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Klass Strategies

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Faith and Community Works for Utah

UtahIssuesFCWServices

Strategic Planning, Community Relations

Client

Utah Issues Center for Poverty Research and Action

Objectives

To understand the extent of faith-based organization (FBO) willingness to partner with government in service delivery and provide technical assistance to as many willing FBOs as possible (including fund raising), and provide state with recommendations for further action.  This was a competitively bid sate contract project.

Barriers

Manager left project midway, largest religious denomination (70 % of Utahns) unsupportive of government partnership, lack of communication channels reach disparate population of FBOs and lack of trust in government outreach efforts.

Stakeholders

Representatives of nonprofit, religious, low income advocacy and state service organizations.

Strategy and Activities

Consultant provided technical assistance portion of contract, provided support to steering committee and assisted with project completion as needed.  Technical assistance consisted of one on one assessments with FBO leaders and follow up with planning and funding exploration.  Consultant led track of annual track of statewide poverty solutions conference devoted to FBO services and provided radio and print exposure for project and assisted with developing recommendations and presentations to project funders and legislators.

Revenue Generated

One local foundation grant was sought, awarded and later returned by one FBO.

Outcomes

Assessment and follow up technical assistance provided to approximately two dozen FBOs.  Research indicated that most FBOs not interested in partnering with government and those that did , did not yet possess adequate capacity to handle government service contracts. The capacity of several FBOS was substantially increased.  One collaborative group that the consultant facilitated the Ogden Area Youth Alliance, is still in existence and has sought and received funding on a shared basis.  State government has not yet actively provided capacity building support to FBOs.