Reflecting on Five Years of Nonprofit Capacity Building in Chautauqua County

In 2019, a group of local funders first convened around the concept of nonprofit capacity building as a collaborative effort to support nonprofit organizations and leaders in Chautauqua County. With pooled funding and support from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, the group partnered with Community Wealth Partners to conduct a countywide assessment survey to better understand the greatest needs and opportunities in the local nonprofit sector. The results of that survey, delivered in January 2020, laid the groundwork for what would become The Capacity Lab (TCL). 

Over the past five years, these insights and continued feedback and data from local nonprofits guided the development of TCL’s three strategic objectives: investing in the development of nonprofit leaders, connecting nonprofits with resources and one another, and supporting shared services. 

Now, nearing the five-year mark of this collaborative effort, TCL engaged in a formal evaluation process conducted again by Community Wealth Partners to better understand what’s working, where we can improve, and how we can continue to meet the evolving needs of Chautauqua County’s nonprofit sector.

What We Learned: 5-Year Evaluation Report Highlights

The evaluation process took place over four months and engaged 104 people through surveys, and focus groups with local nonprofit representatives, and interviews with the funders supporting TCL and the former project director. The evaluation was grounded in TCL’s mission and focused on three learning questions.

1. How well did The Capacity Lab meet the needs of nonprofits?

"I want to highlight how thankful we are for The Capacity Lab. They provide resources and connections we can't get anywhere else." – Nonprofit Respondent

TCL’s offerings were found to have been relevant, valuable and tailored to the local context of Chautauqua County nonprofits. For many organizations in the county TCL is the only capacity building partner, less than half of the nonprofits receive professional development, technical assistance, capacity building, training or networking opportunities from sources other than TCL. Offerings were rated very impactful for participants, with a slight lean towards individual level outcomes. 

Respondents highlighted that they appreciate the holistic approach to the local nonprofit sector’s capacity and the value of having a dedicated point of contact in the project director for questions and connections. Feedback did identify the need to better clarify TCL offerings and expand the target audiences. 

2. What growth, development or other outcomes have nonprofits experienced?

“The Capacity Lab has gotten more nonprofits thinking about partnerships which is great for those organizations and the community as a whole.” – Nonprofit Respondent

Respondents felt strongly that TCL has strengthened the nonprofit sector in Chautauqua County. Key takeaways found evidence of improvement at the individual and organization level as well as across the county. Respondents cited a deeper connection to leaders and colleagues in the nonprofit sector and reported shifts in practices to support new ways of working and greater efficiency.

60% of respondents reported tangible practical changes to their work. However, it was noted that while respondents were optimistic, they were also uncertain that the results would be long-lasting, citing lack of time and capacity, staff turnover, lack of opportunity to apply new skills and that the learning was too recent to tell.

3. What are the greatest opportunities for The Capacity Lab?

“I’d like to see more opportunities to co-create TCL’s offerings and provide input on what we need.” – Nonprofit Respondent

As TCL moves forward, feedback from nonprofit respondents shared the desire to strengthen the initiative’s brand and awareness, foster deeper skill building opportunities and ways for organizations to collaborate, provide greater access to resources and deepen shared services supports.

Respondents also shared they missed having a single point of contact to connect with for questions and resources, repeat of past trainings and resources like the salary survey, and more follow-up on the shared services mini-conference.

Looking Ahead: What's Next for The Capacity Lab

As we mark five years of nonprofit capacity building in Chautauqua County, the insights shared through this evaluation underscore both the progress we’ve made and the opportunities that lie ahead. The Capacity Lab has grown into a valued resource for many nonprofits—helping to strengthen leadership, encourage collaboration, and provide access to tools and connections that support stronger nonprofit leaders and organizations. 

Our work is not done. Your voices and feedback continue to shape and inform TCL’s offerings across our three strategic objectives: investing in the development of nonprofit leaders, connecting nonprofits with resources and one another, and supporting shared services.

The results of this 5-year evaluation survey have already helped us to refine the key activities within these objectives. We look forward to sharing these updates with you over the coming months as we look to implement new offerings and approaches. 

Make sure to stay connected with us at thecapacitylab.org, engage with us on social media (Facebook and LinkedIn) and sign up for our monthly newsletter for updates, resources and opportunities.