Technical Assistance & Capacity Building
In 2002, Michigan LISC implemented the Organizational Excellence Initiative (OEI), a program that provides assessment, technical assistance and training to community development corporations (CDCs) and other nonprofit organizations located in Michigan. The overall goal of the OEI is to build a strong cadre of neighborhood based organizations in Michigan capable of taking on projects of increasing scope and scale in order to improve both the physical condition and social fiber of their neighborhoods.
At the heart of OEI is LISC's CapMap® program, a diagnostic resource designed to assist LISC with mapping the current capacity of an organization. Working in partnership with a CDC, LISC can determine a path for growth and measure achievements along the way. CapMap® distinguishes progressive stages of competency in nine key areas of organizational activity that are crucial for success:
- Board Governance
- Community Connections
- Executive Director
- Financial Management
- Fund Development
- Human Resources and Staff Development
- Management Information Systems (MIS)
- Real Estate Asset Management
- Real Estate Development
By using CapMap® to help target and refine strategies for organizational growth, LISC strives to work more effectively with our CDC partners. Our hope is that CapMap® will assist in identifying specific areas of organizational growth to invest in, planning the use of resources more effectively, and evaluating the impact of our capacity building efforts.