Supporting capacity strengthening as a funder

Funders can play a role in encouraging partners to change by asking questions that highlight potential areas for improvement, like safeguarding or strategy. This prompts partners to consider their own needs and prioritize change.

By working with partners, funders can help them analyze the change process, set priorities, and develop plans for capacity strengthening. This active collaboration aids in shaping the means for change.

Funders can directly provide access to capacity strengthening services, such as training programs or resources, to enhance partners' capabilities. These services often focus on areas like compliance, grant management, resource mobilization, communication, and leadership.

Granting partners the freedom to choose and pay for their own capacity strengthening services empowers them and fosters ownership of the change process. This could involve specialized training or consulting services.

Funders can foster an environment of trust and encourage organic change by observing and supporting partners' efforts without overly interfering in their process. This requires patience and recognition that change often happens gradually.

Aligning grant-making with capacity strengthening ensures that funding decisions are driven by a holistic vision that considers the long-term growth and sustainability of partner organizations. This approach goes beyond simply funding projects and prioritizes the strengthening of core capabilities.

Providing core support to partners allows them to invest in essential areas like administration, staff development, and infrastructure, rather than relying solely on project-specific funding. This helps build a resilient foundation for sustainability.

Taking the true costs of operating into account during funding decisions ensures that partners receive sufficient resources to effectively meet their needs. This acknowledges the genuine financial demands of running a sustainable organization.

Funders should focus on long-term capacity strengthening rather than demanding immediate results. This includes ensuring funders don't rely on arbitrary deadlines that could limit the partner's ability to make substantial and lasting change.

Funders need to understand that many partners are already busy implementing their core programs and external events may further impact their available time. This makes it crucial for funders to not add unnecessary burdens.

Funders should encourage collaboration and coordinate efforts with other donors to avoid overwhelming partners with contradictory demands. This helps to ensure resources are used effectively and efficiently.

Partners are often burdened by numerous donor-driven initiatives, requiring them to allocate valuable time and resources. To avoid this, funders should collaborate on capacity-building efforts, minimizing the need for multiple, separate initiatives.

Funders should be aware that their grant-making procedures and conditions can significantly impact the effectiveness of their capacity-strengthening efforts. Restrictive grants, short-term cycles, and complex reporting requirements can undermine the intended results.

Funders should design grants that actively incentivize capacity changes in their partner organizations. It's essential to move beyond simply providing funding and focus on helping partners develop their capabilities.

Partners often struggle with cumbersome and time-consuming reporting demands from funders. This can prevent them from focusing on their primary mission and hinder their capacity development. Therefore, funders should strive to streamline reporting processes and make them more efficient.

Funders should design their grant programs to foster long-term sustainability within their partner organizations. This means avoiding short-term projects and instead focusing on supporting initiatives that can generate lasting impact and contribute to sustainable growth.

Providing long-term funding for organizations to allow them to make sustainable changes and invest in capacity building. This approach differs from annual project funding which can lead to short-term planning.

A debilitating trend of under-investment in organizational infrastructure caused by low overhead budgets and donor expectations. This cycle undermines long-term sustainability and growth.

Funding provided to organizations to cover their core operational costs, including administration, infrastructure, and staff development, rather than specific projects.

This approach covers all direct and indirect costs associated with a project, including a fair portion of administration and overhead, ensuring sustainable operations.

Services and programs designed to help organizations improve their skills, knowledge, and systems to operate more effectively and achieve their goals.

Financial reporting that accurately reflects all costs related to a project, including overhead and indirect costs, providing a more accurate picture of the true cost of operations.

Grant makers can play a significant role in supporting capacity strengthening by helping organizations identify and access essential resources and services.

By providing funding for core support and true costs, grant makers can help organizations break the starvation cycle and invest in sustainable development.