Human Interaction Research Institute - Using Behavioral Sciences to Help Nonprofit Organizations Handle Innovation and Change 
 
  

Go to HIRI Home Page More information about the Human Interaction Research Institute Publications of the Human Interaction Research Institute Current work of the Human Interaction Research Institute Philanthropic Capacity Building Resources Database
Main PCBR Database Page
 
 
 
Select Foundation Reports
 
Foundation Glossary
 
 
 
Select Intermediary Reports
 
Intermediary Glossary
 
  

Intermediary Organizations

Introduction

This section of PCBR contains profiles of capacity-building activities conducted by intermediary organizations. The term “program” in these profiles refers to the entire set of capacity-building activities conducted by intermediaries (which also may undertake policy, public education and other types of activities as well). Some intermediaries have well-defined, named capacity-building efforts with separate funding and closely targeted participants; these are described as part of the program summary. Others do capacity building as part of their overall services.

Intermediaries may re-grant funds provided by sponsoring foundations, and may provide various capacity-building services to nonprofits. In some cases, intermediaries offer capacity-building services to a group of grantees funded by a particular grantmaking initiative; they may continue to provide services after the initiative ends.


Intermediary Criteria

The term “intermediary” has many different meanings and uses. It can be used to signify almost all organizations, in some cases even foundations themselves, that provide services to assist or strengthen nonprofits. Because PCBR focuses on capacity-building efforts of U.S. foundations, the intermediaries included in our database:

  1. Are created and/or funded primarily by U.S. foundations.
     
  2. Often are created or funded to serve a group of nonprofits that a foundation (or a group of funders) supports.
     
  3. Typically do at least some grantmaking for capacity building (including funding general operating costs, capital campaigns, bricks and mortar, or endowment building) or re-granting for program support.
     
  4. Do at least some direct service for capacity building.
     
  5. Have their own 501(c)(3) status and some independence from the founding or supporting funders.
     
  6. Often focus on a particular type of nonprofit (environmental organizations, community development, grass roots agencies, etc.).
     
Select Intermediary Profile Reports

There are currently 30 intermediaries in PCBR. The profiles are very similar in format and content to the foundation profiles in the main PCBR database. Simply click on the name of the intermediary below to access the full profile.

Please note: Intermediary profiles are not currently included in any searches/reports that can be done in the main PCBR database—they may be added in the future.
  1. ArtsLab
  2. Association for Enterprise Opportunity
  3. BEST Project
  4. Center for Community Change
  5. Community Partners
  6. Community Training Assistance Center
  7. Corporation for Enterprise Development
  8. Corporation for Supportive Housing
  9. Enterprise Community Partners
  10. Environmental Support Center
  11. Fieldstone Alliance
  12. Foundation for Community Empowerment
  13. Freedom to Marry
  14. KAL
  15. Local Initiatives Support Corporation
  16. Memphis Community Development Partnership
  17. National Arts Strategies
  18. National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions
  19. National Training and Information Center
  20. Neighborhood Partnership Fund
  21. Neighborhood Progress
  22. Nonprofit Finance Fund
  23. North Carolina Community Development Initiative
  24. OMG Center for Collaborative Learning
  25. Opportunity Finance Network
  26. Philadelphia Cultural Management Initiative
  27. PolicyLink
  28. Progressive Technology Project
  29. Tides Center
  30. Urban Strategies Council
    31. Go to top of pageTo Top
     
Intermediary Glossary
 
Report Field NameReport Field Description
Organization Name Name of intermediary.
Program ID Number Unique numeric identifier assigned to the program.
Date Profile Created Date program first listed in database.
Date Profile Last Updated Date of most recent profile update.
Program Summary Narrative with program details based on information secured from web site, annual report, and/or interview with intermediary representative.
Contact Name Person who is primary contact for this intermediary.
Title Contact person’s title.
Phone/Ext Contact person’s phone number (and extension, if there is one).
Fax Contact person’s fax number.
E-mail Address Contact person’s e-mail address.
Address Intermediary address or contact person’s address.
URL Intermediary’s web site address.
Date Program Began Start date for program.
Date Program Scheduled to End End date if scheduled to end.
Total Funds Awarded for Most Recent Fiscal Year Includes grants and direct financial support.
Total Administrative Expenses for Most Recent Fiscal Year Overhead including staff time.
How Program is Operated Run by the intermediary: Operates using primarily intermediary staff, facilities and other resources.

Delivered by another organization that the intermediary funds: Operates primarily using staff, facilities, and other resources of another organization, principally funded and controlled by the named intermediary.
Number Staff/Consultants for Program Number of intermediary staff/number of consultants.
Program Background Materials Available “Yes”: Indicates information available on web site and/or print material is available on request.
Geographic Areas of Grantees/Service Recipients National:
  “Yes”: Indicates program operates throughout US.
  “Infrastructure only”: Indicates that funding is for infrastructure organizations but not individual nonprofits throughout the US.

