Capacity Building and Community Engagement Grant Program

Purpose

OCPSC seeks an awardee responsible for building a network of CBOs and a program that can enhance their capacity building training to enable organizations to be better equipped for engagement with the state and future challenges their communities may encounter.

Description

As outlined in Government Code 65052, the objective of the Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications (OCPSC) is to coordinate California’s most important statewide public awareness and community outreach campaigns so the state can realize more inclusive and effective outcomes while preventing equity gaps in statewide outreach. OCPSC is also expected to strengthen the ability of local organizations to serve vulnerable communities across California. Using the best practices identified through prior work, OCPSC has partnered with community- based organizations throughout the state that can build trust with communities through on-the- ground engagement. OCPSC has also partnered with intermediary, nonprofit organizations that have the capacity and local networks to strengthen civic engagement across sectors. These partnerships have been made up of community-based organizations (CBOs) and other nonprofit organizations who reflect the language and culture of the community they serve and can have authentic interactions with their communities and provide accurate information and resources on critical issues. The Capacity Building and Community Engagement (CBCE) Grant Program is designed to build strengthening capacity for CBOs. It will result in a network of funded partners who can support local, community-based organizations to thrive in an environment characterized by change and uncertainty. The Awardee for this RFA will be responsible for building a network of CBOs and a program that can enhance their capacity building training to enable organizations to be better equipped for engagement with the state and future challenges their communities may encounter. As part of this grant program, the awardee will 1) develop a local and/or collaborative network of community-based organizations and other entities, and 2) strengthen the capacity of CBOs and provide them with technical assistance on effective response to state programs. Activities of the program may include the ability to form collaborative networks, leverage resources, and strengthen organizational capacity. These CBOs will also tie their work back to OCPSC’s ongoing priorities including: 1. Hard-to-reach, vulnerable communities and people otherwise missed by larger community- based efforts will be served by “trusted messengers”. OCPSC learned during Census 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic that, when funded, small CBOs can effectively conduct awareness and outreach. 2. The activities and shared learning opportunities with this grant’s support will strengthen local capacity and relational connection between all partners, providing pathways for relief to impacted communities. 3. OCPSC will learn and engage with communities regarding their unique community resilience for current and future priority issue areas.