Initiatives

Even though the Assets Alliance is a new organization, it has several key initiatives including:

• IDA Training Institute:
  Developing and delivering the IDA Training Institute (IDA Effective Practices Training formerly owned by CFED).


• Professional Development:
  Providing services to members through bi-monthly peer-to-peer conference calls, listserve, bi-monthly business meetings, and annual membership convenings.


• Resource Development:
  Cultivating new funding sources for training and technical assistance services to the IDA and asset-building fields.


• Connecting the Market:
  Increasing access to technical assistance providers and trainers through a central point of access and an online searchable database.


• Knowledge Creation:
  Publishing a white paper series on topical issues of practice and tools based on technical assistance engagements and training provision.


• Awareness Building:
  Informing practitioners, funders and policymakers of the role of technical assistance provision in supporting effective program outcomes.


• Training Development:
  Designing and delivering the Asset Building Training Institute and Delivering Highly Effective and Engaging Financial Education (a training for trainers).


• Partnerships to Provide Technical Assistance and Training:
  Provided technical assistance consultants and trainers to CFED and ISED so they could respectively fulfill their contracts to Office of Community Services (OCS) AFI Program; providing technical assistance and training through the Office of Community Services (OCS) to Community Action Agencies throughout the U.S.

Assets Alliance Website -- A New Resource for the Field

A tool to help the Alliance realize its mission and goal, the Assets Alliance website is:

• A central point of access for those seeking technical assistance providers. Organizations will be able to search the website for the provider that most closely fits their needs.
• A mechanism to help technical assistance providers communicate among one another, share information and resources, and collaborate on projects.
• A repository for effective practice information gleaned from the technical assistance provision process that can be stored and shared among technical assistance providers and organizations considering, planning, or implementing asset development initiatives including IDAs, financial education, free tax preparation, and others.

The website contains profiles of qualified member technical assistance providers and trainers that:

• Have been engaged in providing direct service to clients of community based nonprofits.
• Have had direct experience setting up, staffing, and/or managing an IDA program and other asset building programs.


• Are available on a timely basis.
• Have past technical assistance and consulting experience with IDA programs and/or other asset-building initiatives, such as microenterprise development organizations, housing organizations, and job training organizations.

Protecting Investments in the IDA and Asset-Building Fields

The technical assistance providers and trainers that comprise the Alliance have direct practice experience, consulting experience, been trained in providing high quality consulting and technical assistance services, and the advantage of a network of other professionals that they can tap for purposes of collaboration, referral or to address complex programmatic and organizational problems. Using a qualified technical assistance provider or trainer to help practitioner organizations and others operating asset-building initiatives, funders and other organizations or individuals can protect the investments they have made in the IDA or asset- building field.