HoCo EXCEL is Howard County’s new Nonprofit Excelerator Program established to provide training, coaching, and additional resources to help increase the growth and capacity of Howard County’s nonprofit sector. The purpose of this initiative is to help Howard County’s nonprofits build their capacity to be “high performing” organizations able to deliver meaningful, measurable, and financially sustainable results for those they serve. This includes developing a strong internal infrastructure and effective governance, delivering services with measurable impact, and achieving greater financial stability. Ultimately, it’s about building the capacity to make a significant and lasting difference in the lives of the people in our community. HoCo EXCEL is designed to provide participating nonprofits with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to build their capacity for high performance through the following two-pronged approach:
• Training Program – customized, sector-wide trainings designed to be experiential and interactive to build knowledge and skills as well as provide tools and resources that attendees can immediately apply within their organizations.
• Capacity-Building Cohort – Multi-year initiative to provide intensive, multi-layered support including grant funding, organizational assessments leading to customized action plans, one-on-one coaching, and other individualized resources.
HoCo EXCEL is designed to provide participating nonprofits with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to build their capacity for high performance.
The Community Foundation of Howard County (CFHoCo) is pleased to announce this open call for applications from nonprofits interested in being considered for a spot in the inaugural Capacity Building Cohort for HoCo EXCEL. The deadline to apply is July 22. The Capacity Building Cohort is a 3-year initiative during which cohort members will receive customized coaching and training paired with annual operating grant funding ($20,000 for Year 1, $20,000 for Year 2, $15,000 for Year 3) and other resources. Up to f ive (5) nonprofits will be selected. Applications can be accessed via CFHoCo’s Online Grants Portal beginning June 26th, 2024. The deadline to apply is July 22nd, 2024.