Nonprofit Capacity-Building Resources
Please email Lauren Shebuski if you know of any additional resources we should add to this page.
Books
Making Nonprofits Work: A Report on the Tides of Nonprofit Management Reform
Author: Light, Paul C.
Publisher: The Brookings Institution
Date: 2000
AGF has? Yes
Funding Effectiveness: Lessons in Building Nonprofit Capacity
Publisher: Grantmakers for Effective Organizations
Date: 2004
Summary: This book addresses topics such as relationship building, partner identification, the importance of research and analysis, evaluation, the need for flexibility. It outlines successful approaches employed by grantmakers in the past. Chapters include: \"Investing in Nonprofit Capacity\" (by Barbara D. Kibbe); \"Flexible Frameworks for Organizational Effectiveness\" (by Kathleen P. Enright); \"Setting Clear Goals with High Expectations\" (by Janine E. Lee); \"cultivating a Culture of Measurement\" (by Melinda T. Tuan); and \"Funding Effectiveness for the Long Haul\" (by Rick Cohen).
URL: http://www.josseybass.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0787972517.html
AGF has? Yes
Generating and Sustaining Nonprofit Earned Income: A Guide to Successful Enterprise Strategies
Author: Oster, Sharon M. (Editor), Cynthia W. Massarsky (Editor), Samantha L. Beinhacker (Editor), Bill Bradley (Foreword by)
Publisher: Jossey-Bass
Date: 2004
Summary: In collaboration with the Yale School of Management-The Goldman Sachs Foundation Partnership on Nonprofit Ventures, this comprehensive guide identifies best practices for generating a reliable income stream and ultimately reducing nonprofit organizations' dependence on traditional sources of funding. Edited by renowned scholar and consultant Sharon Oster and Cynthia Massarsky and Samantha Beinhacker, deputy directors of The Partnership on Nonprofit Ventures, Generating and Sustaining Nonprofit Earned Income: A Guide to Successful Enterprise Strategies will teach readers sound business planning strategies that can significantly benefit their organization's internal capacity and financial health.
URL: http://www.jbp.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-078797238X.html
AGF has?
Building Capacity in Nonprofit Organizations
Author: De Vita, Carol J. and Cory Fleming
Publisher: The Urban Institute
Date: 2001
Summary: Available from the Urban Institute, this report aims to advance the ongoing conversation about capacity building, intending to push toward the intersection where research informs practice. This transfer must occur for the work to benefit the field. The final section of this report discusses how each stakeholder—nonprofit practice, foundation, and research—might work to turn knowledge into action.
URL: http://www.urban.org/url.cfm?ID=410093
AGF has? Yes
Capacity Building Challenge
Author: Light, Paul and Elizabeth Hubbard
Publisher: The Brookings Institution
Summary: With the increased level of interest in and resources directed toward capacity building, these authors examine the what is meant by capacity building in practice and provide an analysis of the types of capacity building initiatives that have been funded. The question considered is: \"How much have various capacity building reforms improved performance?\" Read this publication on the Brookings Institute web site.
URL: www.brookings.edu/gs/cps/capacitybuildingchalenge.pdf
AGF has?
Sustaining Nonprofit Performance: The Case for Capacity Building and the Evidence to Support It
Author: Light, Paul C.
Date: 2004
Summary: Paul Light, renowned expert on public service and nonprofit management, strongly argues for capacity-building measures as a way to sustain and improve the efforts of the nonprofit sector. With innovative data and insightful analysis, he demonstrates how nonprofits that invest in technology, training, and strategic planning can successfully advance their goals and restore public faith in their mission and capabilities.
URL: www.brookings.edu
AGF has?
In Search of Strategic Solutions: A Funders Briefing on Nonprofit Strategic Restructuring
Author: La Piana, David and Amelia Kohm
Summary: This book is the result of a five-year national study on strategic restructure of nonprofits. The funders briefing presents results of a survey of nonprofits, benefits of strategic restructuring and recommendations for funders interested in supporting grantees through strategic restructuring. The publication is available on GEO's website, www.geofunders.org.
URL: http://www.geofunders.org
AGF has?
Strengthening Nonprofit Performance: A Funder's Guide to Capacity Building
Author: Connolly, Paul and Carol Lukas
Summary: Tthis is the first in a series of funder's guides co-published by GEO and the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation. The book synthesizes the most recent capacity building practice and research into a collection of strategies, steps and examples that funders can use to get started on or improve their funding to strengthen nonprofits. To order a copy, visit www.wilder.org/pubs or call 1-800-274-6024.
URL: www.wilderpubs.org
AGF has?
