Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Compassion Capital Program?
   The Compassion Capital Program is a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services competitive grant program aimed to encourage the replication of effective approaches and programs to better meet the needs of underserved and low- to moderate-income communities. This represents the federal government's effort to strengthen organizations operating closest to those most in need. Faith- and community-based organizations have a long history of providing important services to underserved and low- to moderate-income communities. The federal government realizes that these organizations often operate effectively at the individual and community levels, and that these are areas that government alone can not reach.
2. What is the Hawai‘i Moving Forward Project?
   The Hawai‘i Moving Forward Project is the title of the locally funded federal initiative described above. The Hawai‘i Moving Forward Project represents a partnership among the University of Hawai‘i Center on the Family, the Hawai‘i Community Foundation, and the Hawaiian Islands Ministries. Hawaii Moving Forward was awarded its third grant from the Compassion Capital Fund in 2006. The project aims to provide training, technical assistance, a Fellows Program, and capacity-building grants to grassroots, community service and faith-based organizations that serve low income and under-resourced populations in Hawai‘i.
3. What kinds of training and technical assistance can we access?
   The project utilizes a two-tiered approach to achieve its objective. Training workshops on leadership development, organizational development, program and services, revenue development, and community engagement will be conducted for all interested service organizations in the state. Access to the second level of participation requires selection into the Compassion Capital Fellows Program.
4. What is the Compassion Capital Fellows Program?
   Project partners will identify a cohort of grassroots, community and faith-based organizations to participate in the Fellows Program, a more intensive and targeted capacity- building program. Organizations selected for this program will receive individualized organizational assessments that identify areas in need of strengthening, technical assistance from a cadre of coaches, and the opportunity to apply for grants to support capacity-building initiatives. Two representatives from each organization will also be required to attend regular training sessions covering a range of capacity-building subjects.
5. What activities do the capacity building grants support?
   Only those selected to participate in the Fellows program will have an opportunity to apply for a capacity building grant. The grant may NOT fund direct social services. Rather, the grant will support capacity building activities that produce measurable impact resulting in more sustainable organizations. Examples of activities could include, but are not limited to: strategic planning, financial-management systems development, staff development and training, project planning, improvements to collecting or tracking information, fund development, or community needs assessments. Grants may NOT be used for operational support, and no part of the grant may go to fund religious activities.
6. How do I apply for a capacity building grant?
   In order to be eligible to apply for a grant, your organization must first be selected to participate in the Fellows Program. Public information meetings for organizations interested in participating in the third cohort of the Fellows Program will be conducted in early January 2007, and applications will be made available then.
7. If our organization is not a 501(c)(3), may we apply to the Fellows Program?
   Yes.
8. What kinds of religious activities are allowed?
   None. The Charitable Choice laws prohibit religious organizations from using federal funds to support any inherently religious activities (such as worship, religious instruction, and proselytizing). The Charitable Choice laws also specify that religious organizations that receive federal funds must serve all eligible participants, regardless of those persons' religious beliefs