New One-stop Funding Information Resource Serves Arizona Nonprofits

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New One-stop Funding Information Resource Serves Arizona Nonprofits

By University Communications
November 8, 2007

The School of Public Administration and Policy at The University of Arizona's Eller College of Management has launched a free electronic newsletter that compiles government funding sources relevant to the state’s nonprofit community.

Staff and volunteers at the 1.48 million tax-exempt organizations across the country spend hours searching for grant opportunities that match their needs and eligibility.

In Arizona, this often frustrating process is being addressed through Arizona Networks, the state’s first one-stop resource for nonprofits to find current government RFPs (Request for Proposals), RFQs (Request for Qualifications) and grants. The inaugural issue was sent to more than 1,000 nonprofit leaders. It will be produced and distributed monthly.

“Federal, state, and local governments award contracts through grants, bids and RFPs – often on a really short timeline,” explained Sarah Maxwell, UA public administration lecturer and coordinator of the newsletter. “There wasn’t any one source in Arizona for nonprofits to find those opportunities. Sustainability is an ongoing issue for nonprofits, and we have the resources to provide a service that can make a positive impact on our community.”

The idea for the publication grew out of the Eller College Associate Dean H. Brinton Milward’s research into the “hollow state,” the trend in government to contract with nonprofit and for-profit companies to implement programs that government would otherwise have to run itself.

“When government services are contracted out, professional training and information sharing are critically important,” said Milward, who also holds the Providence Service Corporation Chair at the Eller College. “We’ve spent a lot of time developing non-degree professional development courses for government and nonprofit leaders, including the Arizona Healthcare Leadership Academy and the Southwest Leadership Program."

According to Milward, markets work better when more information is available, which is why they developed an information resource on government contracting to complement its professional training programs.