Capacity Building Blocks

When we speak of capacity, we are generally referring to organization’s potential to marshal their human, financial and other resources to effect positive change in the communities and clients they serve. Organizational capacity is impacted by a  number of factors, including leadership, the organization’s stage of development and changes in the environment, to name a few.  Organizations engage in capacity building activities in order to increase their effectiveness in serving their constituencies. Such activities include, but are not limited to, hiring new employees to meet increased demand for services; strategic planning to position themselves for changes in the environment; training board and staff on their roles and responsibilities, or automating financial systems.   Tune in as Valerie F. Leonard, an expert in community and organizational development, talks about ways organizations may strengthen their organizational capacity and better position themselves for fundraising.