F.A.Q.

Below, is a list of questions that we frequently have to answer. Search through the FAQ list for your question's answer!

ADMINISTRATION
BEST
CONSULTANTS
EVALUATION
FLINT FUNDERS COLLABORATIVE
NONPROFITS
WORKSHOPS

FAQ: GENERAL OVERVIEW

Are there eligibility criteria for participation?
Agencies must be classified as 501(c)(3) organizations, have a minimum budget of $150,000 and 1.5 FTE staff members; maximum budget size is approximately $5 million. Unanimous Board support is required for participating in the project.

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Does participation in the BEST pilot project affect eligibility for other program grants from members of the Flint Funders’ Collaborative?
Organizations may apply for new or continuing funds from each of the funders to support programs and services that are not connected with their BEST Assessment or Capacity Building grants.

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How are nonprofit organizations selected?
• The members of the Flint Funders’ Collaborative review all applications. The United Way signs all contracts and letters of agreement, manages funding and is the grantor for the project.
• Grant allocations are determined by proposal quality, case for support, project scope, degree of institutional commitment to capacity building, and potential for community impact.
• To ensure balance and maximize learning from the project, a mix of organizations are selected representing the community’s Arts and Culture, Health and Human Services, and may include a collaboration from a single sub-sector (such as housing, child-focused agencies, etc.).

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What are the components and process of the two phases of the BEST Pilot Project?
Assessment Phase:
• Nonprofit organizations serving Genesee County undergo a thorough organizational assessment, which has proven to be a valuable opportunity independent of the capacity building phase.
• Nonprofit agencies interested in participating in the consultant-led assessment process are asked to submit an application. Members of the Flint Funders’ Collaborative review all applications. Grant awards are made and monitored by the United Way of Genesee County.
• In most cases a team of two consultants coordinate the in-depth organizational assessment. Agencies select consultants from a vetted roster. Agencies are free to select outside providers, but they must successfully apply for membership in the BEST pool to receive project funds.
• The BEST Consultant Roster includes more than fifty consultants whose resumes and references have been screened and who have participated in a BEST training session and in-depth orientation.
• For approximately 4 months, consultants do a complete document review, internal interviews with Board and Staff members, and examine all management systems. They work closely with Board and Staff leaders and conduct at least one organizational retreat.
• During this period, the Center for Nonprofit Management in Nashville administers a quantitative survey on internal capacity and provides a customized analysis of the data for each agency.
• At the end of this process of affirmative inquiry, research and data collection, the consultant team prepares a confidential detailed report and recommendations for each organization, presenting it first to the leadership team, and then to the Board and Staff, usually at a combined retreat. They also prepare a two-page Executive Summary that outlines strengths and challenges and suggests priorities for a possible capacity building proposal.
• Although the detailed report is confidential from the funders, if the organization decides to apply for a Capacity Building Grant, the Executive Summary must be attached to the application.

Capacity Building Phase:
Nonprofit organizations that have completed the assessment phase may apply for additional funding.
• Capacity Building Proposal Applications are due within 2 months of completing the Assessment Phase. In the Pilot Project, 12 of the 15 organizations were awarded capacity building grants averaging $35,000 per year for each of two years. Projects are highly customized to agency needs.
• Customized peer learning opportunities include workshops, peer mentoring and coaching.
• Workshop topics are chosen by the agencies. In most cases, sessions are accompanied by opportunities for one-on-one consultations.
• Components include whole system change efforts, Board development and strategic planning.

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What is BEST?
BEST stands for: Building Excellence, Sustainability and Trust. The BEST Pilot Project was based on a year of research that included a national review of capacity building initiatives, interviews and focus groups, a survey of local nonprofit perceptions and needs. It was established by the Flint Funders’ Collaborative with contributions from each funder. Initially, the Community Foundation served as fiscal host. The Funders now have a formal Memorandum of Understanding and the United Way is the grantor for the ongoing BEST Project.

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What is expected of an organization that receives a grant in the Assessment Phase?
Board and Staff must agree to invest substantial time needed to participate in specific components of the Assessment, including: internal survey; review of bylaws, policies, plans, financial reports and other documents; interviews and focus groups; workshops and presentations; internal and external surveys; project evaluation. Time required is approximately 2 days per month.

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What is expected of an organization that receives a grant in the Capacity Building Phase?
Each organization is expected to: meet the objectives set forth in its own proposal on time and within budget; participate in peer learning opportunities; and, complete required internal and external assessments. The external performance assessment measures client perceptions; it is implemented before and after the capacity building initiative to determine what changes have occurred, if any. The original internal assessment tool is also re-administered to determine change. A confidential report for each is given to the agency; only an aggregate summary of findings is given to the Flint Funders’ Collaborative.

