1. Supporting Grantees through Capacity Building Initiatives
The Indiana Philanthropy Alliance Annual Conference
June 7, 2016
Sara Beggs, Intentional Philanthropy
Eric Hessel, Hendricks County Community Foundation
Melynne Klaus, Christel DeHaan Family Foundation
Justine Lightfoot, Community Foundation of Elkhart County
Jodi Spataro, Community Foundation of Elkhart County

2. Agenda Welcome and Setting the Stage Capacity Building Overview
Capacity Building in Practice
Q&A
Closing Comments

3. What is Capacity Building?
Any activity that has the purpose of strengthening a nonprofit’s ability to fulfill its mission effectively now and in the future.
Funding and technical assistance to help nonprofits increase specific capacities to deliver stronger programs, take risks, build connections, innovate and iterate.

4. What is Capacity Building?
Capacity building is whatever is needed to bring a nonprofit to the next level of operational, programmatic, financial, or organizational maturity, so it may more effectively and efficiently advance its mission into the future. Capacity building is not a one- time effort to improve short-term effectiveness, but a continuous improvement strategy toward the creation of a sustainable and effective organization.

5. What activities would be considered capacity building?
5 core areas:
Staff & board leadership;
Financial management;
Fundraising/development;
Technology & infrastructure;
Evaluation

6. What activities would be considered capacity building?
identifying a communications strategy
improving volunteer recruitment
ensuring thoughtful leadership succession
strengthening the board
updating a nonprofit’s technology
improving how it measures its outcomes
developing a strategic plan
understanding & responding to the organization’s ecosystem
developing change management, collaboration and advocacy skills

7. What capacity building is NOT:
General operating support – though it could be used for that.
Programmatic improvements
The same for every organization!

8. The Spectrum of Capacity Building
Formally doing CB
for some time
Starting a CB
program
Informally funded
isolated CB projects
Never
funded CB

9. What are you hoping to know about capacity building by the end of this session?

10. The Importance of Capacity Building NOW
Nonprofits are facing critical and complex challenges
Strong resilient organizations are better prepared to experiment and innovate
High-performing organizations are able to more consistently deliver high-quality programs.

11. GEO’s Listening Tour

12. GEO’s Findings: The Challenges for the field
Finding qualified, appropriate builders (flood OR drought!)
•Piecemeal approaches
•Lack of incentives to build capacity
•Perceived lack of quantitative evidence
Tendency to go broad rather than deep

13. GEO’s Findings: Funder Challenges
Proper assessment of capacity and readiness
Role of the funder: directive or responsive?
Mutual trust and honesty

14. GEO’s Findings: Nonprofit Challenges
Obtaining funding for CB
Internal capacity to build capacity
Knowing where to start
Fundraising, technology, board development among most-desired
Reporting requirements

15. GEO’s findings: What nonprofits want/need
Sufficient, flexible, longer-term funding for capacity building
Investing in leadership capacity & building peer networks
Help in identifying quality providers
Personal relationships with funders

16. GEO’s findings: What nonprofits DON’T want/need
Burdensome application and reporting
Limited, short-term grants
Lack of relationships with grantees
Funder-selected consultants
Lack of clarity in communications

17. A Few Keys for Success
It’s critical that you accurately assess and prioritize the needs
Good capacity building results depend on trusting relationships between funders and grantees.
The best results are seen when the capacity building funding is customized to the grantee’s specific needs.

18. Resources How Can We Support Capacity Building Efforts?
What are they Key Things We Need to Know about Organizational Assessments?
Effective Capacity Building in Nonprofit Organizations.

19. Questions? Eric Hessel: Eric@hendrickscountycf.org
Melynne Klaus:
Justine Lightfoot:
Jodi Spataro:
Sara Beggs: