Apply for Pathways
Application Process
- Application: Nonprofits interested in a Pathways Partnership must complete an online application providing information about the organization and its capacity building needs. The Board Chair must also complete a one-page form that articulates the board’s vision for growth. The form also identifies a Board Representative who will actively participate in the Partnership. When submitting an application, organizations are asked to select and save the date for potential interviews.
- Interviews: Organizations that advance to the second stage in the partner selection process participate in two virtual interviews. In the first interview, the Executive Director and Board Representative meet with two members of Fair Chance’s Partnership selection team for two hours. The second interview is one-hour for the Executive Director with other members of the selection team.
- Notification & Feedback: Applicants are notified by early-September. All applicants that do not receive a Partnership will be given the opportunity to get feedback on their application and some applicants also will be offered a two-hour capacity building session to receive coaching, thought partnership, and resources related to a specific organizational challenge.
Eligibility
Nonprofits that meet the eligibility criteria below must complete an online application providing:
- A current tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
- A mission, or at least one program, that addresses specific needs of children, youth, and families experiencing poverty in Washington, DC
- A need for stronger leadership, practices, policies, or tools in at least two Pathways capacity building areas
- At least one program that has been running for a year or longer and will continue running the year following the Partnership
- An Executive Director (paid or unpaid) who:
- has held the position for at least one year prior to the application deadline and intends to remain in this position for the duration of the Partnership
- can commit 8 hours a week during the Partnership to capacity building work, including a weekly two-hour meeting with a Capacity Building Specialist held during Fair Chance business hours (9 am – 6 pm)
- A Board of Directors made up of at least five members
- A Board Representative who:
- has been on the Board for at least one year,
- is familiar with how the Board currently does its work and the Board’s strengths and challenges
- has the time [3 hours/week for 4 months (Jan – April)] to do independent work and meet with your Capacity Building Specialist approximately every other week
- has the authority to create tools, processes, and systems for the Board to use in doing its work.
Priority consideration is given to organizations:
- that are led by people of color (i.e., either the Executive Director or a majority of the members of the Board of Directors, including the Board Chair, self-identify as POC), and/or
- where at least 50% of the children, youth, and families served are Washington, DC residents who are experiencing poverty
Organizations that do not meet these priority considerations are still eligible and encouraged to apply.
FAQs
Partnership FAQ
How much does the Partnership cost?
The Pathways Partnership is free, but does require a significant investment of the Executive Director and a Board Member’s time and effort. Fair Chance’s Partnerships are free of charge in order to ensure that small nonprofits have more equitable access to quality capacity building support.
What is the time commitment required to participate in the Pathways Partnership?
The Executive Director is expected to devote eight hours per week to the assessment, the leadership discussion group, and Partnership work, spending at least two of those hours meeting with the Capacity Building Specialist.
The Board Representative devotes 2 hours to the assessment, and about 3 hours per week from Jan – April focusing on independent work and meeting with the Capacity Building Specialist approximately every other week to accomplish Board Development and/or Leadership & Management goals.
Likewise, the Capacity Building Specialist devotes 8 to 10 hours per week to working with a partner organization.
Which Board Member should be the Board Representative during the Pathways Partnership?
Board Representatives take active roles in the orientation and assessment. Also, they play a critical role in Partnership work if we focus on Board Development or Leadership & Management. Therefore, the Board Representative needs to be someone who:
- has served on the Board for at least one year
- is familiar with how the Board currently does its work and the Board’s strengths and challenges
- has the time [3 hours/week for 4 months (Jan – April)] to do independent work and meet with your Capacity Building Specialist approximately every other week
- has the authority to create tools, processes, and systems for the Board to use in doing its work.
Often the Board Representative is the Board Chair, but if another Board Member best meets the requirements of the role, then a plan to keep the Board Chair informed throughout the Partnership will be devised.
How is the Pathways Partnership different from working with a Consultant?
Traditional engagements with consultants tend to be product driven. Fair Chance’s role is to share knowledge and resources, and provide thought-partnership and coaching. We work alongside you during a Partnership, rather than producing things for you (e.g., we help you develop a fundraising plan; we do not fundraise for you). The work is held and driven by the organization’s leadership. The success of any Partnership depends on how much your Executive Director and Board put into our work together. Learn more about what makes Fair Chance Partnership unique.
How does Fair Chance's assessment work?
Does my organization need to complete a Pathways Partnership before I can apply for other Fair Chance capacity building programs?
If I don’t meet the priority considerations, can I still get a Partnership?
If my organization completed a Fair Chance Partnership in the past, can we apply for a Pathways Partnership?
No, Pathways Partnerships are only available to organizations that have not previously received capacity building support through Fair Chance’s Pathways, Praxis, Partnerships or Ready for Work programs. If you don’t know if your organization has completed one of these programs in the past, please review this list of our Alumni Partners.
Can I save the application as a draft or do I need to complete it all at once?
My organization does not keep track of how many children, youth, and families in our program(s) are experiencing poverty. Can we still apply?
Yes, however, alignment with our mission is important. Therefore, make sure that your application speaks to:
- how your programs are or will be specifically addressing the needs and transforming the lives of children, youth, and families experiencing poverty in Washington, DC.
- your intention to start collecting this information within the next year.
We do not have an organizational budget. How should I answer the questions in the Finances section?
How much detail are you looking for in the Capacity Building Needs section?
The Capacity Building Needs section is a critical part of the application; please take time to reflect on your capacity building needs. Describing how you and your organization would like to grow and develop during the Partnership will strengthen your application. It may help to think of the structures, policies, and procedures that you would like to create or refine. Alternatively, you could share what you would like to change or what is not working at your organization. For example, “We need a better process for recruiting new board members” or you can say, “We have not added any new members to the board in two years and we want to change this.”
“Don’t be afraid to acknowledge where your organization needs a lot of work. You can be a lot more transparent with Fair Chance and it really allows them to dig a lot deeper into how they can support you…it is not about evaluating you, but instead asking to figure out what needs to get done so you leave this Partnership with the right tools. We may not solve it completely right here, but you know that leaving this you’ll have everything in place to help you get where you’re trying to go. Transparency is key.” – 2020 Partner Executive Director
My organization does not have one or more of the requested attachments. Are they required? Do the attachments that I have need to be formatted in a specific way?
I have more questions. Is there someone I can speak with directly?
Yes! Please sign up for a Partnership Consultation and you can meet by zoom or phone with a member of our DC Program Team