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What is the Flint Funders’ Collaborative?
The Flint Funders’ Collaborative is a working group of representatives from four leading philanthropies in Genesee County: the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, the C.S. Mott Foundation, the Ruth Mott Foundation and the United Way of Genesee County.

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What is the purpose of the BEST Project?
The BEST Project is a strategic initiative to build the adaptive capacity of nonprofits in Flint and Genesee County. The two-phase project allows agencies, with the assistance of expert consultants, to conduct assessments of their current capacities and then apply for up to two years of major funding to strengthen long term effectiveness and sustainability.

In the first 3 years, BEST implemented an integrated, comprehensive pilot project to build the capacity of three key partners in the nonprofit sector: local 501(c)(3) organizations; providers of consulting and technical assistance; and the funders themselves. It combined strategies to assess the strengths of each of these interrelated groups, plus action steps to build excellence, sustainability, and trust within and among the key stakeholders. All aspects of the project were documented to capture what was learned, share results with key stakeholders, and make adjustments for the future. A second cohort was added in 2005.

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FAQ: ADMINISTRATION

Are job descriptions for staff positions available for review?
Yes. These descriptions will be available soon.

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How did BEST administer programming before permanent staff was hired?
The Lead Consultant, who facilitated the initial conversations between and among funders, continued to work with toward the design and implementation of the project. As the BEST Project grew, she assumed many of the responsibilities now assigned to the Director of Programs. She was responsible in large part for recruiting and vetting the initial cadre of consultants, including writing the documents associated with these roles, such as templates for the consultant application and contract. This work was carried out for the fist six months through virtual communication methods and on-site meetings. Prior to funding the first nonprofit cohort, a part-time administrative assistant was added and an office opened for BEST staff in the Resource Center. In addition to managing this start-up phase, the Lead Consultant was charged with documenting the processes leading to BEST and collecting lessons from the experience.

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What are the key challenges of administering the BEST project?
Administering the BEST Project requires solid skills in time management, an ability to prioritize work, and excellent communication skills. Administrators respond to multiple requests from diverse stakeholders, including funders, consultants, agency leaders, and people outside the BEST Project who want information about the program. It is important for the person in this position to understand the perspective of these stakeholders as regards their role with BEST and respond accordingly. Pro-active communication about BEST decision and plans with agencies, in particular, as well as with consultants has helped to build trust.

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When did the BEST leadership feel the need to hire staff?
Before the beginning of 2006, as the second cohort of nonprofit assessments
was about to begin, BEST advertised and hired a Director of Programs and a full-time administrative assistant. Once the number of nonprofits nearly doubled, from 12 to 21, it became clear that BEST needed someone in the community full time who could respond to the needs of the project and reach out to the community.

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Who administers the day-to-day operations of BEST?
As of 2006, the day-to-day operations of BEST are administered by the Director of Programs in collaboration and consultation with the Flint Funders Collaborative and the Lead Consultant. In this role, The Director of Programs recruits and vets consultants; prepares and monitors consultant contracts; coordinates the workshop series; networks with constituents within and outside Flint; responds to questions from agencies, consultants, funders and people outside of BEST; updates and maintains records; and initiates regular communication with all stakeholders. She is also developing a resource library for Flint area nonprofits and coordinating a help desk feature that will allow agency leaders to meet with consultants at the BEST office as issues arise. The Director of Programs also assists the Lead Consultant and Flint Funders Collaborative with program design. A part-time administrative assistant supports the Director’s work and answers questions and provides information in her absence.

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FAQ: BEST

What is BEST?
The BEST Project is a strategic initiative developed to build the adaptive capacity of nonprofits in Flint and Genesee County. BEST stands for: Building Excellence, Sustainability and Trust. BEST was formed following a year-long research project that included a national review of capacity building initiatives, interviews and focus groups, and a survey of local nonprofit perceptions and needs. The three-year Pilot Project was launched following this fact-finding phase and continues to be sponsored by the Flint Funders Collaborative.

