HIRI PCBR Database - Intermediary Profile Report - OMG Center for Collaborative Learning

PHILANTHROPIC CAPACITY-BUILDING RESOURCES
DATABASE - INTERMEDIARY ORGANIZATIONS

Report Title:	Intermediary Profile Report
Report Date:

Organization Name:	OMG Center for Collaborative Learning	Program ID Number: I-113
Date Profile Created:	December 1, 2005

Program Summary:	The OMG Center for Collaborative Learning (OMG) is an independent nonprofit research and consulting organization that works with groups in the philanthropic, nonprofit, and governmental sectors. Its focus is on public and urban policy concerns, with a particular emphasis on organizational capacity building, program assessment and evaluation, data and trend analysis, and grants management and intermediary support. Its staff uses a collaborative action research approach that builds new learning and problem-solving capacities with clients and also contributes new learning to the fields in which they work. Areas of expertise include community and regional development, arts education, urban open space, arts and culture, health and human services, and children, youth and families. OMG provides a range of consulting services to national philanthropic institutions and nonprofit organizations that address quality of life issues in mostly urban communities. Among its strongest funding partners are the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Ford Foundation. Services include: (1) Evaluation - OMG views independent assessments as effective management tools, helping nonprofits make difficult program decisions and helping grantmakers shape overall grantmaking strategies and plans for targeting resources. It designs evaluations that engage the client and other stakeholders in the process, using quantitative and qualitative methods. (2) Organization and Capacity Building - Strengthening the planning, leadership, and managerial capabilities of individuals is essential for building organizational capacity and effectiveness. In its strategic planning projects, OMG works interactively, primarily as facilitators rather than technical experts. It emphasizes hands-on work sessions and team problem-solving techniques that engage participants around their individual organizational and program concerns. It strengthens management capacity by helping clients learn how to plan more effectively for themselves and to build continuous planning and evaluation into their ongoing activities. (3) Data and Trend Analysis – Using diverse methods to gather and interpret needed information. (4) Grants Management and Intermediary Support – OMG helps grantmakers with the design of RFPs, reviewing proposals, and recommending awards for capacity-building grant programs, and then manages awarded grants and monitors program progress. As an intermediary it supports the grantees in meeting their objectives through a range of targeted training and consultation services. Project reports and publications, issue papers, and other learning resources are available at no charge on the OMG web site.

Contact Name:	Gerri Spilka
Title:	Director
Phone:	215-732-2200 x232
Fax:	215-732-8123
E-mail Address:	gerri@omgcenter.org
URL:	www.omgcenter.org

Address:

1528 Walnut Street, Suite 805
Philadelphia, PA 19102

Date Program Began:	1990	Total Funds Awarded by this Program for Most Recent Fiscal Year:	$650,000
Date Program Scheduled to End:	N/A	Total Administrative Expenses for this Program for Most Recent Fiscal Year:	$100,000

How Capacity-Building Programs are Operated:

Run internally by the organization.

Number Staff/Consultants:

2.5/3

Background Materials Available:

Yes

Capacity-Building Work Evaluated:	No	Evaluation Results Available:	N/A
Frequency of Evaluation:	N/A	Type of Evaluation:	N/A

Geographic Areas Served:

National:

Yes

International:

*Selected States:*	N/A
*Geographic Details:*	N/A

Types of Capacity-Building Assistance Offered to Nonprofits:

1. Grants:	2. Direct Service:	3. Direct Financial Support:
Categorical General Part of Larger Grant	Coaching/training for individual nonprofits Convening activities Education/training for groups of nonprofits Information and referral Infrastructure for peer networking	N/A

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:

Local, State/regional

Areas of Nonprofit Operations Supported:	How Funding/Service Decisions Are Made:
Administration & finance Facilities management Fund development Governance (board & executive leadership) Staff development & training Information & technology support Legal/risk management Human resources Planning Evaluation Communication (internal & external)	Application by potential recipient – organization selection. Application by potential recipient – outside party selection. Proactive identification of applicants by organization. Proactive identification of applicants by outside party.