Recommendations / Civic Engagement / Big Idea #2: Encourage the Creation and Sustainable Operation of 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organizations

Big Idea #2: Encourage the Creation and Sustainable Operation of 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organizations

Part of the "Economic Opportunities" initiative

Civic EngagementAmericus/SumterUnder $250,000

Overview

Make Americus/Sumter County a friendly and supportive place for 501(c)(3) organizations to start and maintain successful operations. The recommendation builds on Americus’s existing nonprofit identity, especially Habitat for Humanity, and frames nonprofit development as both community-building and economic development.

Action plan

Short-term
Research potential training providers, including expertise at existing nonprofits; survey existing nonprofit organizations on training needs; identify possible sources of funding to support the training program; survey existing nonprofits capable of and interested in working on the website; develop a web strategy for creating the network; identify potential groups of volunteers.
Medium-term
Set a schedule of training events; advertise and recruit a cohort of nonprofit organizations; create a website; recruit volunteers.
Long-term
Provide training for a cohort of nonprofit leaders; investigate the possibility of additional training, including one-time training on key topics of interest; provide funding to maintain the website; promote stories about successful matching of volunteers with organizations; recruit businesses to provide incentives for people who volunteer and document volunteer hours.

Expected impact

Projected Partner OrganizationsSustainability

Tracks possible nonprofit resources.

Projected: 2 Resource organizations · Timeframe: Long-term
Projected Future Funding ProbabilitySustainability

Tracks possible funding opportunities for nonprofit support.

Projected: 3 Funding sources
Projected Workforce Training CompletionEducational

Tracks nonprofit training and technical assistance topics.

Projected: 3 Training topics
Projected Future Funding ProbabilitySustainability

Tracks identification of funding sources for nonprofit training.

Timeframe: Medium-term
Projected Recurring Revenue StreamsEconomic

Tracks unemployment reduction associated with additional nonprofits.

Projected: 0.5 Percentage-point lower unemployment · Timeframe: Short-term
Projected Multi Year FundingOperational

Tracks lower-end training budget for existing nonprofits.

Projected: 20,000 Dollars · Timeframe: Medium-term
Projected Organizational Capacity GrowthEconomic

Tracks Georgia’s share of nonprofit sector.

Projected: 13.2 Percent
Projected Implementation CompletionOperational

Tracks research of training providers and existing nonprofit expertise.

Timeframe: Medium-term
Projected Multi Stakeholder InvolvementInstitutional

Tracks recruiting cohort of nonprofit organizations.

Timeframe: Long-term
Projected Multi Year FundingOperational

Tracks website design and construction budget for online connection site.

Projected: 20,000 Dollars · Timeframe: Medium-term
Projected Technology SystemsOperational

Tracks creation of a website connecting nonprofits and volunteers.

Projected: 1 Website
Projected Recurring Revenue StreamsEconomic

Tracks nonprofit sector’s share of state GDP.

Projected: 5.5 Percent of state GDP
Projected Multi Year FundingOperational

Tracks upper-end training budget for existing nonprofits.

Projected: 30,000 Dollars · Timeframe: Medium-term
Projected Community Self SufficiencyCommunity

Tracks volunteer matching between nonprofits and citizens.

Timeframe: Short-term
Projected Organizational Capacity GrowthSustainability

Tracks creation and sustainable operation of 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Americus/Sumter County.

Timeframe: Long-term
Projected Implementation CompletionOperational

Tracks setting a schedule of nonprofit training events.

Timeframe: Long-term
Projected Organizational Capacity GrowthEducational

Tracks cohort training for nonprofit leaders.

Projected: 1 Nonprofit leader cohort · Timeframe: Short-term
Projected Implementation CompletionOperational

Tracks survey of existing nonprofit training needs.

Timeframe: Medium-term
Projected Public Private PartnershipsCommunity

Tracks business incentives for volunteer participation and documented volunteer hours.

Timeframe: Long-term
Projected Organizational Capacity GrowthEconomic

Tracks nonprofit sector’s share of U.S. wages and salaries.

Projected: 9.2 Percent of wages and salaries

Key stakeholders

Americus/Sumter County nonprofit organizationsExisting nonprofit organizationsHabitat for Humanity InternationalChamber of CommerceFoundation or larger nonprofit underwritersCitizens interested in volunteeringVolunteersHandsOn NetworkJ.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, University of GeorgiaMattie H. Marshall FoundationLocal universitiesLocal businesses providing volunteer incentivesNonprofit leaders

Estimated budget

Training for existing nonprofits: $20,000-$30,000. Website design and construction for online connection site: $20,000.