Capacity Building Institute
The nonprofit sector in the United States has grown dramatically in the past three decades. Nonprofit or nongovernmental organizations face many new challenges. To respond to these challenges, the Department of Public Administration at the University of Central Florida has established a Capacity Building Institute. Our institute utilizes a creative mix of faculty expertise in public and nonprofit management along with service learning for students to provide technical assistance and capacity building services to small nonprofit organizations. The goal of the institute is to help nonprofit organizations enhance their own abilities and enable them to do what they do even better while at the same time enhancing the students' abilities to govern, manage, and perform more effectively.
The Capacity Building Institute provides graduate/undergraduate students the opportunity to gain valuable experience applying the knowledge and skills learned in classes while assisting small community-based nonprofit organizations. The nonprofit organizations benefit by receiving needed assistance that they may not be otherwise able to afford. Faculty, staff, and experienced volunteers serve as supervisors or mentors for the students working on each project.
What is "Capacity Building"?
"Capacity Building" seeks to improve the performance and effectiveness of a nonprofit organization by increasing the skills and knowledge of its members, employees, and leaders. After the initial training process, a nonprofit organization should be able to analyze its present situation, determine what may be a problem or shortcoming, engage in strategic planning to address the situation, educate personnel to implement the plan, and then evaluate the results. The goal of successful capacity building is to enable a nonprofit organization to utilize its internal resources, skills and knowledge to find answers to future problems.
Capacity Building Service Areas
The Capacity Building Institute's technical assistance program is designed to provide nonprofit organizations with on-site or office-assisted help with specific organizational and management problems. Nonprofit organizations that have identified specific needs, or require assistance identifying their organizational needs to enhance their effectiveness and performance, can benefit from the technical assistance. Based on courses in the Master of Nonprofit Management and our Master of Public Administration programs, capacity building assistance includes, but is not limited to:
Community Need Assessment
Fiscal Management
Strategic Planning
Grant Writing
Administrative Training
Board Development and Leadership
Human Resource Management
Resource Development
Public Relations/Awareness and Marketing
Program Evaluation
Information Technology
Disaster and Emergency Preparedness
Program Plan
The UCF Capacity Building Institute (CBI) builds upon past experiences and expands services to nonprofit and public agencies in Central Florida counties. Services provided are based on needs identified by participating community organizations. Common needs are lack of grantsmanship skills, 501(c) (3) status, board development, staff and volunteer recruitment, public relations and marketing, and financial management. We ask that a nonprofit organization submit its request in writing, either by letter or by e-mail.
After the Capacity Building Institute receives the request, it is evaluated to determine how the Institute may work with the community organization with short term or long term programs. After the needs assessment of the requesting nonprofit organization is completed by the Institute, the Institute staff contacts the requesting nonprofit organization for further necessary action. A scope of services letter shall set forth the specific technical assistance that the Institute will provide the nonprofit organization.
Expected Outcome
Increased programmatic capacity to provide effective services
Increased sustained systems change
Increased capacity of community based organizations to compete successfully for funding
Increased access to services
Increased collaborations and partnerships in the community
Contact Us
Capacity Building Institute
University of Central Florida
Department of Public Administration
HPA II Suite 238
Phone: 407- 823-2604
Fax: 407-823-5651
Dr. Naim Kapucu, Director
Email: nkapucu@mail.ucf.edu
Maria-Elena Augustin, Programs Coordinator
HPA II Room 235
Phone: 407-823-0410
Email: maugusti@mail.ucf.edu
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