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Intermediaries or coalitions of FBOs/CBOs make sense as a delivery model to implement the President's Faith-based and Community Initiative. These groups are lead organizations with the experience and capacity to apply for and manage an AmeriCorps grant. They make application on behalf of a consortium or coalition of FBOs and/or CBOs.

Emerging research from the Hudson Institute suggests the use of intermediaries has been an effective strategy for the implementation of the 1996 Charitable Choice Act to enact welfare reform. Barriers for FBOs were specifically addressed, making it possible for FBOs to compete on the same basis as secular organizations. The findings note that the use of intermediaries to effectively mobilize FBOs in the delivery of services has worked both for FBOs and the government agencies managing the process. See Empowering Compassion: The Strategic Role of Intermediary Organizations in Building Capacity Among and Enhancing the Impact of Community Transformers Appendix S.

Commissions are finding this approach helpful in addressing concerns about the capacity of new applicants to meet administrative, fiscal, and programmatic responsibilities, while building the relationships and experience necessary for future success as potential grantees.

Challenges

• Finding organizations with willingness and capacity to serve as an intermediary.

Ensuring that the community organizations (secular and/or faith-based) receiving AmeriCorps members fully understand their roles and responsibilities and act as partners vs. recipients.

Benefits

• Builds the experience and capacity of community organizations (secular and faith-based) new to AmeriCorps grants over time.
• Provides a higher level of assurance for Commissions that grants will be managed appropriately.

Strategies

1. Identify organizations or agencies that already serve as the convener or lead in an initiative that involves partnerships with community organizations (secular or faith-based) such as a public health or public safety initiative. See Toolkit: Sample List of Intermediaries Appendix T.
2. Identify existing grantees that might be appropriate to take on an expanded role as an intermediary for additional community organizations (secular and faith-based). See Toolkit: Agency Grantees Appendix U.
3. Encourage community organizations (secular and faith-based) new to CNCS to work together to form new coalitions or partnerships; identify the lead organization and develop a memorandum of agreement among themselves to manage the administrative, fiscal, and programmatic
   responsibilities.

Outputs

• An effective organizational structure through which to partner with new community organizations (secular and faith-based).

Title: "Empowering Compassion," Hudson Institute, Amy L. Sherman
Tool Type: Article
Purpose: The study examines the role of the intermediary, how they do what they do, and documents concrete contributions. There is significant evidence suggesting that, because of the help of intermediary support, frontline faith-based organizations across the nation are serving more people, more effectively.
Location: Appendix S

Title: Sample list of intermediaries
Tool Type: Reference
Purpose: A list to be used to generate ideas for potential intermediates.
Location: Appendix T

Title: Agency Grantees<
Tool Type: Reference
Purpose: A reference sheet to point State Commissions to strategic opportunities to partner with grantees who already receive grants in their state from various cabinet agencies around specific initiatives such as after-school programs, mentoring, gang prevention, housing, employment, etc.
Location: Appendix U

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