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What is the Assessment Phase?
The Assessment Phase is the first of two phases in BEST. With the assistance of expert consultants, nonprofits serving Flint and Genesee County undergo a thorough organizational assessment to determine the current capacities of their organizations. Agencies select consultants from a vetted roster. In most cases, a team of two consultants coordinates the in-depth organizational assessment over a period of approximately 4 months. During this time, consultants undertake a complete document review, conduct internal interviews with Board and Staff members, and examine all management systems. The assessment process provides a valuable opportunity for organizations to look at their strengths and weaknesses through the eyes of credible experts in nonprofit management who work closely with Board and Staff leaders to review findings. Assessment consultants are from outside Genesee County and have limited contact with the local nonprofit sector. This objective view of the agency has been a hallmark of BEST and has been found to be an effective approach to the assessment phase.

Concurrent with this activity, the Center for Nonprofit Management administers a quantitative survey on internal capacity and provides a customized analysis of the data for each agency. At the end of this process of affirmative inquiry, research, and data collection, the consultant team prepares a confidential detailed report and recommendations for each organization. This report is presented first to the leadership team and then to the Board and Staff, usually at a combined retreat. Consultants also prepare a two-page Executive Summary that outlines organizational strengths and challenges, and suggests priorities for a possible Phase II Capacity Building proposal.

Based on lessons learned from the first cohort, BEST added an external technology inventory and assessment to the assessment phase. Each agency received a comprehensive technology audit complete with recommendations ad cost estimates for hardware, software, security and back-up, server administration, and networking. The second cohort technology infrastructure varies greatly; in a few cases the technology consultants reported a real concern for the viability of their current systems. The final reports from the technology providers were comprehensive and feedback from agencies has been very positive.

Nonprofit agencies interested in participating in the consultant-led Phase I Assessment are asked to submit an application, which is subsequently reviewed by members of the Flint Funders Collaborative who make award recommendations. Grant awards are made by the Fiscal Host for the BEST Project, the United Way of Genesee County, and monitored by BEST staff.

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What is the Capacity Building Phase?
Nonprofit organizations that have successfully completed the Phase I Assessment may apply for funding to carry out capacity-building work. Phase II Capacity Building proposal applications are due within 2 months of completing the Phase I Assessment. Nonprofits must submit the Executive Summary from their assessment with the application; they are not required to submit the detailed report, which may remain confidential to the organization.

In the 2003-5 cycle, 12 of the 15 organizations were awarded capacity building grants averaging $35,000 per year for each of two years. Capacity-building work is highly customized to agency needs and may include area specific training and executive coaching. In addition to this tailored assistance, BEST provides group learning opportunities, including workshops with follow-up one-on-one consultations, peer mentoring, and executive coaching.

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What is the purpose of the BEST Project?
BEST Project is a place-based initiative designed to meet the needs of nonprofits in alignment with the cultural, economic, political, and social realties of the local community. BEST has been tailored to help nonprofits in Flint and Genesee County build the capacities of their organizations through two implementation phases: an Assessment Phase and a Capacity Building Phase. To carry out this work, BEST aspires to develop new standards for technical assistance, new avenues for accessing and delivering help to nonprofits in Genesee County, new opportunities for leveraging additional philanthropic resources in the local community, and program activities that impact long-term sustainability and effectiveness of local nonprofits.

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FAQ: CONSULTANTS

How are consultants evaluated?
Consultants are evaluated according to their fulfillment of the BEST requirements and their work with agencies. Work with agencies is assessed by the Lead Consultant and Director of Programs with input from agency directors. Because the assessment report is given to the agency with a promise of confidentiality, the Lead Consultant is the only one outside of the agencies board and staff and their consultant to have access to this document. This access is for quality assurance purposes only.

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How do you manage the consultant pool?
The consulting pool is managed by the Director of Programs with assistance from the Lead Consultant. It is her job to oversee the recruitment and selection of consultants, prepare consultant contracts, coordinate orientations, and monitor workshop attendance. She is also responsible with the Lead Consultant for making recommendations to agencies and maintaining regular communication with members of the consulting pool.

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How does BEST match consultants to agencies?
The Director of Programs in consultation with the Lead Consultant creates a short list of recommended consultants (usually 3-4) for agencies during the Phase I Assessment. Consultants are recommended based on their skills, expertise, and fit with the organization. It is up to the nonprofit to select the consultant or consultants with whom they want to work. If the agency chooses, it can broaden this list by searching the Consultant Roster. For Phase II Capacity Building, BEST leadership recommends three consultants for each area of capacity building for which the agency applies. As with Phase I, the agency can choose from these recommendations, or select a different consultant from the BEST consultant pool. Any consultant chosen by the agency, however, must be part of the Consultant Roster. If the nonprofit wishes to work with someone who has not been vetted by BEST, the consultant is asked first to apply for membership.

