Erie Capacity-Building Collaborative:  Background

Erie Capacity-Building Collaborative (ECBC) provides capacity-building grants, training and technical assistance opportunities to local community-based and faith-based organizations committed to increasing their sustainability and effectiveness.

Services target five critical areas of capacity building:  leadership development, organizational development, program development, revenue development strategies and community engagement.  

ECBC is a multi-year program through which organizations can receive between $10,000 and $50,000 in grant funding to build and reinforce skills designed to strengthen management and governance capacities.  Funding for direct services is not eligible under this initiative. 

Year One ECBC Capacity-Building Grant Proposals Due! 

Send completed proposals to: 
Lindsey Kimmy/Erie Capacity-Building Collaborative
GECAC
18 West 9th Street
Erie PA, 16501

Questions regarding the Request For Proposal (RFP) should be submitted via email to either Jeremy Bloeser at jbloeser@gecac.org or Amanda Brown Sissem at asissem@gecac.org no later than April 18th.  Responses will be emailed no later than April 22nd. 

Erie Capacity Building Collaborative:  Process of Growth 

Grantees are required to participate in a series of training workshops and are provided with one-on-one technical assistance to help ensure success.  Following the first year, grantees will be reassessed to gauge growth in their identified areas of need. 

Erie Capacity Building Collaborative:  Eligibility Guidelines 

Training workshops are free and open to the public.  A current list of offerings are featured below.  

Organizations with a social service focus in Erie County and an annual operating budget less than $500,000*  are eligible to apply for the capacity-building grants and one-on-one technical assistance.  Priority is given to those organizations who serve:   

 - The homeless or elders in need;

 - At-risk youth;

-  Families in transition from welfare to work; 

-  Persons in need of intensive rehabilitation, such as addicts or prisoners;

-  Organizations providing marriage education and preparation services for couples choosing marriage for themselves. 

Additional priority is given to organizations that have historically not received funds from the federal government. 

Designation as a 501 (c)(3) is not required. 

*Organizations with an annual operating budget in excess of $500,000 can be considered with proof of extenuating circumstances that necessitate the need for capacity-building assistance. 

For more information please contact: Jeremy Bloeser jbloeser@gecac.org or Amanda Brown Sissem asissem@gecac.org (814) 459-4581 Ext. 448 with the Erie Capacity-Building Collaborative   

Training Schedule

All community-based and faith-based grassroots organizations are invited to attend a series of free ECBC training workshops.  Those interested in applying for capacity-building grants in years two or three of the program are encouraged to attend.  ECBC grantees are required to attend no less than eight (8) workshops per funding year. 

ECBC workshops are designed for those decision-making roles within the organization including, the Board of Directors, Executive Director, and senior staff/volunteers.  Organizations can send multiple representatives as desired.  Please RSVP at least one week in advance of each workshop by contacting : 

Lindsey Kimmy
lkimmy@gecac.org
459-4581 Ext. 448

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