Capacity Development Lab:
Strengthening Your Organization
Every non-profit moves through predictable stages of growth—and each stage brings its own pressures, opportunities, and capacity challenges. But many organizations don’t have the time, space, or tools to step back, understand where they are in their lifecycle, and make intentional decisions that strengthen their long-term sustainability. The Capacity Development Lab provides that space.
This seven-session lab helps non-profit leaders look beneath day-to-day symptoms and uncover why their organization may feel stretched, stalled, or ready for the next leap forward. Grounded in the Non-Profit Lifecycles framework, the lab offers a practical and affirming way to understand organizational health across five core areas: programs, management, governance, business model, and administrative systems.
Through guided reflection, interactive learning, and a comprehensive self-assessment, participants map where their organization is today—and what realistic, achievable steps will move them toward greater stability and impact. Rather than prescribing “best practices,” the lab acknowledges that every organization grows differently. You’ll learn to identify the stage you’re in, see your current challenges as part of a normal progression, and develop a roadmap tailored to your actual capacity—not someone else’s expectations.
Suggested participants: A few team members who want to conduct a deep review of your organization. This can include senior staff (Executive Directors, CEOs, general managers, etc.) and non-profit board members.
Important note! Capacity Development Lab includes space for up to four individuals from your organization to participate. We recommend having your executive director (or most senior staff person) and one board member participate for the entire program. The additional spots can be alternated with different staff or board members for specific sessions, depending on the topic relevance.
Registration Details
Capacity Development Lab is a three-month guided self-assessment process that blends virtual learning sessions with consultant advisory support between sessions.
Application Deadline: 1 week before the start date
Bursary Application Deadline: 1 week before the start date
Lab Outcomes
By the end of this lab, you will be able to:
- Understand the seven stages of your organization’s lifecycle.
- Assess the five areas of your organizational capacity (programs, management, governance, systems, and financial resources).
- Get clarity on your organizational development activities that offer the greatest impact.
- Develop a detailed organizational capacity enhancement plan.
Lab Benefits
- Identify transition stages that may be causing pressure and how to move through them.
- Outline realistic steps your organization can take to build capacity in governance, management, financial resources and/or administrative systems.
- Understand how your current challenges and opportunities are part of a normal progression.
- Complete a comprehensive self-assessment to identify your organization’s current lifecycle stage and identify next steps to build capacity.
Lab Topics
Topics covered in the 7 half-day learning sessions.
Lifecycles Overview
What “capacity” really means, the organizational lifecycle framework, and how self-assessment anchors the lab.
Programs
Program performance at each lifecycle stage, assessing where your programs sit today, and clarifying next steps for development or evaluation.
Management
Management characteristics across the stages, planning and engagement practices, and identifying priority improvements.
Governance
Governance performance expectations at each stage, board structures and responsibilities, and opportunities for shared leadership.
Business Model
Financial and revenue indicators across the lifecycle, revenue development, and strengthening financial management.
Systems
Administrative systems and record-keeping, recognizing systems gaps, and using ecocycle planning to improve operations.
Bringing It All Together
Reflecting on organizational health, reviewing lifecycle shifts, and pinpointing your most important next steps for building long-term capacity.