Capacity building involves activities that enhance an organization's effectiveness in achieving its mission, focusing on sustainability for child-serving nonprofits in St. Louis. Key goals include improving leadership skills, fostering better relationships between funders and grantees, and addressing typical organizational needs through various support mechanisms. Success in capacity building is linked to dedicated resources, a culture of accountability, and a clear vision from leadership.

1. Capacity Building

2. Background

3. Definition Capacity building is a set of activities and decisions that strengthens an organization’s operations and enables it to better achieve its MISSION .

4. Goals To build the sustainability of crucial child-serving nonprofits in St. Louis area; To strengthen leadership skills amongst nonprofit leaders and boards; and To model a more trusting and candid relationship between funders and grantees.

5. Capacity Builders Foundations Associations Government Organizations Management Support Organizations Consultants Academics

6. Typical Organizational Needs Financial Management Legal Assistance Facility Planning Fund Development Communications Governance Training Program Design & Development Advocacy Human Resources Management & Training Strategic Planning Leadership Training Technology Operations Support Organization Development Ethics Education

7. Types of Capacity Building Short Term Technical Assistance Long Term Multi-Dimensional Training & Education Grant-Focused Support Capital Resource Executive Coaching

8. Activities Board Development Evaluation Executive Coaching Strategic Planning Fiscal Systems Human Resources Information Technology Leadership Development Program Evaluation Resource Development Succession Planning

9. Core Elements of DF Impact Partnership Development of a multi-year capacity building plan with funds to implement it; Ongoing training and education sessions; Peer exchanges and learning; Regular coaching and consultation from Deaconess Foundation staff and consultants.

10. Process Needs Assessment Orientation Peer Group Formation Theory of Change & Logic Model Design Evaluation System Capacity Building Plan Development

11. Why Doesn’t Capacity Building Happen Naturally? Program is Priority Lack of Understanding Awareness of Options Cost: Money & Time Funders Don’t Pay Silo Behavior

12. Non Threatening Issues Annual Reports Board Members Awards Symptoms Personnel Public Image Program Size Facilities

13. Non Threatening Issues Annual Reports Board Members Awards Symptoms Personnel Threatening Issues Work Style Ongoing Conflicts Decision Making Leadership Style Board Attitudes Culture Pay Practices Morale/Turnover Public Image Program Size Facilities

14. Core Capacities The ability of all organizational leaders to create & sustain the vision, inspire, model, prioritize, make decisions, provide direction, & innovate, all in an effort to achieve the organizational mission. Leadership Capacity The ability of a nonprofit organization to monitor, assess, and respond to internal and external changes. Adaptive Capacity The ability of a nonprofit organization to ensure the effective and efficient use of organizational resources. Management Capacity The ability of a nonprofit organization to implement all of the key organizational and programmatic functions. Technical Capacity Core Capacities Source: TCC

15. Nonprofit Lifecycle

17. Keys to Capacity Building Success Nonprofit Has Choices About Capacity Building Methods Emphasis On Outcomes & Accountability Emphasis On Learning What Works and What Does Not Dedicated Resources Capacity Building Built Into Day-to-Day

18. Effective Capacity Building Comprehensive Customized Competence-Based Timely Peer-Connected Assessment-Based Readiness-Based Contextualized

19. Ingredients of Sustainability Internal Leadership Applying a mission-centered, focused, and inclusive approach to making decisions, as well as inspiring and motivating people to act on them Fundraising Skills Developing resources necessary for efficient operations, including management of donor relations Program Staffing Making staffing changes as needed to increase and improve programs and service delivery Empowering Promoting proactivity, learning, and a belief in the value and ability of staff and client Leader Vision Formulating a clear vision and motivating others to pursue it

20. Critical Elements Leadership Culture

21. “ Capacity building has given us the capability to take advantage of great opportunities, strengthen our vision, and grow in new directions.” --Melanie Scheetz, Executive Director, Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition

22. I wake up each morning determined to change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes that makes planning the day a little difficult. - E.B. White