Rockwell Fund, Inc.

Nine Elements of Organizational Capacity

The “Nine Elements of Organizational Capacity” framework was developed by the funders and ministries participating in the Zip Code Assistance Ministries Organizational Development Pilot Program (now known as the Alliance of Community Assistance Ministries of Greater Houston/ACAM) to allow organizations to take a comprehensive approach to gauging organizational capacity and guiding capacity building efforts.  Rockwell Fund uses the same criteria in assessing potential grantees.

A complete listing of the Nine Elements, including indicators, may be downloaded here (PDF).

Resources for Fundraisers and Grantwriters

  • Association of Fundraising Professionals
    Association of Fundraising Professionals works to “advance philanthropy through education, training, and advocacy.” The Houston Chapter of AFP hosts luncheons and workshops.
  • The Center for Community Support at Texas A&M
    The Center for Community Support at Texas A&M provides a broad range of no-cost grant-writing services for Texas communities.
  • The Charity Channel
    The Charity Channel is an online community comprised of nonprofit-sector professionals from around the world who volunteer their time, advice, information, tips and articles for the benefit of the community.
  • Federal Grants Notifier System
    Grants.gov is a central storehouse for information on over 1,000 grant programs and provides access to approximately $400 billion in annual awards.
  • The Foundation Center
    The Foundation Center maintains the most comprehensive database on U.S. grantmakers and their grants.  Visitors can view IRS 990 PF’s for U.S. grantmakers and statistics on grantmakers. The site also offers online courses on grantwriting and more, offers Request for Proposal (RFP) bulletins and email notifications of RFP’s related to your area.
  • GrantStation
    GrantStation provides access to a searchable database of grantmakers that are actively accepting proposals from a variety of organizations. There is a membership fee.
  • Grassroots Fundraising Journal
    The Grassroots Fundraising Journal offers free articles as well as ones available by subscription.
  • Guidestar
    Guidestar provides information and IRS 990 PFs on private foundations and IRS 990s on other nonprofits.
  • Grant Writers’ Network
    Grant Writers’ Network of Greater Houston offers classes and networking for grant writing professionals.
  • Nonprofit Resource Center of Texas
    The Nonprofit Resource Center of Texas offers subscription access to a database to research foundations.
  • Noza Search

Noza Search is a free, online searchable database containing more than 26 million charitable donation records.

Programs offered through the CPNL are designed to nurture the development and prosperity of nonprofit organizations in the Houston area to improve their capacity to provide services and widen the practice and improve the impact of philanthropy.

Texas Center for Grants Development provides grant-related services to nonprofit, faith-based and community-based organizations.

  • Texas Nonprofits
    Texas Nonprofits offers a foundation search feature as well as forms and letters for grant writers.
  • United Way’s Management Assistance Program (MAP)
    United Way of Greater Houston’s Management Assistance Program (MAP) maintains an onsite library of fundraising books and periodicals and access to the Foundation Center directory, which allows for a search of grantmakers by interest and/or geographic location.
  • University of Houston's Graduate College of Social Work's Office of Community Projects
    University of Houston's Graduate College of Social Work's Office of Community Projects offers the Funding Resource, whose primary service is to provide a list of Funding Sites that will help your organization to maximize time spent looking for funding. Contact them at 713-743-8145 or email.

Resources for Funding of Rural Libraries

Private Foundations

Note: The Directory of Texas Foundation’s “Areas of Interest: Libraries/Library Services” index has a more extensive list. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission website also has a listing.

Civic

  • Lions Club
  • Rotary Club

Corporate

  • HEB
  • Home Depot
  • Local auto dealerships
  • Local banks
  • Union Pacific
  • Wal-Mart

Government

  • County Commissioners
  • Lower Colorado River Authority

Other

Resources for Nonprofit Boards

Board Source

BoardSource is a 501(c)3 organization that aims to increase the effectiveness of nonprofit organizations by strengthening boards of directors through consulting practice, publications, tools and membership program.

BoardSource provides:

  • Resources to nonprofit leaders through workshops, training, and an extensive Web-based database.
  • Governance consultants who work directly with nonprofit leaders to design specialized solutions to meet an organization's needs.
  • A comprehensive selection of material on nonprofit governance, including a large selection of booklets, books, videotapes, and audiotapes.
  • An annual conference that brings together approximately 600 board members and chief executives of nonprofit organizations from around the world.

Compass Point

CompassPoint Nonprofit Services is a consulting, research, and training organization providing nonprofits with management tools, strategies, and resources to lead change in their communities. CompassPoint is home to Board Café, the electronic newsletter exclusively for members of nonprofit boards of directors.