For over 40 years, Martha’s Table has worked to support strong children, strong families, and strong communities. We believe that our neighbors know best what their communities want and need to thrive.

In 2021, over 1,000 neighbors shaped Martha’s Table’s 5 -Year Strategic Plan. What we heard loud and clear is the need for direct investments to help organizations doing important work in our community build their capacity.

“There’s a misconception that there are no organizations in this Ward — that we are lost sheep that need to be herded… Ward 8 residents know how to solve our own problems, we just don’t always get the resources we need.” Ward 8 Resident, Agenda Setting Workshop

 

In response, Martha’s Table is pleased to launch the Training & Technical Assistance Program (TTAP).

TTAP will equip community leaders with the resources and knowledge needed to strengthen the organizations they run. Through TTAP, Martha’s Table will provide training and technical assistance to early-stage non-profits (incorporated for less than 12 months), social enterprises, and initiatives that have not yet been incorporated within Ward 8.

What are the Benefits of TTAP?

Participating TTAP members will be a part of a cohort of community changemakers.

TTAP support will specifically be tailored to the needs of participating program members, but may include training and capacity-building assistance in any of the following areas:

• Initial Filing & Legal Structure Support
• Financial Policy Development
• Program Structure & Impact Measurement
• Volunteer & Community Outreach and Engagement
• Fundraising Strategies
• Additional training opportunities will be made available to cohort members through organizational partners.

• What is TTAP?

  TTAP is a program that provides training and technical assistance to early-stage non-profits (incorporated for less than 12 months), social enterprises, and pre-incorporation initiatives within Ward 8. TTAP supports the leaders of these organizations to strengthen their businesses, increase their community impact, and lay the groundwork for their next steps.

  What types of support are available through TTAP: Startup?

  TTAP Startup uses a cohort leadership model to connect community change-makers together. Additionally, each leader is supported through the completion of their initial organization incorporating documentation and 501c3 application, if applicable. Program participants also have the opportunity to further develop the documentation of program design, impact measurements,, and means to tell the story of their impact.

  Additional supports are available based on the immediate needs of the initiative and can include help with developing financial and bookkeeping structure and policy, a basic fundraising plan and strategy, or volunteer acquisition and engagement.

  Additional training opportunities will be made available to cohort participants through organizational partners.

• Who is TTAP intended for?

  TTAP Is a program designed to support pre-incorporation non-profits and social enterprises and those that have been incorporated for less than 12 months. Working with founding leadership, TTAP helps set a strong foundation for an organization, the impact of their programming, and prepares them to grow or scale.

  TTAPis specifically tailored to Neighborhood residents looking to create a focused impact in Ward 8 and specifically in the 20020 zip code.

• How long is the commitment for?

  TTAP is a nine-month cohort-based program that runs each year. Participation within that time varies dependent on the founder and leadership team of the community-based initiative being incubated.

• Why is Martha’s Table providing TTAP?

  For over 40 years, Martha’s Table has worked to support strong children, strong families, and strong communities in DC so that every Washingtonian can stay and thrive. Knowing that one’s neighborhood influences access to resources that affect opportunities in life, we are doubling down on our investment in the communities we stand alongside to ensure a zip code never determines someone’s future.

  We also believe that community members know best what their communities want and need to thrive. In 2021, over 1,000 neighbors shaped MT’s 5 -Year Strategic Plan. What we heard loud and clear from community members is the need to support the organizations already doing work in the community to build their capacity.

• I have a specific question about TTAP: Startup, who should I reach out to?

  Send an email to CommunitySupports@Marthastable.org and a member of the team will reach out to help answer your specific questions that are not covered inside the FAQ.
  How do I get help in filling out the application?

  
  Reach out to CommunitySupports@MarthasTable.org, or call Martha’s Table at 202-328-6608, and a member of the team will get back to you to help make sure that our application process is accessible and equitable.