HIRI PCBR Database - Intermediary Profile Report

PHILANTHROPIC CAPACITY-BUILDING RESOURCES
DATABASE - INTERMEDIARY ORGANIZATIONS

Report Title:	Intermediary Profile Report
Report Date:

Organization Name:	Nonprofit Finance Fund	Program ID Number: I-111
Date Profile Created:	December 1, 2005

Program Summary:	Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF) provides capital and advice to help nonprofit organizations achieve their mission, improving their capacity to deliver services and strengthen their communities. It works to strengthen its grantees and the system by which they are funded, investing through loans, grants, and asset-building programs (directly and with other funders) in concert with providing management advice, business analysis, training, technical assistance, and advocacy. NFF also impacts funders through print publications, workshops, and curricula targeted to them, and an advocacy program aimed at changing nonprofit financing on a national level. A financial product called “Building for the Future” helps nonprofits plan, build, develop, and manage cash assets such as building reserves and endowments. It encourages sound management practices by offering financial incentives in the form of matching grants to enact these practices. NFF secures contracts from funders to use this program with targeted populations of nonprofits. As one example, if a nonprofit has a challenging building issue involving many needed upgrades, NFF will help it conduct an analysis, will bundle the needs into quarterly or monthly payments, and the nonprofit’s payment will be matched by foundation funds. Alternatively, NFF may provide dollars that even out the cash flow of managing buildings and equipment. The goal is to change management behavior so that issues are addressed in the future before they become emergencies. NFF’s Nonprofit Business Analysis service provides guidance on ways to balance financial management with program priorities. It is ideal for organizations contemplating or experiencing significant change, such as a capital project, change in leadership at the executive or board level, financial or fundraising challenges, and program expansion. Additionally, NFF offers workshops on such topics as endowments, linking money to mission, facilities project planning, and more. Partnerships are also formed with funders and nonprofits around emerging needs. For example the Nonprofit Recovery Fund provided over $10 million in awards to 200 nonprofits in New York City to help offset expenses and income losses resulting from the World Trade Center attacks. Among the funders with whom NFF partners on various projects are the Duke Charitable Trusts, Ford Foundation, Pew Charitable Trusts, William Penn Foundation, United Way of Southeastern Michigan, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and the City of Philadelphia. NFF conducts research and development work for the field to create new kinds of financial products and improve nonprofit finances. As one example, it conducted a study of cash flow needs of New York City nonprofits and discovered that third party receivables lending through banks and other institutions was not meeting the needs of the nonprofits, so NFF created its own cash flow lending program. Evaluation is ongoing, examining each of the products offered. Surveys and interviews have been used internally. Additionally, initiatives with funders may use external evaluators such as TCC Group.

Contact Name:	Elizabeth Ortiz
Title:	COO
Phone:	212-868-6710
Fax:	212-268-8653
E-mail Address:	elizabeth.ortiz@nffusa.org
URL:	www.nonprofitfinancefund.org

Address:

70 West 36th Street, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10018

Date Program Began:	1980	Total Funds Awarded by this Program for Most Recent Fiscal Year:	$8,600,000
Date Program Scheduled to End:	N/A	Total Administrative Expenses for this Program for Most Recent Fiscal Year:	$385,000

How Capacity-Building Programs are Operated:

Run internally by the organization.

Number Staff/Consultants:

55/10

Background Materials Available:

Yes

Capacity-Building Work Evaluated:	Yes	Evaluation Results Available:	No
Frequency of Evaluation:	Ongoing	Type of Evaluation:	Mixed Methodology

Geographic Areas Served:

National:

Yes

International:

*Selected States:*	N/A
*Geographic Details:*	Offices in Boston, New York (headquarters), Philadelphia, New Jersey, Washington DC, Detroit and San Francisco

Types of Capacity-Building Assistance Offered to Nonprofits:

1. Grants:	2. Direct Service:	3. Direct Financial Support:
Categorical	Assessment of service needs Coaching/training for individual nonprofits Convening activities Education/training for groups of nonprofits Information and referral Participation in community initiative Website with capacity-building information	Facilities/Equipment Support Loans Endowment/Reserves Support General Operating Support

Grants Offered to Capacity-Building Service
Providers and Intermediaries:

Support for Services to Nonprofits:	Yes
General Support:	N/A

Grants Offered to Support Overall Capacity-Building Infrastructure:

N/A

Areas of Nonprofit Operations Supported:	How Funding/Service Decisions Are Made:
Administration & finance Facilities management Staff development & training Planning Evaluation	Application by potential recipient – organization selection. Application by potential recipient – outside party selection. Proactive identification of applicants by organization. Services available to all nonprofits.