Summary of Recommendations

In March 2006, the capacity building advisory committee recommended that the Community Foundation’s board of directors consider the creation of four new projects to address the objectives outlined in the following goal statement:

1. Partner with Millersville University to create the Nonprofit Resource Network
2. Partner with Leadership Lancaster to create a comprehensive board training program
3. Partner with the Lancaster Public Library to create a Nonprofit Information Collection
4. Create a grantmaking program (Management and Organizational Development) for implementation at the Community Foundation that promotes professional and organizational development opportunities and encourages collaborative efforts to address emerging needs and strengthen programs

In 2006, the Community Foundation’s board of directors approved three of the four recommendations advanced by the advisory committee, and Community Foundation staff has spent much of the past year working in partnership with existing service providers to operationalize these projects.

One project recommended by the advisory committee, a comprehensive board training program in partnership with Leadership Lancaster, is still in the design phase as of this post. We appreciate the thoughtful approach that Leadership Lancaster has taken to developing the project and look forward to evaluating their proposal in the near future.

Three projects of our capacity building initiative, the Nonprofit Resource Network, the Nonprofit Information Collection, and the Management and Organizational Development Grant Program were introduced to the community at an event on January 18, 2007. Those projects will begin to offer services in the spring/summer 2007.

In addition, the advisory committee worked with the Center for Opinion Research at Franklin & Marshall College (COR) to compile a report that document the nonprofit sector’s impact on Lancaster County’s economy and the quality-of-life of its residents.  See the full report here.  

Please visit our website periodically for information and updates regarding this initiative and subsequent actions that result from the Community Foundation’s commitment to capacity building.