Capacity Building Institute

Nonprofits thrive when leaders have both the strategic know-how to fuel sustainable growth and the personal resilience to see it through. Yet countless organizations struggle under the weight of limited resources, rising community needs, and the toll this takes on their leaders’ well-being. Ultimately, nonprofits truly prosper when those at the helm combine robust organizational strategies with the inner resources to stay balanced. This is the vision behind the Capacity Building Institute (CBI) at Lydia Sierra Consulting (LSC)—a dynamic space for purpose-driven leaders to learn, grow, and sustain the impactful work they do, grounded in a powerful blend of evidence-based strategies and holistic self-care. Read on to discover how the CBI took root and what we’re cultivating for the next generation of nonprofit leaders.

A Return to Our Roots

In 2005, LSC launched the first iteration of the Capacity Building Institute when we were hired by Community Connections for Youth (CCFY) to deliver a six-month organizational development workshop series in the South Bronx. The initiative targeted small, grassroots nonprofits—organizations deeply connected to their local communities yet often lacking the structural or financial support necessary to thrive. Our customized curriculum addressed critical areas such as board development, strategic planning, financial management, and more. Through that process, we witnessed the undeniable power of capacity building to transform not only organizations but also the neighborhoods they serve. 

One early success story is Youth Empowerment, a San Diego–based nonprofit launched by Executive Director Arturo Soriano, who connected with Lydia and the CBI soon after serving 23 years in the justice system. Returning home to City Heights—an area marked by high poverty and violence—Arturo channeled his lived experience into disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline for local youth. With LSC’s guidance, he formalized Youth Empowerment’s structure, secured funding, and built the organizational infrastructure needed to thrive. Today, Youth Empowerment operates on a budget nearing $1.5 million and is widely recognized for its “Credible Messenger” model, through which mentors who have transformed their own lives support others in doing the same. Their mission—to transform communities and increase public safety through mentorship, resilience, and advocacy—shows just how powerful grassroots vision can be when paired with robust technical support.

Over the years, LSC continued to provide organizational development and technical assistance to numerous nonprofits, but we gradually scaled down our larger Capacity Building Institute offerings. Our founder, Lydia Sierra, focused her efforts on fund development and grant management to meet the pressing needs of her clients. Now, as we turn the page to 2025, we’re thrilled to announce that we are bringing back the Capacity Building Institute—bigger, better, and more inclusive than ever before!

Lydia’s Journey

The new Capacity Building Institute draws inspiration from Lydia’s remarkable personal and professional journey. In the early 2000s, Lydia left a stable executive role at a large nonprofit to start a nonprofit arm for her church—a bold move driven by conviction and faith. She quickly encountered the thorny realities of church politics, balancing administrative tasks, board governance, program design, grant writing, and donor relations—all while navigating personal obligations. Over eight years, these challenges tested her resilience, eventually taking a toll on her health. She dealt with stress-induced allergies, chronic hives, and mental fatigue, learning the hard way how vital self-care, boundaries, and a supportive community can be. From that challenging chapter, Lydia emerged with a commitment to help other nonprofit leaders avoid the burnout she experienced. She vowed to create a platform where strategic planning meets inner healing, guiding nonprofits not just in “doing” but also in “being.”

Holistic Support for Nonprofit Leaders

A defining hallmark of our relaunched Capacity Building Institute is its holistic approach: robust technical assistance paired with nurturing self-care practices. We recognize that nonprofit leaders often juggle multiple responsibilities, navigate chronic under-resourcing, and absorb secondary trauma from the communities they serve. Our new CBI tackles these challenges through two interconnected programs: Root to Rise and Renew to Rise. Root to Rise delivers LSC’s comprehensive approach to fund development—covering everything from prospect research and proposal writing to grants management, leadership, and more. Whether your organization is just getting started or already established, there’s something here for you. Participants also benefit from monthly one-on-one coaching, plus a vibrant online community for peer support and networking, ensuring no leader feels isolated. Meanwhile, Renew to Rise focuses on mind, body, and spirit through wellness webinars, online support groups, and a growing wellness library. These resources help leaders cope with stress, process secondary trauma, and reconnect with the passion that fuels their mission, ultimately strengthening both themselves and their organizations.

