Brief Description:

Small to Mid-Sized Nonprofits (Budgets under $400,000)

This program underwrites strategic consulting within small to medium sized nonprofits and/or CFES agency endowment partners. There will be a cap on the value of benefits available per nonprofit that qualifies for this assistance. Click "view details" below for more information.

If you are interested in applying, please contact Cathy Diekmann at Cdiekmann@cfes.org or 410-742-9911 to discuss your needs and determine if Mission Possible is the right fit.

Description:

Benefits Available:

Professional expert consultants to identify and help develop strategic improvements in the following areas of nonprofit operation:

Accounting and Finance
Strategic & Long Term Planning
Governance and Administration
Grant research and writing
Human Resources & Management
Development and Fundraising
Technology Assessments
Marketing & Communication
Program Evaluation and Outcomes
And more!

CFES has established a list of professional consultants and coaches to work with clients in this program. However, if your organization has already identified a suitable consultant for your project needs – please let us know in your application. Our staff reserves the right to verify/approve all vendors before services are underwritten.

Eligibility Criteria –

To be eligible for a grant from this program, an organization must generally meet six fundamental criteria:
(1) it must be a registered local non-profit, tax exempt “public charity,” as defined in Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. Hospitals and University Foundations are excluded from this assistance program, unless they are an endowment partner of CFES; and
(2) it must be a registered non-stock corporation in good standing with the State of Maryland; and
(3) it must be a registered charity with the Maryland Secretary of State’s office.
(4) it must have an annual budget of less than $400,000 (organizations that hold endowments at CFES are qualified, regardless of size); and
(5) it must be physically located in one of the lower three counties of Maryland’s Eastern Shore: Worcester, Wicomico, or Somerset, and
(6) must be providing regular direct programs and services to local residents.

Application Procedure.

Applications are by invitation only.
If you are interested in applying, please contact Cathy Diekmann at Cdiekmann@cfes.org or 410-742-9911 to discuss your needs and determine if Mission Possible is the right fit.
The application must be filled out by an executive director.
Although it is common for nonprofit organizations to have multiple, simultaneous needs, we ask that each applicant focus on one, prioritized area of nonprofit operation.
Applications must include a Scope of Work provided by the applicant’s preferred consultant chosen from the Mission Possible consultant pool.
Instructions for how to obtain the Scope of Work will be provided by CFES.
Client organizations are expected to contribute a percentage toward the total cost of their MP project.
Given a limited fiscal year budget, Mission Possible prioritizes first-time applicants, However, additional MP requests from previously funded nonprofit organizations may be considered.
Once submitted, our Director of Scholarships and Community Engagement will contact the applicant after your application is reviewed.
After the MP application is accepted, CFES mails a check to the nonprofit organization for the portion of the MP project CFES will support.