technical assistance fund

Technical Assistance Matching Fund

This fund supports nonprofit organizations seeking to improve their internal processes, management, or services. It also helps our nonprofit partners access national opportunities to learn from others. The matching nature of the fund ensures nonprofits’ own investment in the services they are seeking while also recognizing the heavy financial lift they represent and the need for outside resources to bring access within closer reach.

To apply for funding from the Technical Assistance Matching Fund, please contact Yadah V. Ramirez, Director of Community Impact. Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis, with decisions shared within 30 days of receipt.

email Yadah

Grant Information

Nonprofit organizations that are based in the Holland/Zeeland area and primarily serve the Holland/Zeeland community; play a significant role in one or more of the subsectors in which CFHZ invests: arts and culture, community and economic development, environment, education, health, human services, housing, seniors, and youth; and have previously received grant funding from CFHZ.

Category 1 – General Requests

One-time grants of up to $5,000 may be requested to help pay for outside consulting services. The dollar amount requested from the Technical Assistance Fund must be matched 1:1 by the nonprofit organization.

Category 2 – Organizational Management System
One-time grants of up to $15,000 may be requested to help pay for outside consulting services for the development and implementation of organizational management systems such as Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), Rockefeller Habits, etc.
The dollar amount requested from the Technical Assistance Fund must be matched 1:1 by the nonprofit organization. Both requested CFHZ funding and matching funding may be used over a period of up to two years.

Category 3 – “Learning from Others” Scholarship
One-time scholarship grants of up to $2,500 for individuals (with a maximum of $5,000 per organization) may be requested to help pay for registration fees, travel, lodging, and incidentals for participation in out-of-state, national level opportunities to learn from others through conferences, convenings, fellowships, site visits, and other peer learning experiences.
The dollar amount requested from the Technical Assistance Fund must be matched 1:1 by the nonprofit organization.

General operating support
Equipment/hardware purchases
Strategic planning
Individual staff professional development or virtual experiences outside of the scope of the “Learning from Others” Scholarship
Constituent relationship management systems
Reimbursement requests

Our Work to Strengthen the Nonprofit Sector

Our local nonprofits are critical to our ability to create a thriving community for all who live and work in Holland and Zeeland. In addition to directly investing in projects and programs that benefit area residents through competitive grants, we also channel a portion of our Community’s Endowment funding to efforts that strengthen the nonprofit sector. We prioritize investing in field-level capacity, leadership and talent development, technical assistance, and gathering community data.

Support for Lakeshore Nonprofit Alliance

The Lakeshore Nonprofit Alliance and Community SPOKE lead local efforts to strengthen the nonprofit sector and continue to be our key partners in this work. They offer vital support to local nonprofit organizations and help grow and sustain relationships between nonprofits and the public and private sectors for the benefit of the entire community.

the Nonprofit LEAD 24/7 program

Nonprofit LEAD 24/7 is a twelve-month immersive leadership program that initially launched for executive directors. The program welcomed its first cohort in 2020. Based on feedback from participants and other nonprofit staff, it was clear that this type of leadership development could be highly useful for nonprofit management staff who aren’t executive directors but still serve in leadership roles. It is vital to invest in training leaders who are well positioned to step into executive director roles while also helping them gain meaningful new leadership skills and experiences for their current roles.

executive transitions support

One of the ways CFHZ supports organizations during a change in executive leadership is by helping fund transition expenses. Qualifying organizations receive $4,000 to support the transition with strategic tools that might include hiring an interim director, working with a search firm, or executive coaching and/or other early professional development for their new leader.

Community data and collaboration

We invest in collaborative efforts to gather robust local data that provide critical insights into new and changing needs in our community. These include the Heart of West Michigan United Way Ottawa County Community Assessment and the Ottawa County Youth Assessment Survey. These tools help all of us to make well-informed, strategic choices about how to make the greatest difference with our available resources.

Have Questions?

For more information about our work to strengthen the nonprofit sector, contact Yadah V. Ramirez, Director of Community Impact, via email.

Email Yadah