Innovative Partnership Helps Vancouver Nonprofits Thrive

When you see a nonprofit delivering meals to seniors, constructing affordable housing or operating after-school programs, you're witnessing the visible impact of countless behind-the-scenes decisions, systems and processes.

Every successful program relies on things like strategic planning, financial oversight, board governance and organizational structure—all of which community members rarely see. Yet these foundational elements, which make sustained impact possible, are often the hardest to fund. While donors and funders are eager to support direct services, organizations struggle to find resources for building the capacity that allows their services to grow, adapt and endure. This is especially true for grassroots organizations.

Our newest initiative, developed through an innovative partnership with the City of Vancouver, addresses this challenge head-on by giving community-based organizations the resources to build greater resiliency. The SWWA Thrive Alliance gives emerging nonprofits the opportunity to design a blueprint for organizational success and build on that vision.

What is Capacity Building?

When we talk about "capacity building," we mean all the behind-the-scenes work that makes a nonprofit effective and sustainable. Think of it as the framing of a house, except nonprofits trade in studs and rafters for structural components like an engaged board that provides sound guidance and governance, financial systems that ensure accountability and growth, and clear processes that ensure compliance and measure impact.

While all nonprofits need a similar set of core capabilities, each organization has different priorities depending on its size, stage, programming and revenue. That's why the SWWA Thrive Alliance empowers participants to identify their own priorities and choose from a menu of consultants who have experience serving grassroots, culturally-specific nonprofits. The result: tailor-made plans that fit each nonprofit.

Thriving together: our inaugural cohort

Research confirms that self-directed capacity building is most effective, but also shows that organizations benefit tremendously from peer learning and mutual support. As such, the SWWA Thrive Alliance combines individualized technical assistance with cohort learning opportunities.

Over the next five years, the following cohort of grassroots organizations will build together:

• The Foundation - Restore & Prepare is focused on leadership development, strengthening board governance and creating a strategic framework to expand holistic reintegration and youth development programs for justice-aligned individuals and families.
• Latino Leadership NW is expanding its expertise by developing residential services capacity to provide safe, culturally informed housing opportunities for Latine youth and families.
• Odyssey World International Education Services is creating a strategic plan and expanding board and leadership capacity to sustain and evolve its health, education and basic needs programs for BIPOC communities.
• Sakura 39ers is investing in leadership skills training, board development and organizational planning to support a wide range of programs for Chuukese youth, including sports, language and college prep classes.
• Thrive2Survive is developing its board, executive leadership and strategic plan to assist people facing homelessness and behavioral health challenges through peer-led recovery, compassionate outreach and mentorship rooted in lived experience.

A resilient sector

While still in its early stages, we're already seeing encouraging signs of growth and collaboration. Diana Avalos Leos, Founder and Director at Latino Leadership NW, described it powerfully:

For many, this is also the first time they’ve had resources dedicated to strengthening internal capacity—not just delivering programs.

“This initiative acknowledges that building capacity is just as important as direct services,” Charles Hanset Jr., Executive Director at Thrive2Survive, said. “We’ve hired a consultant to provide board development training and strategic planning, and we also brought on an executive director coach. These investments are critical because they allow us to build a strong foundation for long-term impact.”

These experiences and the ripple effect they create are what excite us most about the SWWA Thrive Alliance.

As these five organizations develop stronger leadership and systems, they can serve more community members, respond to emerging needs more effectively and compete successfully for public contracts and federal grants—bringing additional resources into southwest Washington communities.

Over the next few years, we anticipate 2-5 participants will emerge as fully independent nonprofits, with 5-10 broadening their funding sources for greater sustainability.

Building resilient communities, one organization at a time

The SWWA Thrive Alliance shows what’s possible when funders, donors and local governments invest in the people and processes that keep nonprofits strong. But this is just the beginning.

Right now, culturally specific organizations across southwest Washington are serving people experiencing homelessness, supporting immigrant students and opening pathways for healing. They know their communities' needs intimately, and they deliver solutions that build resiliency and create lasting change.

Your support of our Social Justice and Resiliency Fund ensures these organizations have the infrastructure, leadership and sustainability to transform their deep community knowledge into expanded impact. Make a gift today and help us strengthen southwest Washington communities for generations to come.