Building the Capacity of Emerging Organizations

Client Context

A prominent philanthropic intermediary based in a major U.S. city was facing a complex challenge. While it had been successfully distributing grants to support out-of-school time (OST) programs for children in low-income communities, the success of these investments was being undermined by the uneven capacity of its grant recipients. Many of the community-based organizations lacked the leadership infrastructure and operational strength to implement high-quality, sustainable programs.

The client recognized that to improve outcomes for children, they needed to invest in the organizations—and leaders—delivering those programs. The intermediary sought a strategic partner to help analyze its ecosystem, assess organizational capacity across grantees, and implement a long-term technical assistance initiative that would build a stronger, more sustainable pipeline of leaders in the OST space.

The Challenge

The client needed to reimagine its grant-making strategy to be more than transactional. Specifically, the organization was looking to:

• Understand the systemic and organizational barriers its grantees faced

• Identify opportunities to improve leadership capacity across community-based OST providers

• Align internal operations and investments with evidence-based capacity building practices

• Strengthen the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of its philanthropic impact

 Ultimately, the challenge was about turning grant-making into a developmental, equity-centered strategy.

The Symphonic Approach

Symphonic Strategies designed and delivered a comprehensive, phased engagement over two years. The initiative combined rigorous data analysis with human-centered coaching, allowing the client to refine its strategic vision while delivering immediate value to the community-based organizations it served.

1. Field Research and Benchmarking

We began with a literature review and benchmarking study, examining how other philanthropic intermediaries support nonprofit capacity building. These insights helped set the foundation for the client’s own strategic refresh.

2. Ecosystem Mapping and Customer Segmentation

Using participatory methods, we led an ecosystem mapping session to visualize the forces shaping the OST environment. We then worked with senior leaders to segment their grantee base into new, strategically meaningful categories.

3. Mixed-Method Needs Assessment

Our team designed and deployed a comprehensive survey with built-in conjoint analysis to capture nuanced grantee needs. We complemented this with interviews, focus groups, and regression-based data analysis to identify the most significant capacity gaps .

4. Capacity Building with 14 Grantees 

We provided direct technical assistance to 14 community-based organizations, helping each to develop tailored leadership and organizational development plans. This included needs assessments, coaching, and training aligned with best practices in nonprofit management.

5. Curriculum Development and Launch

Symphonic created and launched the Institute for New Leaders, New Communities—a customized leadership development program aligned with the client’s goals and the OST field’s core competencies.

The Impact

This engagement yielded both immediate and long-term results:

Stronger Leaders and Organizations

Fourteen organizations improved their operational performance, with new tools for planning, staffing, and resource development.

Strategic Shift in Grant-Making

The client refined its investment strategy to prioritize organizations with growth potential, while allocating resources for technical assistance to those in earlier stages of development.

Sustainable Leadership Pipeline

The Institute for New Leaders laid the foundation for a new generation of leadership across the OST ecosystem—equipped with skills, support, and shared language.

Data-Driven Decision-Making

Thanks to rigorous analysis and tailored recommendations, the client was able to make more informed, equitable decisions about where to direct its funding.

Reflections

This engagement illustrates the importance of embedding capacity building into philanthropic strategy. By investing in the people and organizations on the frontlines of service delivery, the client shifted from being simply a funder to becoming a field builder—helping to create the conditions for long-term community impact. Symphonic Strategies continues to support philanthropic intermediaries and networks in designing strategic initiatives that elevate both leadership and results.

Client Voice

“Symphonic helped us go beyond funding—we’re now investing in people, systems, and long-term change.” — Executive Team Member (anonymous)