November 26 , 2008
Contacts:
Product Information: Jeff Baloutine, 816-714-1213, jbaloutine@nw.org
Media: Doug Robinson, 202-220-2360, drobinson@nw.org
Investors, Supporters and Stakeholders of Housing and Community Development Organizations Get New Evaluation Tool from NeighborWorks® America
Washington, DC –NeighborWorks America, a leading nonprofit housing and community development intermediary today announced that it would begin offering a state-of-the-art organizational assessment tool that will assist investors, nonprofit partners, governments and others to evaluate nonprofit organization activity and community impact.
Based on an internal assessment process and technology developed over the past
25 years, PROMPT™ creates an objective measure that will help nonprofit organizations of different types improve their ability to improve the lives of residents and communities.
“PROMPT™ is designed to build capacity and promote good business practices, while taking a ‘moving picture’ of an organization and the challenges and opportunities it faces,” said Ron Johnston, director of the Organizational Assessment division at NeighborWorks America. “Moreover, PROMPT™ helps guide nonprofit leaders and their various stakeholders toward more entrepreneurial and objective thinking while incorporating knowledge brought by industry experts through the PROMPT™ experience.”
Oregon Housing and Community Services recently contracted with OAD to evaluate several of its grantees. “We approached NeighborWorks to help us evaluate our community-based partners, and we are thrilled that these tools are now available. We’ve got several assessments in process and anticipate using PROMPT™ regularly to maximize affordable housing production in the state of Oregon,” said Bob Gillespie, Housing Division administrator.
While finances are expected to be tight for many nonprofit organizations in 2009, the fact is for several years investors and other financial supporters of nonprofit housing and community development organizations have increased the attention they pay on the fiscal health of organizations and how to accurately assess an organization. Johnston explained that, “PROMPT™ offers a Financial Health Assessment in which expert evaluators review multiple years of financial reports to determine the fiscal health of an organization and therefore its investment-readiness. Both of these tools may be tailored to meet the needs of a nonprofit, partner, or sponsoring organization — and result in recommended practices for success.”
“Competition for financial resources is a fact of life for nonprofit leaders,” said Ken Wade, NeighborWorks America CEO. “We’re proud to be able to provide a tool that will help nonprofit organizations around the country improve their ability to plan programs, measure results and attract resources. In the long run, increased focus in these areas helps the entire nonprofit industry.”
More information about NeighborWorks' organizational assessment services can be found on the NeighborWorks America Web site or by contacting Jeff Baloutine, 816-714-1213, jbaloutine@nw.org. Media inquiries should be directed to Doug Robinson, 202 220 2360, drobinson@nw.org.
About NeighborWorks America
NeighborWorks America creates opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities by providing access to homeownership and to safe and affordable rental housing. Since 1991, we have assisted nearly 1.2 million low- to moderate-income families with their housing needs. Much of our success is achieved through our support of the NeighborWorks network ― more than 230 community development organizations working in more than 4,400 urban, suburban and rural communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $15 billion in reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWorks America is the nation’s leading trainer of community development and affordable housing professionals.
