These grants are for organizations that wish to strengthen their ability to lead, adapt, manage and effectively
operate their organizations. Funding in this category will support projects that improve the organization’s
effectiveness in any of these areas. See below for a partial list of projects that have been funded by The
Foundation through this grant stream.
Grants range from $3,000 - $40,000
Application Process
Applications that meet the basic eligibility requirements are asked to complete TPF’s Project Proposal. You will
then upload the completed application and supporting documents to the Organizational Effectiveness Drop
Box as indicated at the end of the application form.
Applications cannot be considered until the following supplemental documents have also been submitted
electronically:




501(c)(3) IRS determination letter
List of Board of Directors
Three years of audits (if your organization does not have audits, we will accept your IRS 990)
Current PA Bureau of Charitable Organizations Certificate
All applications delivered successfully will receive an automatic response. If you do not receive an automatic
response, please call the Philanthropic Services Department to ensure that your materials are received.
Applicants can anticipate an initial response to their Project Proposal submission within two weeks. If selected to
move on to the next stage, a Program Officer will schedule a site visit with the Executive Director, a member of
the board, and any staff responsible for major aspects of the project. The Program Officer will also ask the
organization to develop a work plan and budget for the proposed project. If the project request includes time
with a consultant, The Philadelphia Foundation requires that the organization review bids from at least three
different consultants. Prior to the site visit, the organization will be asked to submit the completed work plan and
budget forms as well as a scope of services from the consultant with whom they would choose to work if
funded.
CCAT Assessment Tool
Organizations applying for Organization Effectiveness may elect to take the Core Capacity Assessment Tool
(CCAT) as part of the process. Taking the CCAT is not a requirement.
The CCAT:
 Reviews core capacity components (Adaptive, Leadership, Management, and Technical/
Operational).
 Is taken online by all senior staff and at least two board members.
 Involves 146 multiple-choice survey questions.
 Takes approximately 30-45 minutes.
 Produces a report that provides a snapshot of organization strengths and challenges.
The CCAT report can be used as a:
 Starting point for discussions.
 Suggested checklist for changes.
 Way to track organizational growth and development.
 Method for involving board members in discussing organizational capacities.
To elect to take the CCAT, simply check the box under the appropriate section of the Project Proposal form. For
more information on the CCAT, visit www.tccccat.com.
Organizational Effectiveness Projects – What is funded?
The following is a partial list of projects funded by The Foundation to strengthen organizations:
 Strategic Planning
 Board development: recruitment & training
 Attending Leadership Development programs
 Training and development of next tier leadership
 Executive transition, planning
 Executive coaching
 Feasibility Studies
 Board succession planning
 Needs Assessment
 Resource Development
 Financial Management
 Business analysis and planning skills
 Fundraising skills development
Organizational Effectiveness grants DO NOT support:
 Program-specific requests
 Full funding of staff positions
 Umbrella funding projects for the sole purpose of re-granting
 Contributions to endowments or capital campaigns
 Fundraising Campaigns
 Deficit or debt financing
Important Considerations
 Up to 35% of the total grant request can be allocated for staff time spent on the project.
 The Foundation can only support one organizational effectiveness project at a time.
 Interim or permanent executive leadership should be in place for at least three months before The
Foundation will consider supporting an organizational effectiveness grant. There are exceptions for
organizational effectiveness requests that specifically support executive transitions.
 If the project request includes working with a consultant or outside vendor, TPF requires the organization
to obtain at least three bids/scopes of service prior to choosing the consultant. Exceptions are made for
certain types of technology upgrades.
 In reviewing requests for organizational effectiveness support, The Foundation also seeks confirmation
that organization-wide planning projects have included organization-side stakeholders. It is an
expectation that the Board of Directors (or a committee thereof) and senior level staff are active
participants in the discussion of the project, including review and selection of a consultant, the timeline,
roles and responsibilities and the rationale behind why the project is priority.
Organization:
Date:
County(s) Served:
Date
Incorporated:
Executive Director:
Tax ID #:
Address:
City, State, ZIP:
Phone No.
