Nonprofit Capacity Building
We equip regional nonprofits with the training, tools, and support they need to strengthen their organizations — so together we can solve problems more effectively and create lasting change.
Training & Resources
We are offering training and resources, including agency endowment funds and fiscal sponsorships, to regional partner organizations to strengthen our collective ability to solve problems together.
Currently, we offer 12 capacity building workshops annually that focus on things like data, stakeholder engagement, nonprofit basics, evaluation, grantwriting, and much more. Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed about the next workshop or go over to our events page.
If you haven’t seen it, check out the Impact Dashboard and the data resources available to you that support your work.
PRACTICAL SKILLS SERIES 2026
Practical tools to help local changemakers get unstuck and move real work forward.
We know how hard it is to keep things moving when the work keeps getting heavier. That’s why Collaboratory and Walter Social Impact created the 2026 Impact Skills Series + Impact Labs: no-cost, hands-on sessions designed in response to demonstrated capacity needs across our region. This six-part series offers practical tools, shared language, and guided support to help nonprofit, civic, business, and community leaders gain clarity, coordinate efforts, and make progress on real projects alongside others who understand the work.
Impact Skills Series: What’s Our Community Telling Us?
April 1, 2026 | 9:00AM – 12:00PM
Many well-intended initiatives fall short because decisions are made for communities rather than with them. This session focuses on building practical skills for listening to residents, partners, and lived experience in ways that meaningfully inform decisions. Participants will learn methods for gathering and interpreting qualitative input, spotting patterns across stories and feedback, and translating community signals into clear insight. Expect interactive exercises that mirror real engagement scenarios. Bring any feedback, notes, or data you already have. This session builds directly on problem framing by grounding understanding in real voices before moving into solution development.
Impact Lab I
May 6, 2026 | 12:00PM – 3:00PM
Impact Labs are structured like facilitated office hours for professionals working on a real project, initiative, or challenge. In this first lab, participants receive targeted support applying the skills from earlier sessions (problem clarity and community insight) to their own work. You’ll have dedicated time to refine your problem framing, sense-check assumptions, and clarify where meaningful change could realistically happen. Expect guided prompts, individualized feedback, and optional peer perspective. Come prepared with a specific initiative, open questions, or areas where you’re stuck. This lab helps participants move from understanding to direction with greater confidence and focus.
Impact Skills Series: What Could We Do Differently?
July 29, 2026 | 9:00AM – 12:00PM
When you’re deep in the work, it’s easy to default to familiar solutions…even when they’re not working. This session helps participants break out of “we’ve always done it this way” thinking and practice generating bold, responsible alternatives. You’ll learn structured ideation techniques, how to reframe constraints as design inputs, and how to expand the solution space without losing focus. Expect creative exercises that feel energizing but purposeful. Bring an open mind and willingness to explore. This session builds on earlier insights to ensure new ideas are grounded in reality, not guesswork.
Impact Lab II
October 28, 2026 | 12:00PM – 3:00PM
This final Impact Lab is designed as advanced office hours focused on refinement, decision-making, and next steps. Participants bring their active projects, draft concepts, experiments, or implementation plans and receive structured support to sharpen, simplify, and move forward. Expect facilitated reflection, targeted feedback, and practical guidance to help you determine what to prioritize, test, or let go. Come prepared with specific questions or decisions you’re facing. This session closes the 6-part series by ensuring participants leave with clarity, momentum, and a concrete path forward.