Filling the Gap: Bridging the Technical and the Emotional

Traditional business education and nonprofit work rarely intersect around the idea of healing. Yet countless nonprofit leaders struggle with burnout, compassion fatigue, and the emotional toll of serving others. That’s why the Capacity Building Institute deliberately integrates a strong focus on strategy and systems with the guiding qualities of intuition, empathy, and reflection, ensuring every leader has both the operational tools and the personal support needed to succeed. We also take a trauma-informed approach, understanding that to create lasting change, you need more than just external solutions—you need to take care of the person at the center of it all. From in-depth workshops on prospect research and fundraising to guided meditations and mindfulness practices, the CBI experience acknowledges that running a nonprofit is as much about nurturing ourselves as it is about serving others.

A Thriving Community of Learners

At the heart of the Capacity Building Institute is a vibrant, diverse community of peers that we affectionately call our “Inner Circle.” It’s a space where it’s okay to be both vulnerable and ambitious, and where learning happens not just from experts but from each other. We believe that true knowledge is co-created by sharing—when leaders openly exchange stories, ideas, and insights, everyone grows stronger. 

To support this collaborative environment, all of our courses will be offered on Thinkific, a robust learning management system that provides dedicated community spaces for ongoing engagement. Participants can ask questions, offer feedback, and dig into past discussions at any time, creating an active learning hub that fosters problem-solving, mutual accountability, and deeper connection. As Lydia often says, “Too many nonprofit leaders are out there building organizations alone.” By joining the CBI, you’ll become part of a circle that offers solidarity, resources, and renewed energy for every step of the journey—online and beyond.

Meet Candace Famiglietti: Director of CBI and Collaborative Co-Creator

Guiding this community is Candace Famiglietti, our new Director, whose teaching philosophy centers on education as a transformative force. Having experienced firsthand the power of higher learning to disrupt generational cycles, Candace also recognizes that technical skills alone are not enough. Under her leadership, our programs weave personal development and healing practices into core nonprofit competencies, ensuring that leaders not only gain the expertise needed to build sustainable organizations but also nurture the well-being of themselves and their communities.

By integrating self-care, storytelling, and community-building into every course, Candace’s approach aligns seamlessly with Lydia’s longstanding commitment to combining strategy with heart. As instructors, we see our role as facilitators and co-creators, equipping participants with the tools to thrive while emphasizing compassion, empathy, and balance. Candace often describes her role in this student-centered approach: “I am not the sage on the stage but the guide on the side.” This philosophy fosters curiosity and empowers individuals to uncover knowledge and insights for themselves, creating an environment where learning is shared and co-created rather than imposed.  This comprehensive framework—where personal growth and empowerment meet professional excellence—lies at the core of the Capacity Building Institute, enabling nonprofits to expand their impact in ways that are both deeply human and profoundly effective.

Ready to Rise?

If you’re a nonprofit leader—or aspire to be one—who’s seeking growth, clarity, and connection, we invite you to watch for our official launch of the newly redesigned Capacity Building Institute this coming spring. Our flagship Root to Rise program and the complementary Renew to Rise initiatives will offer a unique blend of technical training, community building, and holistic care. We can’t wait to welcome you into this transformative space, where you’ll gain the systems and strategies to propel your organization forward while also nurturing yourself as a leader. We hope you’ll become part of an ever-expanding network of visionaries committed to meaningful action, reflection, and sustainable impact. As Lydia says, “This is going to be a pretty incredible adventure—one we embark on together.” Let’s root ourselves deeply and rise to new heights, individually and collectively, in 2025 and beyond.

We Want to Hear From You!

As we build this new chapter of the Capacity Building Institute, we want your voice to guide our journey. Our goal is to provide the exact training and support your nonprofit needs, and we believe the best way to do that is by co-creating it with our community. Please take a few moments to fill out our brief survey—your feedback will help us shape our offerings so they have the greatest impact. As a thank-you, you’ll be entered into a raffle for a chance to win a $50 donation to your nonprofit. Together, let’s develop a program that truly reflects your needs and aspirations.

Sign Up and Stay Connected

Sign up for our Capacity Building Institute community list today to receive exclusive insights on nonprofit capacity building, holistic self-care strategies for leaders, and notifications about all our upcoming workshops—including our Prospect Research 101 session in the spring. Stay informed about new courses, free resources, and special events designed to help you and your organization thrive!

-Michael J. Cole, Staff Writer at Lydia Sierra Consulting

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