Nonprofit capacity building glossary

Nonprofit capacity building · Capacity strengthening · Technical assistance (TA) · Nonprofit coaching · Peer learning · Cohort · Practitioner · Portfolio capacity building · Trust-based philanthropy · General operating support · Capacity building grant · Sponsored seat · Theory of change · Outcomes measurement · Impact narrative · Living record · Consent grant · Portfolio view · Impact Lattice · Board matrix · Full-cost budgeting · AI policy · Intermediary · BIPOC-led organization · Executive director (ED)

Nonprofit capacity building

Resilia defines nonprofit capacity building by two outcomes: the highest impact work gets done, and the nonprofit can do it again without us. It covers coaching, technical assistance, training, peer learning, strategic planning, board development, fundraising, evaluation, technology and HR. Learn more about Nonprofit capacity building

Capacity strengthening

A term many funders use instead of capacity building, to signal that nonprofits already have strengths and should lead the work. The principles are the same: the nonprofit chooses its priorities and keeps the capacity.

Technical assistance (TA)

Expert help to complete a specific piece of work, such as a financial model or HR policies. Technical assistance is one kind of capacity building. Learn more about Technical assistance (TA)

Nonprofit coaching

An ongoing relationship with a coach focused on decisions, skills and the leader, typically an hour or two a month. Learn more about Nonprofit coaching

Peer learning

Leaders learning from other leaders facing the same problem at the same stage, through cohorts and an online community. Learn more about Peer learning

Cohort

A group of organizations working on the same goal at the same time, each finishing its own deliverable. Resilia cohorts run 2, 3 or 6 months at about 5–8 hours a month. Learn more about Cohort

Practitioner

An expert who has done the work — in fundraising, finance, governance or operations — and builds the deliverable alongside a nonprofit’s staff rather than handing over recommendations.

Portfolio capacity building

A funding model that gives every grantee in a portfolio access to support, funds cohorts around shared needs, and adds deeper coaching or technical assistance where grantees want it. Learn more about Portfolio capacity building

Trust-based philanthropy

An approach to grantmaking that shifts power toward nonprofits through flexible funding, reduced paperwork and relationships built on trust. Trust-based capacity building applies the same principles to non-financial support. Learn more about Trust-based philanthropy

General operating support

Unrestricted funding the nonprofit decides how to spend, including on capacity building.

Capacity building grant

A grant that funds an organization’s ability to deliver its mission — leadership, planning, fundraising, systems, technology — rather than a specific program’s services. Learn more about Capacity building grant

Sponsored seat

A program seat, coaching package or workspace paid for by a funder on a nonprofit’s behalf. The nonprofit still owns its data. Learn more about Sponsored seat

Theory of change

A simple map of how a nonprofit’s activities lead to the change it wants, and what it will measure along the way. Learn more about Theory of change

Outcomes measurement

Tracking the changes a program produces — not just its activities — with a short list of indicators a team can act on. Learn more about Outcomes measurement

Impact narrative

An evidence-based story of a nonprofit’s results, generated from its own record and shared with funders by consent. Learn more about Impact narrative

Living record

A nonprofit’s documents, history, plans and results kept in one structured place that survives staff turnover and gives every coach and new hire context. Learn more about Living record

Consent grant

Permission a nonprofit gives to share a specific view of its data with a specific funder or consultant, for a stated purpose and time, revocable at any point. Learn more about Consent grant

Portfolio view

A funder’s view of participation, milestones and grantee-shared progress across its portfolio, limited to what each grantee consents to share. Learn more about Portfolio view

Impact Lattice

A technology infrastructure for entrusted data. Resilia is built on Impact Lattice, so the nonprofit owns its data and decides who sees what. Learn more about Impact Lattice

Board matrix

A grid of the skills, perspectives and networks a board needs, compared with the ones it has, used to plan recruitment. Learn more about Board matrix

Full-cost budgeting

Budgeting that includes the true cost of running programs — overhead, reserves and growth — so a nonprofit can ask funders for what the work really costs. Learn more about Full-cost budgeting

AI policy

A short document setting what AI use is allowed, what data must never be entered into AI tools, and who reviews AI outputs. Learn more about AI policy

Intermediary

An organization that connects funders and nonprofits and coordinates support, such as a management support organization, community foundation or regional association. Learn more about Intermediary

Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC)-led organization

A nonprofit led by Black, Indigenous or people of color (BIPOC), usually meaning its executive director and at least half of its board. Funders often track support to these organizations because they have historically received less funding. Learn more about BIPOC-led organization

Executive director (ED)

The staff leader of a nonprofit, hired by and reporting to the board. In a small nonprofit, the executive director often also leads fundraising, programs and operations. Learn more about Executive director (ED)

Last reviewed October 26, 2026