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How does BEST recruit consultants?
Initially, BEST sent out an RFP for consultant applicants through members of the Flint Funders Collaborative and to other funders in the State of Michigan; and posted the RFP through other medial outlets. Since 2003, additional consultants have been recruited through consultants who have worked with BEST, through recommendations from BEST nonprofit agencies, and though other associations focused on nonprofits.

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How does BEST select consultants?
BEST staff and funders look for consultants who have a history of relevant nonprofit sector experience as well as relevant skills; strong written and communication skills; an asset-based approach to working with organizations; and a consulting philosophy that seeks to build client independence, not dependence. BEST conducts a thorough reference check on all consultants admitted to the pool, and consultants must agree to participate in an orientation to BEST as well as two professional development sessions each year. Consultants must also be willing to work within the BEST fee structure and to have their work evaluated.

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How does one apply to become a BEST consultant?
Consultants may apply to BEST by going to www.bestprojectonline.org and completing the online application.

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What consulting services are requested?
Consultants working during the Assessment Phase are expected to have a broad general knowledge of nonprofit agencies. During the Phase II Capacity Building, consultants with experience in board development and strategic planning; marketing and communication, fundraising, and HR tend to be more often requested during the second year. Agencies are not limited to these areas of expertise, however, or these timeframes. Contracts for capacity building depend largely on the assessment findings and are tailored to individual agency needs.

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What is the BEST Consultant Roster?
The BEST Consultant Roster includes more than seventy consultants whose resumes and references have been screened and who have participated in a BEST training session and in-depth orientation. Agencies selected for the BEST Phase I Assessment or for BEST Phase II Capacity Building may choose to work with consultants from this vetted list.

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What is the consultant rate of pay and how was this determined?
Over the past three years, consultants have been paid at an hourly rate of $100 for off-site work and $125 for work on-site. This rate was determined by averaging the rates of pay listed by consultants during the RFP process and assessing the rate against the BEST budget. As of Fall 2006, the consultant fee schedule will increase by $25 for both on-site and off-site work.

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FAQ: EVALUATION

How is BEST being evaluated?
BEST has engaged the services of two nationally known organizations in separate evaluative processes: the TCC Group, formerly The Conservation Company; and the Center for Nonprofit Management (CNM). The work undertaken by TCC may be described as a meta-evaluation of the BEST Project: that is an evaluation of the whole initiative that will help us learn from all processes and elements that have gone into forming and implementing BEST. Included in this work are pre- and post-assessments for comparison and evaluation. CNM is conducting a survey-based formative evaluation with each nonprofit agency in order to enable both the nonprofits and the organizers of BEST to learn from their experiences.

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Is it necessary to engage an evaluator in this work?
Yes! As a new initiative, the FFC and BEST staff felt it was very important to place learning at the center of our experience. Each evaluation provides us with perspectives that the organizers of BEST need to be effective in serving the community. The TCC evaluation contributes to our understanding of the cumulative effect of the initiative, which involves nonprofits, the consultants who work with them, the Flint Funders’ Collaborative, project administrators, and the greater community. The CNM data provides a perspective on the effects BEST is having within each cohort of nonprofits through data from pre- and post-capacity building surveys.

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What have you learned from these evaluations about BEST?
What we have learned and what we are still learning verifies the need for intentional capacity building with nonprofit agencies in the context of local realities. BEST is highly customized, expensive, and time-consuming, and it relies on careful attention to detail. BEST has data confirming the success of the BEST approach, and data that is inconclusive at this early stage. The evaluations help to show where improvements and adjustments are needed, as well as identify things that are important to the constituents of this project, things that need to continue to make the project a success.

For instance, by 2005 approximately two-thirds of BEST nonprofits reported increased communication and improved knowledge of capacity building throughout their organizations as a result of the Assessment Phase and capacity-building opportunities provided by BEST. Over half the executives reported improvement in their ability to make organizational decisions and solve problems as a result of this involvement. As one executive stated: "The capacity building has taught us what high-functioning, structured leadership looks like."

We have also learned that the project has been more resource intensive than anticipated, both in terms of funds and time. We learned that there is a need to encourage more partnerships and alliances across organizations; and to provide more information to consultants about the social and political environment in which Flint and Genesee County nonprofits work.

In response to these findings, BEST was able to include workshops on Fundraising, and on forming Partnerships and Collaboration for agencies. A special session on Flint for consultants and funders looked at challenges faced by residents and current responses underway to the specific needs in Flint for job creation and housing. BEST also learned that workshops alone do not ensure learning or application. The addition of follow-up, one-on-one consults after workshops was an early addition to the peer learning process.

