Capacity Building Partners Overview

The practice of capacity building — which can strengthen individuals, organizations, strategy, and the field — is a lever that CZI uses alongside grantmaking to support the different sectors we serve. Our Capacity Building Partners support building organizational infrastructure and culture so that leaders and organizations are able to navigate change and drive lasting social change.

CZI Community grantees building connections and community at the wellness retreat hosted at the Asilomar Conference Center.
September 2023 | Pacific Grove, CA | CZI Community grantees building connections and community at the wellness retreat hosted at the Asilomar Conference Center. | Photo by Carla Dano-Arango
September 2023 | Pacific Grove, CA | CZI Community grantees building connections and community at the wellness retreat hosted at the Asilomar Conference Center. | Photo by Carla Dano-Arango

Our Approach

Our investment in capacity building is rooted in supporting skills development for staff, stabilizing and growing organizations, and building the field of capacity builders at large. CZI offers grants, trainings, cohorts, and consulting services to help strengthen:

Stylized CZI "Individual" capacity building approach icon of a person with outstretched arms.
Individuals

Investing in a pipeline of emerging, diverse leaders through leadership development trainings, cohort-based learning, and 1:1 advising, centering historically under-resourced groups and BIPOC-led organizations with responsive and relevant trainers and curriculum

Stylized CZI "Organizational" capacity building approach icon of the upper halves of three interconnected people, side by side.
Organizations

Strengthening an organization’s ability to make change and accelerate impact with trainings and cohorts that support organizational infrastructure, promote sustainable and equity-centered organizational culture, and provide professional development opportunities

Stylized CZI "Network" capacity building approach icon of two people reaching out to each other, as they ascend a flight of stairs.
Strategy

Supporting resource-sharing and collaboration among organizations, along with targeted strategic plan support

Stylized CZI "Movement" capacity building approach icon of three interconnected people, standing side by side.
Field

Growing the field of capacity builders by investing in research on new models and curriculum that can support cross-sector power-building

For questions or requests, please contact: [email protected]

Photo of a woman seated in front of two computer monitors, participating in an online CZI capacity building training session with multiple attendees.
2021 | CZI offers capacity building trainings to help support the different fields that we serve. | Photograph by SDI Productions via iStockphotos
2021 | CZI offers capacity building trainings to help support the different fields that we serve. | Photograph by SDI Productions via iStockphotos

Training Sessions

The Capacity Building Partners offer weekly training sessions that are available to all our grantees and the public. New trainings are posted each month on a variety of topics, including: finance and operations, communications, fundraising, board development, facilitation, technology, diversity equity & inclusion, people management, wellness and burnout, and more. You can opt-in to receive emails about the training sessions, watch recordings of prior trainings, or inquire about future sessions by reaching out to: [email protected].

Samples of past trainings include:

Partners

Meet Our Team

Laura Lazarus-Gardner Head of Strategic Initiatives
Dalia Rubiano Yedidia Senior Manager
Carly Kol Senior Capacity Building Strategist
Blanca Hernández Senior Program Operations Associate