Website URL:
Email address:
Fiscal Sponsor
applicable)
(if
Fiscal Sponsor's
Tax ID #:
FS Address:
City, State, ZIP:
FS Phone No.
FS Website URL:
FS Fax No.
FS Email address:
Have you completed the Eligibility Wizard on The Philadelphia Foundation's
website? Click in the appropriate box to the right.
If you are determined to be eligible to apply, you may use TCC Group's Core
Capacity Assessment Tool free of charge to help prioritize your organization's
capacity building needs. The results of the CCAT can be used to revise this project
proposal.
YES
NO
YES
NO
Would you like to take the CCAT as part of the Organizational Effectiveness
process?
Capacity-Building Project
Short Description
Total Estimated Project Cost: $
Request Amount:
Organizational Budget*
$
REVENUE
Surplus/(
Deficit)
EXPENSE
Current year
Previous year
2 years prior
3 years prior
*Refer to organization’s audited financials or completed 990 in reflecting revenue and expense in previous years.
Current year’s figures can be based on budget forecast.
BOARD of DIRECTORS: Check any that apply and indicate what percentage of your Board, where
appropriate.
Women
%
LGBTI
Caucasian
%
Black or African American
Latino or Hispanic
%
Asian or Asian American
%
%
%
Immigrants
%
Differently Abled
Native American
%
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Isl.
Other:
_______________
%
%
%
SENIOR MANAGEMENT: Check any that apply and indicate what percentage of your senior
management, where appropriate.
Women
%
LGBTI
Caucasian
%
Black or African American
Latino or Hispanic
%
Asian or Asian American
%
Immigrants
%
Differently Abled
%
Native American
%
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Isl.
Other:
_____________
%
%
%
%
POPULATIONS SERVED: Check any that apply and indicate what percentage of your client
population, where appropriate.
Terminal Illness
%
Incarcerated
Immigrants
%
Blind/Visually Impaired
%
Mental Illness
%
History of Domestic Violence
Infants (0-3)
%
Children (3-12)
%
Teenage Youth (13-19)
%
Substance Abuse
%
Women
%
LGBTI
%
Differently abled
%
Orphaned Children (Have lost one or more
parents.)
%
Elderly
Adults
%
%
%
Caucasian
%
Native American
%
Black or African American
%
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Isl.
%
Latino or Hispanic
%
Other:
_____________
%
Asian or Asian American
%
What is the total number of unduplicated individuals served or represented by your organization's
programs and services in the past year?
LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS SERVED
What percentage of the constituency you serve or represent could be classified as low-income?
%
What is the methodology used to determine the figure quoted above?
Mission of organization:
Overview of organization's history, programs and activities:
Describe how your organization evaluates the success of its programs, include how data is collected
and how often. If you evaluate your program, describe how the organization uses that evaluation to
identify strengths and weaknesses in the program.
For any organization that strives to be both innovative and enduring, the learning processes for staff
should be marked by targeted discussions and activities that allow the organization to grow its
knowledge base and adapt to the unpredictable. The four foundational criteria, also known as the
"building blocks" of a learning organization are communication and openness; structured inquiry
and feedback; adequate time for reflection; and mutual respect inspired by learning-oriented
leadership. Please explain how your organization incorporates tools, exercises, or specific types of
social interaction into organizational learning processes, qualifying it as a Learning Organization.
What are the organizational effectiveness issues to be addressed in this project? Please describe
the project and indicate the circumstances that make this particular project a priority.
Provide a short description of your project. What tasks do you expect to accomplish?
Who will lead the work?
What processes or activities are crucial to the completion of this project?
How will this project advance or deliver on your organizational mission?
How will this project contribute to your organizations sustainability or growth? How will it advance
the effectiveness of your organization?
Does your organization require a PA Child Abuse History Clearance for all employees or volunteers
working directly with children?
YES
NO
Please upload the Project Proposal and supplemental documents to the Organizational Effectiveness Drop Box
For questions please call us at 215-563-6417