Capacity Building
To maximize its impact, the Power of We Consortium does much of its work through faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs). The PWC believes that organizations rooted in the community have a better understanding of community challenges; are more culturally, geographically, and psychologically accessible to high-need populations; can do more with less; and are more “nimble” and therefore quicker to adapt to changing community needs.
However, FBCOs’ impact is often limited by challenges associated with finances, leadership, staffing, management, communication, technology, and other organizational development issues. In other words, the ability of FBCOs to improve the community is often limited by the difficulties of running an effective organization.
Recognizing this, the PWC has made a long-term commitment to improving self-sufficiency and capacity in FBCOs. One of its three standing committees – the Leadership and Practice Committee (LPC) – is charged with designing and implementing FBCO capacity building strategies.
“Capacity building” initiatives are designed to overcome those barriers that limit an organization’s effectiveness. By identifying an organization’s strengths and then using them to address the organization’s challenges, capacity building can lead to:
- A clearer mission
- Focused plans of action
- New or improved programs
- More funding
- More volunteers
- A stronger governing board
- More productive staff
- State of the art technology improvements
- Better financial management
- Stronger partnerships
- And, most importantly, greater community impact and change.
In other words, capacity building helps organizations do more of the good work they do – and do it better.
In September 2007, the Power of We Consortium was selected to receive funding under the Compassion Capital Fund (CCF) Demonstration Program, which is administered by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Text of the Consortium's CCF grant proposal is available here. Information on the 2007-2008 grant recipients is listed here.
For more information about the Power of We Consortium’s capacity building work, contact Peggy Roberts at (517) 887-4691.