Voluntary and Community Sector Team

Capacity building is whatever is needed to bring a non-profit to the next level of operational, programmatic, financial, or organisational 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 organisation.

Distinct capacity building projects, such as identifying a communications strategy, improving volunteer recruitment, ensuring thoughtful leadership succession, updating a non-profit’s technology, and improving how it measures its outcomes, all build the capacity of a charitable non-profit to effectively deliver its mission. When capacity building is successful, it strengthens a non-profit’s ability to fulfil its mission over time, thereby enhancing the non-profit’s ability to have a positive impact on lives and communities.

Capacity building is not just about the capacity of a non-profit today - it's about the non-profit’s ability to deliver its mission effectively now, and in the future. Capacity building is an investment in the effectiveness and future sustainability of a non-profit.