What is the Lifecycles Model?
Brand new to Lifecycles? Start here to learn the basics of Nonprofit Lifecycles Institute’s capacity building model
The Lifecycles model provides the guidance and structure nonprofits need to realize their missions with clarity and sustainability. When nonprofits succeed, communities succeed. The Lifecycles model is how we get there.
Like human development, nonprofit capacity progresses in stages… the challenges of Start-up are different from Maturity. A Lifecycles approach to building nonprofit capacity gives you the starting point no matter your size, age, area of focus, or budget. Right-size your operations for maximum impact.
What is Capacity?
Capacity is another word for organizational capability and competence. Think of an organization’s operating capacity as the ‘table legs’ that support its mission and programs. The management, governance, business model, and administrative services each contribute to a nonprofit’s organizational capacity.
Why Capacity Matters?
Building a nonprofit’s capacity strengthens the organizational platform that supports and sustains it’s Mission and Programs. Without it, nonprofits can’t hope to achieve high performance or make a long-term impact on society’s well-being. Many nonprofits focus on creating new programs and keeping administrative costs low often at the peril of the organizational capacity necessary to achieve their aspirations effectively and efficiently. See our Impact page to hear from other organization’s who have worked on capacity building.
Who is the Nonprofit Lifecycle Institute®?
Nonprofit Lifecycles Institute, founded in 2015 by Susan Kenny Stevens, Ph.D., is a community of nonprofit leaders, consultants, and funders dedicated to fostering a healthy, dynamic, and collaborative ecosystem. Through their expertise and support, they guide nonprofits in achieving their missions with clarity and sustainability, based on the principles outlined in Stevens’ Nonprofit Lifecycles: Stage-based Wisdom for Nonprofit Capacity. Learn more about our Team and History.
Where do I start?
Click on the link that applies to you below to get your capacity building journey started today.
Whether you are a nonprofit employee who is just beginning to read Nonprofit Lifecycles: Stage-based Wisdom for Nonprofit Capacity or a board member who is fully entrenched in the lifecycles practices, the Institute provides an opportunity to engage with accredited consultants and gain access to the wealth of knowledge found in the resources, blogs and networking opportunities of like-minded colleagues and professionals.
Funders, revolutionize how you work with your grantees by adopting the Lifecycles model – a paradigm-shifting, stage-based approach that involves every stakeholder to bring about community change. Lifecycles provides a shared understanding and language around the capacity-building so you can maximize every investment in the sector. The Institute can provide a wealth of resources to help integrate Lifecycles into your capacity building: trainings, connecting with accredited Lifecycles Capacity Consultants, and even designing capacity building programs for your community.
Consultants who wish to adopt the Lifecycles approach to capacity building and further the work of the Institute can do so by attending Lifecycles Consulting sessions, integrating the practices into their consulting services, and affiliating with other Lifecycles Capacity Consultants in the sector. Learn what the Institute has to offer you.
Working with Nonprofit Lifecycles Institute helped increase our multi-partner collaboration between the New Jersey Department of Children and Families and a group of culturally specific programs doing incredible work serving communities across the state.
The thoughtful insights and support provided by NLI will have a lasting impact on our respective work and will continue to help us grow and sustain these and other meaningful partnerships. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with Nonprofit Lifecycles Institute and would partner with them again!
“Completing the Atlas cohort program through Nonprofit Lifecycles Institute was a catalyst for our organization, board, and staff. Through the funding of the consultant and the projects, Atlas gave us the next step. It allowed us to contemplate what we could be – creating that possibility or the inspiration of that possibility.”
