Foundation staff and consultants.
CORE CAPACITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES BEING SUPPORTED
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Board Development
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Evaluation
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Executive Coaching
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Strategic Planning
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Fiscal Systems
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Human Resources
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Information Technology
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Leadership Development
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Program Evaluation
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Resource Development
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Succession Planning
Read the Deaconess Impact Newsletter, Winter 2006
Read the Deaconess Impact Newsletter, Summer 2007
Read the Deaconess Impact Brief, Summer 2008
View our Deaconess Impact Partnership Application Orientation DVD