Community Consulting Teams Atlanta

Start the Process

If you are interested in submitting a client application for consideration, the application form is available for download below (MS Word format). E-mail submission is required, unless special arrangements have been made. Applications must be received by midnight October 3, 2011.

Click on the link below to download the 2011-2012 Client Application Form. Deadline for submitting applications is Monday, October 3, 2011.

CLIENT APPLICATION LINK

Also click on the link to download the guidance on completing the application.

CLIENT GUIDANCE LINK

About the Process

Since 1996, Community Consulting Teams (CCT)—Atlanta has been forming teams of volunteer Atlanta-area consultants and matching them with local organizations who submit projects that lend themselves to the sort of business and management analysis and problem solving that our volunteers can provide so effectively.

Each year, we select 15-25 non-profit organization projects; to date, we’ve completed more than 175 successful projects in diverse areas such as growth strategies, marketing strategies, operational planning, and organizational and human resources planning and development. The process and timetable for the 2011-12 season is:

Request for Project Applications Published ::	Aug-Sep 2011
Applications Submitted ::	Oct 3, 2011
Semi-Finalists Selected and Contacted for More Information/Site Visit ::	Mid-November 2011
Finalist Clients Selected ::	Late-December 2011
Team Formation/Orientation ::	Late January, 2012
Team Kick-Off Meeting with Client ::	Late Jan/early February 2012
Mid-Term Review ::	March 2012
Teams Complete Work ::	Late May/early June 2012

Clients/Projects We Serve

CCT gives priority to organizations and projects that meet the following criteria:

Organizations that:

• have a 501(c)(3) or equivalent designation
• have an annual budget of less than $5 million (although we work with larger organizations on a case-by-case basis)
• are located in the Metro Atlanta area (local chapters of national organization are acceptable)
• have dynamic leaders who are open to advice from third parties
• have a designated paid full-time “executive director”
• have a highly-engaged board, including a member willing to serve as a project champion

Projects that:

• are central/significant to the organization and its mission/future
• are well-defined and tangible; have specific topics to be addressed and deliverables to be produced
• are able to be completed in about 300-400 person-hours (4-5 months of work for a 4-6 person team, at about 4 hours per week)
• are relevant to the skills, training, and backgrounds of our volunteer consultants

Types of Projects

With more than 175 projects completed, CCT-Atlanta teams have worked with almost every type of nonprofit organization and addressed a wide variety of organizational needs. Here’s a sampling of recent client projects:

Business Plan Development & Feasibility Analysis:

• Feasibility study for a new revenue-generating enterprise
• Feasibility study for expanding services to new clients and geographic areas
• Identification of social entrepreneurship ideas and quick feasibility study

Marketing Strategies:

• Marketing and communications campaign to attract strategic partnerships
• Marketing and PR campaign that can be “staged” for implementation and implemented in-house
• Conversion of in-house marketing data into short- to mid-term marketing plan
• Marketing plan and creation of messages and materials to broaden audience
• Marketing study to re-brand organization after a recent name change
• Assistance with pricing, packaging, promotion, sales and copyrighting of selected products to make them self-sustaining
• Review of current product mix to determine gaps in product line and opportunities for target marketing

Operational Effectiveness & Business Processes:

• Determination of optimal mix of in-house staff and contracted staff to fulfill mission and make best use of resources
• Establishment of policies, procedures, and systems for effectively managing growth
• Development of operational plans, timelines, and benchmarks for roll-out of two new service centers
• Determination of appropriate user fees for organization services to make selected services self-sustaining

Growth Strategies & Planning:

• Establishment of clarity and consensus on background issues for strategic planning such as best partnerships, best practices, and 501(c)(3) status
• Development of strategy for mobilizing corporate and business community on large community issues in education, crime, and environment
• Examination and documentation of state-of-the-organization and current “situation analysis” as part of transition plan for incoming executive director

Types of Projects We are Less Equipped to Handle:

• Fundraising strategies, campaigns, or activities; although we can help with background tasks like defining the financial need and develop key campaign messages
• Board recruitment or development; although we can help with background tasks like identifying needs and gaps
• Full strategic and action plans; although we can help with many plan components such as situation analysis, needs assessment, or identification of strategic issues.

Start the Process

If you are interested in submitting a client application for consideration, the application form is available below (Word Doc) Deadline for submitting applications is Monday, October 3rd, 2011.

CLIENT APPLICATION LINK

Also click on the link to download the guidance on completing the application.

CLIENT GUIDANCE LINK

Download the application from the website and follow the instructions in the application for sending it to us. E-mail submission is required, unless special arrangements have been made. Applications must be received by midnight October 3, 2011.

If you'd like more information about becoming a CCT client or have questions about the process please send us a message with this online form or contact us directly at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .