Like human development, nonprofit capacity progresses in stages...the challenges of a start-up will be quite different from the challenges of a mature agency. A Lifecycles approach to building capacity gives you a starting point no matter your organization’s size, age, area of focus or budget. Right-size your operation for maximum impact!
The Nonprofit Lifecycles
The Nonprofit Lifecycles Institute is cultivating an ecosystem of healthy, dynamic and collaborative nonprofit organizations, funders and consultants. SWB Consulting Services is trained to lead planning teams using this approach and have used it with several diverse organizations.
We are sharing this information now because the Nonprofit Lifecycles Institute just completed our Winter Meeting - a two-day conference full of innovative examples of real-life implementation of the Lifecycle concepts. This year there was a strong theme recognizing the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion as well, with examples of how this has been done in communities all across North America.
Reasses Nonprofit Lifecycle State and Capacity
As we (hopefully) pull away from the COVID crisis, it is important for nonprofits to reassess where they are in terms of lifecycle stage and capacity. Most agencies have experienced an erosion of capacity over the past two years, managing with fewer staff and fewer resources. Those with healthy reserves in 2019 may have spent them down; those with limited reserves in 2019 may be struggling by 2022.
The capacity building approach meets you "where you are." There is no right or wrong. There are no external expectations. One program in an agency may be in start-up while another is in growth and a third is in decline. It is a lot for an Executive Director to juggle! You do not need to figure this out alone.
Please contact SWB Consulting Services for a free consultation to learn how we can help you and your nonprofit through your lifecycle challenges.
To learn more, visit the Nonprofit Lifecycles Institue website.
