August 2024
Cohort One of DANA’s Nonprofit Accelerator program has been busy as we approach the end of year one of the three-year Accelerator program. Each Accelerator organization participates in transformational projects such as strategic planning, executive coaching, fund development, and much more. Participants in the Catalyst Pathway are strengthening critical underlying systems, such as their accounting and technology systems so that they have a strong foundation from which to grow their organization.
Accelerator organizations participated in three customized workshops in 2024, focused on fund development, risk management, and board development, while the organizations’ executive directors learned alongside one another in multiple peer learning sessions that will continue for the duration of the program.
In July of 2024, DANA opened applications for cohort two of the Accelerator program and is currently guiding organizations through the application process, which ends on August 16th. In late August, each organization’s executive director and committee chair will participate in panel interviews to help assess their readiness for the Accelerator program. Finally, a selection committee will meet to review the application packet of each organization to select the members of cohort two.
Cohort two participants will dive right into the Accelerator program, beginning with the Core Capacity Assessment Tool (CCAT) assessment. The CCAT will provide key insight into the opportunities to increase the cohort two organizations’ impact in the community. Interpreting the results of the CCAT will help DANA produce a work plan for each participant organization- a set of projects tailored to the needs of each organization.
After three years of project-based support, technical assistance with fundamental systems like accounting and technology, bespoke workshops, and the executive director peer learning cohort experience, participants in both cohorts of DANA’s Nonprofit Accelerator will be empowered to thrive and sustain lasting change!