Organizational capacity is the collective ability of committed individuals within organizations to develop goals and strategies that will result in meaningful outcomes over a sustained period of time. This capacity is a factor imperative to their success which ultimately allows our communities grow towards the future we collectively envision.

As a grantmaker, we have a vested interest in the capacity of the very organizations we support. Our Maximizing Effectiveness report (2004) indicated clearly that grassroots and environmental organizations face significant challenges in their pursuit of organizational effectiveness and sustainability because of a capacity gap. Our Capacity Building Program addresses this existing gap through establishing new services and support that increase the collective ability of organizations to achieve sustained progress towards their priorities. The Capacity Program will:

• Support and facilitate environmental groups to utilize resources
  that build their capacity and maximize their effectiveness.
• Integrate capacity building into the Alberta Ecotrust Grant Program.
• Build knowledge and develop specialized resources in the environmental sector that increase the effectiveness of voluntary organizations working for sustainable environmental benefits.