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FAQ: FLINT FUNDERS COLLABORATIVE

How are decisions made about the program?
The Flint Funders Collaborative established governance procedures that:
* Review grant proposals and specify who can respond to grantee requests;

* Approve the annual BEST Project budget and set financial responsibilities for the fiscal agent; and

* Outline reporting responsibilities for the Lead Consultant and Director of Programs. Key decisions are made through a collaborative process except when decision responsibilities have been delegated to a sub-group, or to an individual, such as to the Lead Consultant, Director of Programs, or to the Fiscal Host for financial decisions and oversight.

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How did the funders conceptualize a BEST initiative?
All funders in the Collaborative credit their careful planning prior to launching BEST with building stronger relationships within the philanthropic community. As a result of this initial developmental stage, three value statements emerged that capture the unified vision and conceptual basis for the group’s formation:

* We believe that healthy nonprofits are critical components of our democratic society; and that internally stable, effective nonprofit organizations are essential to achieving a high quality of life in Flint and Genesee County.

* We believe that building the long term capacity of key organizations in the local nonprofit sector is a worthy philanthropic investment that will have a positive, long term impact on the community.

* We believe that building capacity in people and organizations is the most effective when it begins by identifying existing strengths, creating a realistic plan for a preferred future, and then taking the first steps on that journey.

* We believe that collaboration is a key to effectiveness and that funders, consultants and nonprofits can do together what neither can do alone.

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How is the Flint Funders Collaborative organized?
The Flint Funders Collaborative encourages participation from two representatives from each of the funding entities: a voting member and a delegate who can vote in the voting member’s place. This group is called the Funders Advisory Council. One person is chosen from the voting members to serve as the FAC Chairperson for two years. At the end of two-years, the Chair rotates to another representative from one of the other four collaborating funders.

The United Way of Genesee County plays the critical role of grantor and Fiscal Host for the project. They contribute funds as well as receive funding from the other three funding partners. A memorandum of understanding spells out this role and other roles for the FFC.

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How much does each funder contribute to the resources needed for the program?
The amount each partner contributes to the pooled fund is determined by the abilities and responsibilities of the participating philanthropies. The size of the contribution to the funding pool has no bearing on membership responsibilities or privileges. All funding partners share equally in the decision making processes for the distribution of resources.

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Is there funding available for the replication of BEST in communities outside Genesee County?
The Flint Funders’ Collaborative focuses its resources on the communities it serves in Flint and Genesee County. Although the Collaborative encourages other communities to come together in similar ways to assist nonprofits, it does not currently contribute funding outside the BEST Project geographic area.

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What do funders do in addition to making grants?
Representatives within the Flint Funders Collaborative work continuously to assure that the content and service delivery provided by BEST adheres to a high performance standard. Funders review the budget and make financial adjustments where needed to improve the program. They monitor staff and stay on top of the processes within each assessment and capacity building phase. They contribute both directly and indirectly to the technical assistance provided to organizations by assuring that nonprofits get the trainings and workshops they need. Representatives also participate actively in peer learning sessions with agencies, consultants and contract staff.

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What effect has collaborating had on the way funders carry out their work?
Collaborating through BEST has brought the funding communities in Genesee County closer together. Funders report greater sharing of information, more opportunities to exchange ideas and lessons learned from programs outside of BEST, and being more intentional in their collective work within the community.

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What is the Flint Funders Collaborative?
The Flint Funders Collaborative is a working group of representatives from four leading philanthropies in Genesee County: the Community Foundation of Greater Flint; the C.S. Mott Foundation; the Ruth Mott Foundation; and the United Way of Genesee County. Initial discussions among these funders explored the possibility of establishing a jointly sponsored fund to build excellence, sustainability and trust in the Genesee County nonprofit sector. Discussions over the course of several months made it clear that a collaborative could do jointly what none of the individual funders could do as effectively alone. As a result, the BEST Project was formed to bring a combined and intentional focus to the needs of nonprofit agencies in alignment with community needs.

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What issues spurred this collaboration?
Funders within the collaborative expressed mutual concerns about three related issues:

* the quality and focus of local grant proposals;
* the capacity of local nonprofit organizations to achieve their missions and meet critical community needs; and
* the long term impact and effectiveness of local grantmaking initiatives.

