What CCT Does | Clients/Projects We Serve | Types of Projects | Types of Clients | What Clients Say | Start the Process!

Since 1996, Community Consulting Teams (CCT)—Atlanta has been forming teams of volunteer Atlanta-area MBAs 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 10 or more non-profit organization projects; to date, we’ve completed more than 90 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 2006-7 season are:

Promotion for 2006-7 Begins-----July-September, 2006
Applications Submitted-----By October 1, 2006
Semi-Finalists Contacted-----Mid-November 2006
Finalist Clients Selected-----Mid-December 2006
Client Kick-Off Meeting-----Late January, 2007
Mid-Term Review------Late March 2007
Teams Complete Work------Late May/early June 2007

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 $1 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 highly-engaged board, including a member willing to serve as a project champion

• 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 MBAs

With more than 70 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 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

• 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

• 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

• 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.

We welcome applications from all non-profit organizations, although, as noted, we give preference to those with operations in the metro-area, budgets under $1 million, and 501(c)(3) status or its equivalent. A list of client references is available on request. Our clients are diverse; some recent ones have included organizations with an emphasis on:

• Advocacy
• Animal welfare
• Community development
• Education and schools
• Environment
• Health and mental health
• Homelessness
• Housing
• Performing arts
• Refugee and immigrant services
• Senior services
• Training and public education
• Treatment and support services
• Visual/fine arts
• Youth development

"The team did a very thorough job and articulated their findings in a relevant and accessible way. They made us think of things that we were not aware of and educated us on the realities of starting a new venture."
Sally Wylde, Oakhurst Community Garden Project

"Michele Cacadac's leadership held the team together and exceeded our expectations."
Pam Joyce, Fly-By Theatre

"Cynthia helped us to not only get the information we sought but educated us about marketing in the process, building our capacity for future efforts."
Audrey Collier, Scottdale Child Development Center

"Kelly and Abi were outstanding. All were very good. Impressive folks. They were excellent in all ways."
Mary Sloan, Brain Injury Resource Foundation

"It's incredible for an organization as small as ours to have access to such high-quality, critical thinkers. Their recommendation not only saved us money but will have a positive impact on our future…Our CCT experience was fantastic!"
Arun Mohan, HealthSTAT

"Our organization benefited greatly from CCT's expertise. The team was always professional and provided quality feedback. Their help will certainly propel our organization to the next level."
Dana Lee, HealthSTAT

"Several members exceeded expectations by learning as much as possible about the org, going over and beyond as volunteers and resources."
Rachel Alterman Wallack, Youth Communication-Metro Atlanta

"The team was excited to work with us, understood our work and provided some thoughtful, provocative recommendations that will guide us in our strategic planning."
Mary Wilson, East Point CAT

"I really enjoyed meeting and working with your people. Their creative use of surveys was terrific."
Leslee Sinclair, Georgia Philharmonic

If you are interested in submitting a client application for consideration, the application form is available by clicking here (MS Word format). Download the application from the website and follow the instructions in the application for sending it to us as an e-mail attachment or in hardcopy by US mail.

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 clients@cctatlanta.org.