Organizational capacity building: addressing a research and practice gap.
The purpose of this article is to address the gap between evaluation research, and the practice of capacity building with nonprofits. This study describes a 5-year capacity building initiative with grassroots organizations including a longitudinal evaluation of the implementation and outcomes achieved. Formative processes yielded many lessons that were used to improve the capacity building model of services. The results show that the majority of groups met a priori expectations for participation success. Organizational staff valued technology, consultants, and program funding the most. Increases were found in board membership and perceptions of visibility of the organization were enhanced. Executive directors reported greater awareness of needs and improved management knowledge. These small organizations fill many unmet needs and more capacity building evaluation studies are needed to understand the mechanisms that support their efforts and the impact on their sustainability.
Sobeck
Joanne
J
School of Social Work, Wayne State University, 4756 Cass Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. ab1350@wayne.edu
Agius
Elizabeth
E
D018672:Community Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019058:Community Networks / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008824:Michigan; D017146:Models, Organizational; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D009939:Organizations, Nonprofit / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D012109:Research Support as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires