Thank you for your interest in applying for a Compass pro bono consulting project. Compass grants pro bono consulting services to nonprofits that benefit the Greater Washington community. Each nonprofit client receives approximately $150,000 of strategic consulting services - free of charge. This year, we expect to select 20-25 nonprofits.
IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ BEFORE PROCEEDING
Please read through the instructions below before viewing the application. This section explains eligibility requirements. Section Two includes technical guidance on completing this application in Survey Monkey. (PLEASE READ APPLICATION IN WORD OR AS A PDF BEFORE ACCESSING APPLICATION IN SURVEY MONKEY)
DEADLINE: The deadline for client applications is Monday, June 12, 2017 at 5:00 p.m.
ELIGIBILITY: 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations in the Greater Washington area may apply if they have a minimum operating budget of $750,000, three full-time paid staff members, an active board of directors, and a mission that benefits the Greater Washington community. Compass does not accept clients that promote specific religious or political beliefs. Organizations that apply for Funding Strategy projects must have a current Strategic Plan. For other service lines, this is not a requirement.
SELECTION CRITERIA: Compass looks for indications that a potential consulting engagement will be completed successfully and have lasting, meaningful impact. Those indications include financial stability, regular Board meetings, capacity of the Executive Director to participate in the project, an engaged Board Chair interested in the proposed project, a well-defined and realistic project scope, and a track record of community impact.
When selecting the final roster of clients, Compass looks for geographic diversity (DC, MD, VA) not too far from the immediate metropolitan area, service line diversity, and clients that represent a wide range of issue areas.
Compass rarely accepts clients who have an interim Executive Director or who are about to transition to a new Executive Director. Compass will defer a project if the Executive Director leaves during the project period (September 2017-June 2018).
REPEAT CLIENTS: We encourage past clients to apply for additional projects. However, most clients benefit from taking a year off between projects.
CLIENT SELECTION AND PROJECT TIMELINE: Over the summer, Compass representatives will contact and interview (separately) the Executive Director and Board Chair of applicants that meet the basic criteria, listed above. Compass will announce final client selections in August.
Project Leaders will begin working with clients in September. Teams will be fully formed, trained, and begin working in earnest in late October, with projects completed by June 2018. Please keep in mind that we will host our annual PROJECT LAUNCH on October 5, 2017. This event is a chance for prospective volunteers to meet Compass' clients and learn about the projects. Clients are REQUIRED to attend this event.
CONFIDENTIALITY: All information in this application will be kept confidential within Compass, the Client Selection Committee, and if selected, within the project team.
QUESTIONS: If you have any questions after viewing the application, please feel free to contact me. I would be happy to talk to you about the best way to complete this application, and particularly about the best way to think about and present the scope of the project you are requesting.
Thanks again for your interest in Compass.
Hallie Smith
Director of Consulting Programs
(202) 629-2354
hsmith@compassdc.org