I had the absolute privilege of attending Philanthropy Southwest’s 76th annual conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico, this past week with 550 other professionals. The conference, themed ‘Unity in Action,’ is held each year to foster collaboration in the Southwestern philanthropic sector, providing a unique platform for meaningful connections and shared purpose. This year, I was delighted to discover multiple breakout sessions dedicated to capacity building, with a strong focus on the role funders play in supporting this critical area. Without the resources for professional development and leadership growth, nonprofits cannot fully maximize the investments made by foundations. When nonprofits aren’t operating at their full capacity, the impact of those investments is diminished. According to “A Network Approach to Capacity Building,” published by the National Council of Nonprofits, “Capacity building is whatever is needed to bring a nonprofit to the next level of operational, programmatic, financial, or organizational maturity, so it may more effectively and efficiently advance its mission into the future.” Nonprofits can easily fall into the trap of focusing solely on the present, without adequately preparing for their future. That is what capacity building is really about – providing stability through professional development that equips nonprofit leaders with the skills they need to increase their organization’s impact and long-term stability. The Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits believes wholeheartedly that capacity building is vital for the success and growth of nonprofits in Oklahoma. The Center was founded for that exact purpose - our mission is “empowering nonprofits to achieve excellence in their missions.” I am encouraged to see this topic gaining momentum nationwide and sincerely hope that foundations and private donors will continue to prioritize and support this vital aspect of nonprofit funding. For more information about capacity building and its importance to the nonprofit sector, visit https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/running-nonprofit/governance-leadership/what-capacity-building.