‘Ready for Work’ Nonprofit Capacity Building Program Expands to Include Free Interactive Workshops and Support for Nonprofits in Prince George’s County
The Prince George’s County Council, in partnership with Venture Philanthropy Partners (VPP), announces the launch of Prince George’s SOAR (Support. Organize. Act. Rise.), an expansion of the Ready for Work Nonprofit Capacity Building Program, formed with Council funding support in FY 2018, to strengthen nonprofits dedicated to improving the lives of young people in Prince George’s County.
Prince George’s SOAR, a virtual workshop series presented by the Council and VPP, will be administered by Fair Chance, a local capacity building organization specializing in achieving great outcomes for small and medium nonprofits, and feature interactive workshops designed especially for Prince George’s County nonprofits. The workshops will feature monthly office hours with capacity building specialists to help participating nonprofits apply their learnings.
Prince George’s County Council Chair Calvin S. Hawkins, II, says expansion of the Ready for Work Nonprofit Capacity Building Program supports County nonprofits during a time when the need is greatest. “The Council is pleased to partner with VPP and Fair Chance to launch Prince George’s SOAR, an important opportunity aimed at strengthening our local nonprofits and the County’s social safety net, in continued effort to meet the growing needs of our residents, , especially during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. We look forward to this groundbreaking work to build capacity for our nonprofit community.”
Carol Thompson Cole, Venture Philanthropy Partners President and CEO, shares her enthusiasm: “When we saw how valuable the Ready for Work Nonprofit Capacity Building Program workshops were in developing knowledge and sustainability in community-based nonprofits, we knew that a new program that offered increased access to a larger group of nonprofits, paired with critical support, in Prince George’s County was going to benefit the community. We are excited to continue our partnership with the Prince George’s County Council to build the capacity of nonprofits in the County.”
Gretchen van der Veer, Fair Chance Chief Executive Officer, states: “We are thrilled to continue our capacity building partnership with the Council and VPP with the newly developed SOAR program, expanding our engagement to all Prince George’s County nonprofits and their life-changing work.”
Prince George’s SOAR officially launches on October 1, for nonprofits throughout Prince George’s County. Workshops will be featured monthly and delivered over multiple sessions. All sessions will be virtual via Zoom. Optional office hours with a capacity building specialist for advice and support are scheduled every month. Up to three (3) individuals per nonprofit can participate.
This program is made possible through FY 22 Council grant funding and is offered free to participating nonprofits in Prince George’s County. Nonprofits must register via bit.ly/PrinceGeorgesCountySOAR to set up an organizational profile. Further information on Prince George’s SOAR next steps, including access to the workshop calendar will be provided following registration.
For questions or concerns, please contact Fair Chance Director of Prince George’s County Programs Valarie Ashley at vashley@fairchancedc.org
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