CRE Technical Assistance Makes a Difference: Evaluation from Fund for New Citizens
“...CRE’s ability to serve as a “utility infielder”—servicing management needs in several
areas at once—was key to grantees’ success.”
The above citation is from a recent evaluation of an initiative run by The Fund for New Citizens
in which CRE was widely praised for its consultants’ knowledge and skills. Not surprisingly,
CRE’s consulting team is very proud of these findings as well as the validation the report gives
of the benefits to organizations of investments in capacity building.
This evaluation was undertaken at the conclusion of the first five years of a Capacity Building Initiative launched by The Fund for New Citizens in 2003 to strengthen management and operations skills in immigrant-led groups in New York City. Twenty-seven immigrant organizations participated, with CRE as the lead provider of management assistance, including fundraising, leadership development, and program development. Fiscal Management Associates (FMA) provided assistance on financial systems improvement.
At the end of five years, the Fund felt it was time to evaluate the results of the Capacity Building Initiative. The Altman Foundation, a Fund member, provided a generous grant to conduct an evaluation consisting of on-line surveys and in-depth interviews with representatives of the organizations receiving technical assistance. The evaluation results were presented in early 2009.
Overall, the research showed that grantees felt that the support they received from the Capacity Building Initiative moved them “into a new level of professionalism, sustainability and efficiency.” In particular, grantees’ ability to share newly acquired information from consultants – be it on grant writing or fiscal management, for example – with other members of their teams was a major contributor to the long-term sustainability of their organizations.
As summarized in the report, “CRE was widely praised for their consultants’ knowledge and skill.” Grantees rated the quality of CRE’s consulting services an average of 8.64 on a 10-point scale. The research interviewees stated that while many management problems are intertwined – e.g., there is frequently a linkage between poor financial controls and poor fundraising – CRE “did a masterful job” in sorting out an organization’s needs, even if the consulting was mainly focused on one area.
The Fund for New Citizens has a long history of supporting groups that assist immigrants to New York. The Fund believes that immigrants have been instrumental in revitalizing New York City over the past two decades, and that immigrant-led groups have facilitated this contribution by serving as important guides to new arrivals on managing in New York City. CRE thanks The Fund for New Citizens for underwriting this important initiative and The Altman Foundation for underwriting the research evaluation.
Read the full report: Building Community, Strengthening Immigrant Organizations: Five Year Results
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