HIRI PCBR Database - Intermediary Profile Report

PHILANTHROPIC CAPACITY-BUILDING RESOURCES
DATABASE - INTERMEDIARY ORGANIZATIONS

Report Title:	Intermediary Profile Report
Report Date:

Organization:	Nonprofit Finance Fund	Program ID Number: I-11
Date Profile Created:	December 1, 2005	Date Profile Last Updated: July 30, 2009

Program Summary:
Since 1984, Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF) has worked to solve this problem and improve the giving, getting and use of money in the nonprofit sector. As a nonprofit itself, and one of the nation's leading community development financial institutions, NFF offers financing and consulting services that help both nonprofits and funders stay in balance and in business. It also functions as an intermediary between nonprofits and funders, providing growth capital services, advocacy and thought leadership. With seven offices and a staff of more than 70 financial experts who provide advisory and financial solutions to nonprofits and funders, NFF strives to address the unique needs in its regional communities.

Through many financial services, NFF provides loans and lines of credit of up to $2 million to small and mid-sized nonprofits and social enterprises. Loan clients use debt as a strategic tool to manage facilities, expand programs or smooth cash flow issues. The New Markets Tax Credit program attracts private investment for facilities projects in low-income communities. NFF uses these credits exclusively to help finance projects for small and mid-sized nonprofits.

Consulting services and workshops provide advice, tools and training to nonprofit managers. A thorough diagnostic assessment of an organization's strengths and weaknesses is conducted, and customized consulting is then provided to help nonprofit management make better-informed financial plans and decisions. Among NFF's services are Nonprofit Business Analyses, scenario planning and program profitability tools, cash flow analyses, merger consultations, interactive workshops on a variety of topics, and small-group, interactive Financial Leadership Clinics.

As an intermediary, NFF bridges the gap in financial communication between funders and grantees through a range of programs and tools. It works with funders to tailor a suite of financial and consulting services for a cohort of grantees, based on sector, mission, business model or geography. It also assists nonprofit managers in better telling their financial story to funders and others by providing clear visuals and coaching on how to use those visuals to advocate for their organization. NFF's Capital Partners helps nonprofits design strategic growth capital campaigns of $5 million or more. Using innovative accounting techniques, Capital Partners provides nonprofits and their philanthropic investors with a plan for attracting and managing these growth capital funds.

A key element of NFF's role as an intermediary is its commitment to seeking progress in the understanding of nonprofit finance across the philanthropic world. By conducting research and national surveys, examining sector trends, educating funders and speaking out at conferences and events, NFF advocates for fundamental, lasting change in the flow of money in the nonprofit economy.

Evaluation is ongoing, tailored to each of the products offered. Surveys and interviews have been used, and external evaluators are engaged at times for specific initiatives.

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 for Most Recent Fiscal Year:	$37,664,871
Date Program Scheduled to End:	N/A	Total Capacity-Building Operating Expenses for Most Recent Fiscal Year:	$1,525,191

How Program is Operated:

Run internally by the intermediary

Number Staff/Consultants:

75/7

Background Materials Available:

Yes

Geographic Areas Served:

National:

Yes

International:

Selected States:	N/A
Geographic Details:	Offices in Boston, New York (headquarters), Philadelphia, Newark (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 Education/Training for Groups of Nonprofits Information and Referral Participation in Community Capacity-Building Initiative Website with Capacity-Building Assistance	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 Evaluation Facilities Management Planning Staff Development/Training	Application by Potential Recipient � Intermediary Selection Application by Potential Recipient � Outside Selection Pro-active Identification of Applicants by Intermediary Services Available to All Nonprofits

Collaborating Organizations: N/A

Capacity-Building Work Evaluated:	Yes	Evaluation Results Available:	No
Frequency of Evaluation:	Ongoing	Type of Evaluation:	Both Internal and External, Surveys, Interviews, Site Visits

Summary of Evaluation Lessons Learned:
The following lessons learned were among those reported by this program:

The three biggest challenges faced by clients over the past year included fundraising, addressing historical mistakes within the organization and assessing cash needs.

In addition, evaluation results indicated the following as some of the significant impacts from this program:

Organizations are able to better articulate their current financial situation, and to interpret and use their financial data to make well-informed management decisions.
Clients often come away with a new awareness of their issues, focused on the most important issues to address as well as upcoming decisions or next steps to respond to these opportunities and challenges.