The Human Services Coalition is dedicated to helping your nonprofit be the best it can be. Depending on your needs and project scope, we can engage directly with your organization or connect you with our vast network of consultants.
HSC Consulting
HSC offers high-quality, affordable consulting services tailored to meet your needs. Whether your organization is small or large, we provide consulting expertise in several areas including governance, board development, planning and strategy, fundraising, and program development and evaluation.
For more information, please contact our Director of Leadership Development and Consulting Services, Shasta Savage, at ssavage@hsctc.org.
HSC also maintains an online Leadership Development Library full of useful information, articles, and sample documents geared towards nonprofit board and staff.
HSC IMPACT Network – Funding for Consulting Services
This fund provides financial assistance to not-for-profit organizations to receive organizational and professional development support.
This fund can be used for consulting, training and coaching services.
Consulting allows organizations to receive agency-specific capacity building tools and guidance, contributing to the achievement of mission-driven goals.
Coaching offers tailored assistance to individuals and groups in navigating the change process, developing new skills and managing complex situations.
Priority consideration is given to organizations that are BIPOC led and/or primarily serve BIPOC communities as well as those with limited professional development budgets.
Eligibility and Guidelines
- Executive Director or designee of a not-for-profit community-based organization or a fiscally sponsored program in Tompkins County.
- To be considered, request for support will be submitted a minimum of four weeks prior to the start of the consulting/coaching/training engagement.(Support requests that need to occur sooner than four weeks after application submission may be considered on a case by case basis. Please note this in the application.)
- Consulting, coaching and/or training must be for the organization whose Executive Director or designee submits an application
- Funding for consulting, coaching and/or training services
- Award is for up to $3,000 per organization (Organizations are required to contribute up to 25% of the total cost of the engagement)
- Awards are given on a rolling basis
- One award per organization per year
How to Apply for IMPACT Network Funding
- Complete and submit an online request form at least four weeks prior to the desired start date.
- Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their request within two weeks of submission.
- Funds will be provided to the organization upon receipt of the following:
- A copy of a signed contract including timelines between the organization and service provider.
- An invoice from the service provider for the engagement.
Review Criteria
- Description of how the consulting, training and/or coaching will: enhance the work of the organization and/or its employees; raise professional knowledge, awareness, or understanding; encourage awareness, understanding, and/or collaboration in their respective field related to their organization’s mission and/or specifically their work on behalf of the organization.
- Requestors must demonstrate why the consulting/training/coaching is cost-prohibitive to their organization and why funding is needed, including but not limited to agency budget and amount allocated for professional development.
- Capacity building through consulting, coaching and training may include but are not limited to:
- Board development
- Collaborations and mergers
- Data collection and evaluation
- Diversity, equity, inclusion, justice and accessibility support
- Feasibility studies
- Fundraising and grant support
- Leadership coaching
- Marketing and storytelling
- Needs assessments
- Organizational effectiveness and sustainability
- Program design and development
- Staff training, recruitment and retention
- Strategic planning
- Succession planning
Engagement Requirements
- Awardees are required to meet with HSC’s Director of Leadership Development at the beginning, during and at the end of the engagement as well as for a 3-month post-engagement follow up
- Awardees are required to submit a brief report to HSC post-program outlining the top takeaways/learning points from the consulting/training/coaching and any other information that might benefit the not for profit community at large.
- Awardees are required to submit proof of payment by the service provider.
- Failure to complete or submit any portion of the engagement requirements may result in a denial of future funding requests.
Questions may be directed to Shasta Savage at ssavage@hsctc.org
Get Out of Town Program – Conference/Seminar Assistance
This fund provides financial assistance to not-for-profit professionals to attend out-of-town conferences, seminars, and workshops outside of Tompkins County.
The funds can be used for registration fees and travel expenses.
Conferences allow attendees to develop strong professional networks, learn about leading practices, explore innovative techniques, and hear from experts and others in their field. They can re-energize, spark new ideas, and gain fresh perspectives on their work and the collective work of the not-for-profit sector.
Priority consideration are given to organizations that are BIPOC led and/or serve primarily BIPOC communities and those with limited professional development budgets.
Eligibility and Guidelines
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- Paid employee of a not-for-profit community-based organization or a fiscally sponsored program in Tompkins County.
- To be considered, request for support will be submitted a minimum of four weeks prior to the final day of registration for the conference.
- Conferences must be within the United States or Canada
- Funding for in-person conference registration, fees, travel, lodging, and food
- Award is for up to $1,200 per person and up to two people per application
(Requests that can demonstrate an increased benefit for more than 2 people attending may be considered)
- Awards are given on a rolling basis
- One award per organization per year
How to Apply for Get Out of Town Program Funding
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- Complete and submit an online request form at least four weeks prior to the final day of registration for the conference, seminar or workshop.
- Requests will include conference/workshop location, agenda, sessions, and speakers (if available).
- Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their request within two weeks of submission.
- Funds will be provided to the organization prior to the conference to avoid invoicing or cash outlay by the requesting organization.
Review Criteria
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- Description of how the conference theme, sessions, or speakers will: enhance their work and the work of their organization; raise professional knowledge, awareness, or understanding; encourage awareness, understanding, and/or collaboration in their respective field related to their organization’s mission and/or specifically their work on behalf of the organization.
- Requestors must demonstrate why the program is cost-prohibitive to their organization and why funding is needed, including but not limited to agency budget and amount allocated for professional development.
- Topics of conferences we’ve approved include but are not limited to: addiction, education, library sciences, feeding seniors, farming, the evolution of play, funding development, advances in historical research, and supportive housing.
Post-conference Requirements
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- Awardees are required to submit a brief report to HSC post-program outlining the top takeaways/learning points from the event and any other information that might benefit the not for profit community at large.
- Awardees are required to submit receipts matching the amount of the award.
- Failure to submit the post-conference requirements may result in a denial of future funding requests.
Questions may be directed to Tamara S. Beardsley at tbeardsley@hsctc.org