They recognized that helping nonprofits create greater alignment between organizational mission, grant dollars and community needs--including the impact on the local economy--could best be accomplished when funders themselves worked together to understand and support the needs of capacity building.

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FAQ: NONPROFITS

Does participation in the BEST pilot project affect eligibility for other program grants from members of the Flint Funders' Collaborative?
Organizations may apply for new or continuing funds from each of the funders to support programs and services that are not connected with their BEST Assessment or Capacity Building grants.

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How are nonprofit organizations selected?
Applications to BEST for the initial assessment phase are reviewed by members of the Flint Funders Collaborative, the lead consultant, and the Director of Programs. Selection is based on compliance with the application process and organizational readiness. Once approved, the nonprofit is sent a letter of approval and offered assistance in selecting consultants from a vetted roster of experts in nonprofit management. Grant allocations are determined by proposal quality, case for support, project scope, degree of institutional commitment to capacity building, and potential for community impact. To ensure balance and maximize learning from the project, a mix of organizations are selected representing the community's Arts and Culture, Health and Human Services, and may include a collaboration from a single sub-sector (such as housing, child-focused agencies, etc.).

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How is BEST capacity building with nonprofits carried out?
The Flint Funders Collaborative developed plans for a two-phased process for nonprofit capacity building.

Phase I funds a team of consultants to conduct a thorough organizational assessment for each nonprofit admitted to BEST; and deliver findings in a confidential report to the nonprofit that is not be shared with the FFC or BEST staff. This latter requirement was deemed necessary to allow nonprofits to interact candidly with the consultants without fear that the information they provided would in some way hurt their standing in the community and, specifically, jeopardize future potential funding.

Phase II provides funding directly to nonprofits to hire BEST consultants to help them tackle specific areas identified by the Phase I Assessment. Nonprofits would acquire this funding by submitting a proposal to the FFC, including with the proposal a copy of the Executive Summary only from the Phase I report, which outlines the consultants'; final recommendations.

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What do nonprofit organizations have to say about their experiences?
Information is coming soon.

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What does BEST mean by capacity building?
Capacity building is much more than offering technical assistance to organizations in crisis or struggling with particular areas of management; it also requires rethinking systems and programs in a new, more comprehensive and integrated fashion. Those delivering services and those supporting technical assistance need to join forces in identifying ways to make organizations capable of dynamic sustainability regardless of changing external or internal forces. To be successful, capacity building must be “place-based”: it must be customized to local realities, including the economic, social, cultural, and political dynamics that affect every aspect of daily life. BEST holds that funders, agencies, and providers must work together to make this success possible.

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What is expected of an organization that receives a grant in the Assessment Phase?
Board and Staff must agree to invest substantial time needed to participate in specific components of the Assessment, including: the CNM internal survey; review of bylaws, policies, plans, financial reports and other documents; interviews and focus groups; workshops and presentations; TCC internal and external surveys; and project evaluation. Time required is approximately 2 days per month.

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What is expected of an organization that receives a grant in the Capacity Building Phase?
Each organization is expected to: meet the objectives set forth in its own proposal on time and within budget; participate in peer learning opportunities; and, complete required internal and external assessments. The TCC external performance assessment measures the perceptions of participating agencies; it is implemented before and after the capacity building initiative to determine what changes have occurred, if any. The original internal assessment tool is also re-administered to determine change. During the capacity building phase, agencies manage contracts with support, if needed, from BEST staff.

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Who is eligible to participate in BEST?
Nonprofit agencies must be classified as 501(c)(3) organizations, have a minimum budget of $150,000 and 1.5 FTE staff members; maximum budget size is approximately $5 million. BEST also requires unanimous Board support for the assessment, which is received through a signed letter of support indicating when the board agreed to this requirement and signed by the board chair.

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FAQ: WORKSHOPS

What workshops has BEST offered? (hot link to Workshop List)
Workshops and information sharing sessions have been offered on a variety of topics important to effective nonprofit management as well as on other topics that are central to understanding the specific challenges faced by residents in Flint and surrounding areas. Presenters for these sessions have been chosen from the BEST pool of consultants and from state-wide organizations such as the Michigan Nonprofit Association, and from nationally networked organizations, such as the Society for Nonprofit Organizations.

These offerings have been widely attended by staff and board members from participating nonprofit agencies as well as by the consultants who work with them. The Director of Programs as well as at least one representative from the Flint Funders Collaborative also attend to introduce presenters, provide initiative updates, and show support for the on-going work. At times, workshops have been open to others in the community, including funders who are not members of the Collaborative.

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