How Nonprofit Accelerators Help Build Capacity

Nonprofits historically have less resources and capital to focus on growing capacity than traditional businesses, usually due to a focus on impact as opposed to profits. However, accelerator programs can help advance the growth and impact of nonprofits by providing education and coaching as well as access to human and financial resources.

“A nonprofit accelerator provides the chance for organizations to build an infrastructure for their organization while gaining new tools, knowledge, and connections”, said Audrey Sherman, Director of Client Services of Blue Sky Partners, a national consulting firm based in Austin. “The challenges that nonprofits face are unique when compared to the for-profit sector, and accelerators which are tailored to nonprofits are important to help scale impact/capacity and ultimately better serve our communities.”

In a world where every penny counts in order to keep an organization running, a nonprofit accelerator can give…

• Mentorship and Guidance

• Networking and Connection Opportunities

• Funding and Investment Opportunities

• Measurement and Evaluation Support

• Long-term Sustainability

… and so much more. 

How You Can Support Accelerator Programs

Getting involved in an accelerator is a great way to help organizations striving to make a difference in the Central Texas region– attend showcase/pitch events to learn more about the work of accelerator participants and share with your network, volunteer your time, and give financially and/or through in-kind donations. 

Check out these local accelerators that SVP Austin has partnered with, providing pro bono mentoring/coaching support:

Homelessness Services Capacity Building Program

The City of Austin partnered with Blue Sky Partners to provide a cohort-based accelerator program addressing capacity building for nonprofits focused on solving homelessness in Travis county. 21 nonprofits were awarded the opportunity to participate in the program which will culminate in a Community Showcase on July 11 at City Hall from 4-6pm. The event is free and open to the public. Each organization will have the chance to highlight the unique work they're doing in the homelessness response space as well as make asks of attendees based on their needs.

Little Bit of Good 

Launched this year, Little Bit of Good provides a capacity building accelerator program for nonprofits in the Central Texas region, with a focus on Black-led and predominantly Black serving organizations. The organization’s mission is to drive equity and systemic transformation in communities of color by strategically resourcing and developing Black non-profit leaders in the area of capacity building.

“On average the revenues of the Black-led organizations are 24 percent smaller than the revenues of their white-led counterparts. When it comes to the holy grail of financial support- unrestricted funding—the picture is even bleaker. The unrestricted net assets of the Black-led organizations are 76 percent smaller than their white-led counterparts.”

— 2019 Racial Equity and Philanthropy Report by Echoing Green and Bridgespan

The program goes through November and will end with a celebratory event in December that gives the nonprofit cohort the opportunity to talk about their mission and roadmap to Austin-area leaders, community members and philanthropists. To learn more about how you can support this event, please contact Monique Parker at littlebitofgoodorg@gmail.com.

DivInc

With a mission to generate social and economic equity through entrepreneurship, DivInc offers accelerators in Austin and Houston to help social enterprises build capacity to do good. Participants go through a 12-week program to help founders build leadership confidence, proficiency in core business fundamentals, and provide a supportive community of peers, mentors, and investors that help early-stage founders. 

Their upcoming Social Impact Accelerator this fall will support startups led by BIPOC and women founders leveraging emerging technologies to address issues of inequity in healthcare, education, food access, housing, accessibility for those with disabilities and racial injustice.

Contact DivInc to learn more about how you can partner and support their work to reduce the racial and gender wealth divide and drive greater innovation.

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Learn more about how SVP Austin partners with local community organizations to provide pro bono advisory services that support or promote their programs/initiatives and contact us if you’d like to explore becoming a Community Partner!