What is technical assistance?
Technical assistance for nonprofits is a type of support provided by experts in various areas, such as fundraising, program development, financial management, and governance, to help nonprofits improve their operations, increase their effectiveness, and achieve their mission.
Technical assistance is tailored to each nonprofit organization's specific needs and may include one-on-one coaching, group training, webinars, or resource sharing. It aims to provide nonprofits with the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to address their unique challenges and achieve their goals.
Examples of technical assistance for nonprofits may include:
Developing a strategic plan.
Improving financial management practices.
Designing and implementing fundraising strategies.
Improving program evaluation processes.
Enhancing board governance practices.
Technical assistance for nonprofits can be particularly valuable for smaller or emerging organizations needing more resources or expertise to manage complex operations. By providing technical assistance, experts can help nonprofits develop the skills and resources necessary to become more effective and efficient organizations, leading to increased impact and positive social change.
What does it cost?
We believe everyone should have access to the resources and support needed to create positive change in their communities, regardless of nonprofit status. Our partners at The Center for Community Collaboration provide technical assistance on a sliding scale for organizations and individuals that require ongoing support, making services accessible to all.
Technical assistance is in high demand. Appointments are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and tend to fill up quickly. Contact us if your program responds to an urgent need, such as a public emergency, so we can attempt to get you in sooner. For urgent one-time assistance, please visit The Center for Community Collaboration and catchafire.org for pro bono support.
Our Technical Assistance Partners
Common Questions
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Model F (Technical Assistance) is a purely administrative service where our organization does not need to accept contributions on behalf of your organization. Services may include bookkeeping, payroll, virtual conferences, annual compliance, and more. As support generalists, our services are expansive.
Model F is only available to organizations with a 501c3 designation in good standing. Nonprofits with a revoked or pending 501c3 status may benefit from a Model A direct Program fiscal sponsorship.
Model A fiscal sponsorship combines 501c3 designation with technical assistance. Learn more → -
Not sure if ongoing support is right for your organization? We provide 45-minutes of no-cost support to any individual, organization, project, or program, regardless of nonprofit status. Schedule a time to meet for questions and answers here →
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We provide 45-minutes of no-cost support to any individual, organization, project, or program, regardless of nonprofit status.
Fees for ongoing support are determined on a sliding scale by an organization's last 990 or the current year's annual budget for first-year organizations.
Areas of Support
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Benefit from a wide range of information on managing a nonprofit organization's legal and social responsibilities.
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Discover platforms and resources to build a fundraising plan and grant strategy online and IRL.
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Receive limited or ongoing support with platforms commonly used by your ngo, including Google Workplace, Salesforce NPSP, Techsoup, Zapier, Jotform, and more.
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Develop a bookkeeping strategy using generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and nonprofit accounting best practices.
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Receive support creating graphics, print materials, subscriber lists, email templates, and more with an influential donor, grantmaker, and community communication strategy.
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Create a user-friendly donor database to cultivate past, present, and future donor relationships.
Rates Designed to be Outgrown
Monthly rates are based on a growing organization’s annual revenue from the previous fiscal year. Click here for sliding scale fees for nonprofit bookkeeping →
All levels include 2 hours of Technical Assistance, + access to our shared resources, community connections, and a 90-minute video call each month
There is an annual $350 onboarding fee that can be fundraised.
Annual Revenue
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Pro Bono
Our network of skilled volunteers and consultants offer 2 hours of free start-up support to your organization.
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$250 per month
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$350 per month
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$400 per month
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$500 per month
After a project is done with its 'Model A' fiscal sponsorship relationship, they need to become self-sufficient in managing their nonprofit program and resources. To help with this, Social Impact Commons has provided a basic checklist that outlines the steps necessary to launch the project as an independent organization.