We  support the social sector in the following ways:

• Our research driven Collective Power Analysis  helps collaborations and organizations measure progress on equity focus, systems and policy change, and addressing root causes. Equity and power dynamics has always been centered in our work, primarily through increasing the voice of those directly impacted in decision making.
  
• Our research driven Team Insights approach supports nonprofits, foundations, for profits, government, and innovative nonprofits in building toward their next phase of growth.
  

We have worked in a broad range of sectors
health equity
social enterprise
youth development
child welfare
adult education 
equity in post secondary education
community and economic development
affordable housing
basic needs
the environment
arts and culture
library and literacy initiatives
workforce development

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 Our In-House Research
Below are research briefs we created for the sector. To sign up for our quarterly research briefs click here.

• Preparing the Sector for New Expectations 
• Nonprofit Business Planning for a New Era
• The Power of Multiple Stakeholder Engagement in Decision Making
• The Imperative to Put the Voice of those directly impacted at the Center of Decision Making

Our latest research brief is focused on the new expectations foundation, nonprofit and public sector leaders can expect to face in the coming decade. Many of the issues foundations and nonprofits have been been tackling over the past decade, such as measurement and collaboration, will still apply, but there will be a host of new expectations as well. This research brief covers some of those new expectations to help prepare sector leaders. 
 
Relevant News and Research
Shared Value and Collective Impact  
Mark Kramer and John Kania's framework for "Collective Impact" has sparked a lot of discussion over the past decade on how to best achieve meaningful social change and that conversation has grown over time to include more focus on community voice, and equity with "The Water of Systems Change". At the same time Michael Porter and Mark Kramer have joined together to share the concept of shared value - a new approach to business engagement with community needs. There were inspired some elements of our Collective Power Analysis.
Click here to read about Shared Value
Click here to read about The Water of Systems Change
Equity and Anti-Racism
We have learned from, and continue to be inspired by,  many in the field that are pushing organizations and individuals to do more to address entrenched inequity and systemic racism.
Click here to learn about Edgar Villanueva's work on Decolonizing Wealth.
Click here to hear from Color of Change
Click here to learn from Ibram X. Kendi on the difference between racism and anti-racism in the context of public education. 
Click here for the Equitable Evaluation Institute

Recent Clients

The Rhode Island Foundation
College Unbound
Providence Community Library
United Way of Rhode Island
United Way of Greater Waterbury
Newport Public Schools
Rhode Island Department of Education
Working Cities ( Boston Federal Reserve project)
Women's Resource Center
One Neighborhood Builders
Newport Partnership for Families
Rhode Island Community Action Association 
Social Enterprise Greenhouse
Youth In Action
Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council
Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth & Families
Parent Support Network
Youth At Risk Coalition
Opera House/Newport Performing Arts Center
Community Works Rhode Island
Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County
Recycle A Bike
The Met School
RiverzEdge Arts
United Way of Greater Waterbury
Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center
Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Bike Newport 
East Bay Community Action Association
Aquidneck Land Trust
FabNewport  

CONTACT US TO LEARN MORE

Sector Resources We Recommend
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
FSG
Schott Foundation
Stanford Social Innovation Review
Harvard Business Review Weekly Update
Council on Foundations
Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship
Harvard Family Research Project
Annie Casey Foundation KIDS COUNT
Pew Charitable Trust
The Aspen Institute
Feedback Lab

​Helpful Tools
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​Loomio
The Capacity Group has been using Loomio, a new online conversation tool helps to drive more collaborative decision making in organizations. Click here to find out more. 

​Evaluating Complexity
Some community needs take a broad range of partners and significant time, research and trial and error to address. FSG  released a useful framework for embedding evaluation into collaborative approaches to meeting complex community needs. At The Capacity Group were are using this framework and are blending it with our own Collective Power Analysis, and incorporating an adaptive leadership and empowerment lens. Click here to read FSG's report on evaluating complexity. ​

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​Contact Us for a Consultation

contact@thecapacitygroup.org