SPI is a one-year comprehensive training program that provides an opportunity for leaders of emerging nonprofits and faith-based organizations in the District to strengthen their executive leadership skills and organizational capacity. The program is designed to support the participants' goals of improving management skills and organizational program services, and to help them gain greater access to grant-related resources.
Participants representing all wards of the city and providing a wide-range of services are selected through a competitive application process. For the first six months, the program offers bi-weekly capacity-building instruction on core topics such as fundraising, financial management and board development. It also provides several months of individual coaching with professionals from local nonprofits, businesses and government. Ultimately, the participants are required to present a project demonstrating how they plan to use the tools from the program to improve their organizations. All the participants who successfully complete the program are recognized at the annual SPI graduation ceremony and are eligible to receive a mini-grant to support additional capacity building efforts.
OPGS recruits volunteers to serve as coaches for the SPI program. Each participant is matched with a coach who then guides the participant through a "demonstration project." Qualified volunteers have professional experience in the nonprofit, faith-based, government or business sectors, and are available to give overall guidance to an emerging nonprofit organization. Selected coaches are required to meet with their designated SPI participants during four scheduled meetings. In addition, coaches may provide counseling through one-on-one meetings or telephone calls. At the completion of the program, coaches receive special recognition from the Mayor.
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