International:
  “Yes”: Indicates program operates outside of the US.
  “Infrastructure only”: Indicates that funding is for infrastructure organizations outside the US but not individual nonprofits.

Selected States: Lists specific state(s) within which program operates.

Geographic Details: Gives sub-state details, e.g. counties, if program has sub-state territory.
Types of Capacity-Building Assistance Offered to Nonprofits 1. Grants:
  Categorical: Available only to certain types of nonprofits or those doing certain types of work.
  General: Any type of nonprofit or nonprofits doing any type of work can apply.
  Part of Larger Grant: Support for capacity-building work is one part of a larger grant.

2. Direct Service:
  Assessment of Service Needs: Nonprofits receive help from the intermediary determining what types of capacity-building assistance they need.
  Capacity-Building Center: A facility offering capacity-building services is operated by the intermediary.
  Coaching/Training for Individual Nonprofits: One-on-one assistance to individuals or individual organizations is offered by the intermediary.
  Convening Activities: People, organizations and communities are convened around capacity-building issues.
  Education/Training for Groups of Nonprofits: One-time or short term educational activities for groups of people are offered by the intermediary.
  Infrastructure for Peer Networking: Peer groups of those in similar positions or addressing similar issues are brought together to meet each other and share information.
  Information and Referral: Those who contact the intermediary with questions about capacity building are given information and are referred to those who can answer their questions or provide a capacity-building service.
  Participation in Community Initiative: Intermediary representatives participate in community initiatives such as task forces as official representatives of the intermediary.
  Placing Intermediary Representatives on Nonprofit Boards: Intermediary places its staff or trustees on nonprofit boards for capacity-building purposes.
  Web Site with Capacity-Building Assistance: Web site with capacity-building information is available.
  Other: Non-financial capacity-building assistance that does not fit in the categories above.

3. Direct Financial Support:
  Facilities/Equipment Support: Support for building or upgrading facilities, or for purchase of equipment such as computers.
  Loans: Temporary financial assistance that must be repaid to the intermediary.
  Endowment/Reserves Support: Funding to build an endowment or the operating reserves of a nonprofit.
  General Operating Support: Funding for overall operations of a nonprofit.
Grants to Capacity-Building Service Providers and Intermediaries Support for services to nonprofits: Financial assistance for specific services provided to nonprofits.

General support: General operating support for the organization’s overall functions.
Grants to Support Overall Capacity-Building Infrastructure Financial assistance that strengthens the overarching system of capacity building for a community, region, or the nation as a whole.
Areas of Nonprofit Operations Supported The aspects of an organization that the capacity-building assistance can be used to strengthen.

Administration + Finance: Carrying out bookkeeping, reporting and other similar functions that are not program services directly involving clients or customers.

Communication (Internal/External): Sharing information in person, in print and electronically between staff, volunteers, clients/customers, the public or other audiences.

Evaluation: Asking questions about an organization’s functions or results, gathering information related to the questions, analyzing the information, and reporting on findings in a systematic manner in order to enhance knowledge and/or strengthen the organization’s work.

Facilities Management: Purchasing and overseeing the buildings and equipment used by an organization.

Fund Development: Raising dollars needed to support the organization’s work.

Governance (Board/Executive): Carrying out the management and oversight functions of an organization.

Human Resources: Recruiting, hiring, employee and volunteer relations, benefits, and other issues related to the functioning of staff and volunteers.

Information/Technical Support: Securing and using computers and related hardware and software in order to store and communicate information.

Legal/Risk Management: Handling the insurance, by-laws, legal issues and related concerns for nonprofits.

Planning: Developing strategic, long term, annual and/or business plans for an organization and its programs.

Staff Development/Training: Conducting or participating in learning activities that strengthen staff attitudes, knowledge, skills and overall performance.
How Funding/Service Decisions Are Made Application by Potential Recipient — Intermediary Selection:
Organizations seeking assistance submit proposals; intermediary staff or volunteers review the proposals and select recipients of the assistance.

Application by Potential Recipient — Outside Selection:
Organizations seeking assistance submit proposals; a third party (individual or group) outside of the intermediary reviews proposals and selects recipients of the assistance.

Pro-active Identification of Applicants by Intermediary:
The intermediary proactively identifies candidates for assistance and invites them to apply.

Pro-active Identification of Applicants by Third Party:
A third party proactively identifies candidates for assistance and the intermediary invites them to apply.

Services Available to All Nonprofits: Any nonprofit in the intermediary’s territory can use one or more of the direct services the foundation provides.
Program Evaluated“Yes”: Indicates an evaluation has been completed.

“Evaluation underway”: Indicates evaluation was taking place at time profile was created.
Frequency of Program EvaluationIndicates how often program is evaluated.
Evaluation Results Available“Yes”: Indicates information available on request.
Type of Program EvaluationProvides summary of methods used.
Summary of Evaluation Lessons LearnedProvides narrative summary of lessons learned by evaluation, and, when available, impacts of the capacity-building work.

Go to top of pageTo Top
 
 
Copyright ©  Human Interaction Research Institute  www.humaninteract.org