FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
United Church of Christ
906 Main Street
Williamstown, Massachusetts 01267
“A Helping Hand for Helping Hands”
Training Grants for the Staff, Executives, and Trustees
of Not-for-Profit Human Service Agencies
that serve the Northern Berkshires
Church Office Contact:
Gail Burns
906 Main Street
Williamstown MA 01267
Tel: 413-458-4273
Fax: 413-458-3414
Email: Office@FirstChurchWilliamstown.org
Helping Hands Contact:
Sally Sussman
906 Main Street
Williamstown MA 01267
Tel: 413-458-4273
Fax: 413-458-3414
Email: Office@FirstChurchWilliamstown.org
SUMMARY STATEMENT
This project is intended to provide funding for not-for-profit human service agencies that serve the Northern Berkshires to upgrade their ability to “meet human needs and alleviate suffering.” In turn, it is intended to involve members of the congregation as volunteers in the activities of these agencies.
RATIONALE
The members of the First Congregational Church of Williamstown and the Church’s Board of Outreach believe that, while each human services agency in our region is unique, but many face similar challenges. Staff recruitment and retention, board recruitment and training, quality record keeping, informing the public of the agency and its mission, grant writing, developing financial support necessary for success, and insuring effective interaction with state and Federal programs, are just a few examples of these common issues. Knowledgeable and well-trained staff and volunteers are keys to confronting these challenges However, limited resources often dictate that upgrading of skills and expanding knowledge are sacrificed in order for the agency to meet other, more immediate, needs.
Many not-for-profit service organizations that focus on the human needs of the Northern Berkshire community may be unable to provide important and necessary training and skill enhancement programs, often resulting in a reduction of the agency’s ability to deliver high quality services in an efficient and timely manner.
A few examples of the many areas of training that are important include:
• Building staff skill sets that improve interaction with clients.
• Developing a better understanding of resources available from local, state, Federal, and private sources.
• Upgrading skills in fund-raising, grant-writing, planned giving, and other means of support procurement.
• Familiarizing current employees with current trends and thinking in their areas of expertise.
• Improving executive’s skills in recruitment, training and interacting with board members and other volunteers.
• Enhancing the agency’s ability to inform the public of its mission and role in the community.
• Upgrading software and Internet skills in order to handle administrative tasks more efficiently.
An outcome of providing additional training may lead to improved staff morale and retention.
Our congregation has established this initiative in order to address this problem.
PROGRAM
We will provide grants of up to $1,000 to executives, staff members and other representatives from not-for-profit human service agencies that serve Northern Berkshire County. These grants are to be used to fund additional training for the recipients.
An applicant must apply in writing on forms available from the program contact (see above) or the church office and must be willing to appear before the selection Board if deemed necessary. An applicant must have a supporting letter from her or his supervisor, or, in the case of an agency head, the chair of his or her board.
Preference will be given to applicants who plan to attend programs within a 200-mile radius of Williamstown. Grant funds may be used for tuition and fees, lodging at no more than $100 per night, meals at no more than $40 per day, and auto travel at $ .35 per mile up to 400 miles.
The Outreach Allocations Committee and the Community Cluster will be especially interested in requests that include at least partial or matching funding from the agency itself.
Interested individuals should apply at least 40 days prior to the activity she or he wishes to attend. In most cases a response to an application may be expected less than 30 days.
Applications for grants for the year 2010 will be accepted beginning February 1, 2010 and will continue to be accepted until resources for the year are committed.
OUTCOME
The recipient of a grant and/or a representative of his or her agency will be expected to present an oral and written report to the congregation, discussing the agency’s mission as well as views of the outcome of the training.
It is our intent to keep the members of the congregation informed about the recipients of these grants and the agencies they represent. We hope that this flow of information will, in turn, motivate church members to consider becoming involved with these agencies as supporters and/or volunteers.
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