Publications/Reports
Nonprofit Quarterly - Funding Infrastructure: An Investment in the Nonprofit Sector's Future
Publisher: Third Sector
Date: 2004
AGF has? Yes
Diversity Toolkit
Publisher: Minnesota Council of Foundations
Summary: The Minnesota Council of Foundations has produced a free diversity toolkit that offers assistance on how grantmaking organizations can address inclusivity in their roles as funders, employers, businesses and community.
URL: http://www.mcf.org/mcf/resource/diversitytoolkit.htm
AGF has?
Supporting Organizations and How They Work - The Complete Handbook
Author: Edie, John A.
Publisher: Council on Foundations
Date: 2003
AGF has? Yes
Reflections of Sustainability
Publisher: California Wellness Foundation
Summary: The California Wellness Foundation recently produced a report on nonprofit sustainability, sharing their organization's 10-year experience with grantmaking designed to enhance organizational sustainability.
URL: http://www.tcwf.org/pub_reflections/feb_2002.htm
AGF has?
Grantcraft: Providing For The Long Term - Supporting Endowments and Investable Assets
Author: Proscio, Tony
Publisher: The Ford Foundation
Date: 2003
AGF has? Yes
How Effective Nonprofits Work: A Guide to Donors, Board Members and Foundation Officers
Author: Festen, Marcia & Marianne Philbin
Publisher: Forum of Regional Assosiations of Grantmakers
Date: 2002
AGF has? Yes
Effective Capacity Building in Nonprofit Organizations
Publisher: Venture Philanthropy Partners
Date: 2001
AGF has? Yes
Nonprofit Lifecycles: Stage-Based Wisdom for Nonprofit Capacity
Author: Stevens, Susan
Publisher: Stagewise Enterprises
Date: 2001
Summary: The book offers practical insights and thought-provoking case illustrations, highlighting the seven nonprofit lifecycle stages and the predictable tasks, challenges and inevitable growing pains that nonprofits encounter and can hope to master on the road to organizational sustainability.
URL: http://www.stagewiseenterprises.com
AGF has? Yes
Knowledge Your Nonprofit Board Needs to Succeed Is In Your Hands
Publisher: BoardSource: Building effective Nonprofits
Date: 2004
AGF has? Yes
Strategic Planning Workbook for Nonprofit Organizations
Author: Barry, Bryan W.
Publisher: Amherst H. Wilder Foundation
Date: 1997
AGF has? Yes
Web Resources
Ask the Nonprofit Specialist
Publisher: ASU Center for Nonprofit Leadership & Management
Summary: The Center for Nonprofit Leadership & Management nonprofit specialists have helped numerous nonprofit organizations and individuals with many issues... from getting started, to funding, to taxes, and more. Here, you can ask a question and browse through previously asked questions and reponses from nonprofit specialists.
URL: http://www.asu.edu/copp/nonprofit/asst/asst_ask.htm
Philanthropic Capacity Building Resource Data Base
Publisher: Human Interaction Research Institute
Summary: PCBR, an initiative of the nonprofit Human Interaction Research Institute, promotes exchange and use of information about nonprofit capacity building among foundations, capacity-building service providers, nonprofits, intermediary organizations, research
URL: http://www.humaninteract.org/pcbrdatabase.htm
GEO - Nonprofit Capacity Building Resources
Publisher: Grantmakers for Effective Organizations
Summary: The objective of building capacity for non-profits and charities is behind the efforts of many family philanthropists. Capacity refers to the ability of grantees to develop effective long-term plans for self-sustainability, through technology, marketing, staff development, and other techniques. Grantmakers for Effective Organizations is a network of more than 340 funders dedicated to building more sustainable nonprofits
URL: www.geofunders.org
Capaciteria
Summary: Capaciteria is a comprehensive, searchable database directory of capacity building resources for nonprofits. It promotes peer review because members can comment on and rate individual resource links, as well as add useful new links. Capaciteria was developed by Jonathan Peizer, Chief Technology Officer of the Open Society Institute.
URL: http://www.capaciteria.org
CAPACITY BUILDING: A Topical Resource List
Publisher: Foundation Center
Summary: List of books and publications for grantmakers interested in building nonprofit capacity.
URL: http://fdncenter.org/for_grantmakers/gtmkr_trlist01.html
Building Movement In(to) the Nonprofit Sector website
Summary: This site is a product of the Hauser Center's Building Movement In(to) the Nonprofit Sector project. The site is designed to provide a place where people working in progressive nonprofit organizations and social change groups can go to learn important information pertaining to their work.
URL: http://www.buildingmovement.org