Boston Capacity Tank Cluster Capacity Grant

Deadline
November 17, 2008
Description

Introduction to the Boston Capacity Tank


A program of the Black Ministerial Alliance of Greater Boston (BMA), the Boston Capacity Tank (the Tank) works with our Partners, United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley, Emmanuel Gospel Center, and Boston TenPoint Coalition to provide capacity-building services to community-based organizations (CBOs) and faith-based organizations (FBOs) that work with youth in Boston.  The Tank helps FBOs and CBOs to become more sustainable and their programs to be more effective.  Ultimately, the Tank’s services help youth receive needed services and access relationships with supportive adults so they can accomplish positive results in life. 


The Tank has received a 2008-2010 Compassion Capital Fund Demonstration grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services in the amount of $500,000 per year for three years.  Each year, we will provide the following services to FBOs and CBOs that serve youth in Boston:

  • Capacity Training Workshop Series, plus follow-up TA to 25 agencies
  • Extensive Technical Assistance (TA) to 25 agencies
  • 5 Capacity Grants to clusters of agencies, up to $40,000 each
  • High-Risk Youth Network

All services are free of charge and address the following five priority areas: organizational development, leadership development, programs and services, fundraising capacity, and community engagement. For more information, please visit http://www.bmaboston.org/, click on Programs, Boston Capacity Tank.

Cluster Capacity Grant Purpose:  The purpose of the cluster capacity grants is to strengthen partnerships of youth-serving agencies.  Grants will support activities that foster more sustainable and/or effective youth services and agencies, with an ultimate goal of improved outcomes for youth in Boston.  Grants should help an experienced cluster of agencies reach at least two capacity-building goals from among the following categories:  leadership development; organizational development; programs/services; fund raising capacity; and community engagement.  The Year 2 grant period is January 1 to September 29, 2009; the application deadline is Monday, November 24, 2008 at noon.

High-Risk Youth Network (HRYN):  The HRYN is a public planning process intended to strengthen the connections between high-risk youth providers, City and State agencies, public schools and faith-based and community organizations, to expand and enhance services for youth at high-risk and reverse the trend of youth violence.  The Tank desires to support programs in areas of Boston where high incidences of violent crime exist.  The Network meets monthly at the Roxbury Boys and Girls Club Yawkey Center; all are welcome. In 2008-2009, the Network has identified two priorities to address:  building the infrastructure of the Network, and organizing a community matrix of youth agencies in targeted neighborhoods, with a pilot process beginning in Mattapan.  Since 2005, the Network has completed a number of tools to strengthen and connect agencies that serve youth at high risk:  Needs Assessment Report, Boston Youth Survival Guide, Promising Jobs Practices Report, the HRYN’s website http://www.bostonyouthnet.org/, and the Youth Outcomes Report.  For more information, please visit the website, where those deliverables are posted for public use. 

The Tank’s intent is that the Capacity Grants would provide an opportunity to advance the goals of the High-Risk Youth Network, and that the HRYN would provide an opportunity for Capacity Grantees to reach their goals.  Therefore, we encourage Network members to consider their agency’s strategic partnerships, which these grants can strengthen.  We also encourage grant applicants to consider the benefits of participating in the HRYN.  Finally, we encourage all providers serving youth at high risk to take full advantage of the HRYN deliverables to date.  For example, you may use the Needs Assessment to strengthen your proposals; use the Survival Guide to inform your staff and to support your youth; use the jobs report for referrals and to inform program design. 

Number and Size of Grants Awarded in 2009:  A total of $200,000 will be awarded to lead agencies representing clusters of 3 to 8 CBOs and/or FBOs with similar strategic goals.  These grants are to strengthen the sustainability or effectiveness of the cluster’s youth services.  Grants up to $40,000.

Please view the complete Cluster Capacity Grant Overview for more information.

Applications may be downloaded from www.bmaboston.org, click on Grants, Apply for a Grant, or by contacting Deandra Robinson at 617-445-2737 x26 or drobinson@bmaboston.org.