Learn how to help identify partners’ project needs and

conduct a Community Partner Needs Assessments

Bonner CapstoneIntroducing the Capacity Building Mindset

The Bonner Capstone Series

Workshop Goals

to practice and apply skills needed to assess needs at

community partners

to understand the framework of

capacity building

to take away a plan to approach community

partners regarding capstone ideas

1 2

3

The purpose of this workshop is for students (especially sophomores) as they navigate their

work with Bonner Partners to…

CONCLUSION56

• Goals and agenda• Review capstone

process• Brave Space rules

INTRODUCTION

Today’s Agenda

• Problem solve hypothetical scenarios

SCENARIOS2

• Reflection activity

REFLECTION3

• Be introduced to the concept of and be inspired by examples of capacity building

INTRO TO CAPACITY BUILDING4

• Use a guided worksheet to come up with your own questions for community partners

PRACTICE

1

5 6

SCENARIOS REFLECTION

NEEDS ASSESSMENT CONCLUSION

• Make a plan for next steps

“Signature Work”: A culminating educational activity in which students integrate and apply their learning to a significant project with meaning to the student and society

A project that connects your

identity, service, and academics

A project created with the

community

A signature experience

Bonner Capstone:

Community

Though capstones integrate these three elements, today we focus on the community

component of capacity building projects.

What is capacity building?According to the Corporation for

National Community Service (CNCS) and National Council of Nonprofits, capacity building is

“an investment in the effectiveness and future

sustainability of a nonprofit.”

Why Capacity Building?Our partners need a strong infrastructure to fully and

efficiently serve the community

We can provide partners with campus resources – including academic knowledge and our time – to

enhance partners’ capacity to meet their missions and deliver strong programs

• Recruit and supervise volunteers • Create a volunteer structure • Design and implement trainings

• Create new or revamp old programs • Design and facilitate curriculum

• Conduct community based or public policy research

• Evaluate programs • Deve lop and imp lemen t

surveys

• Research and write grants • Raise funds creatively • Write proposals

Volunteer Recruitment and Management

Program Development and Training

Research

Fundraising

Communications

There are five categories of capacity building…

Capacity building

• Market or advertise events or services

• Manage social media and other outreach efforts

• Develop branding

Nostrud Suscipit

And two other kinds of projects that might fall outside these categories…

These projects are typically creative ways to address

needs in the community. For instance, they

might involve arts.

Disciplinary ProjectsThese team-based

projects take a current political issue—local, national, or

international—and launch a campaign

to address it.

Social Action Campaigns

Category of Projects Common Products for the Partner

Especially Good Fit for These Disciplines (Majors or Minors) or Types of Courses

• Volunteer Management (also called Service Leadership)

Volunteer Training Volunteer Handbook Volunteer Retention Analysis Human Resources Strategy

Leadership Education Business Civic Engagement

• Program (and Organizational) Development

Curriculum Development Program Development Program Replication Business Plan

Any major might apply disciplinary concepts (i.e., STEM Fields Math Education Business

• Communications and Technology

Website Social Media Computer Program Marketing Plan

Communications/PR Marketing Computer Science Methods courses

• Fundraising Grant Research Grant Writing Earned Income Strategy

English Nonprofit Management Business Social Entrepreneurism

Category of Projects Common Products for the Partner

Especially Good Fit for These Disciplines (Majors or Minors) or Types of Courses

• Research Applied Research Action Research Community-Based Research Public Policy Research Program Evaluation Oral Histories Needs Assessment Qualitative Study (for community defined need) Quantitative Study (for community defined need)

Often great for the Social Sciences: Public Policy Political Science Sociology Psychology Anthropology Social Work Biology

• Creative/Disciplinary Projects

Theater Production Arts Production Journalism Project Community Forum

Drama Arts Humanities Journalism Food Justice Communication Studies

• Social Action Campaign Policy Recommendation

Sociology Political Science Public Policy Social Justice

Examples of Projects

I am a sophomore Bonner. I just switched my major to public health and my service site to a

local clinic. I’m new to the academic content of my newfound passions and the community that I’m serving at my site. I am thinking about working

with the clinic and forging a role in capacity building and, eventually, a capstone that addresses

one of its needs while also meshing with my academic coursework and learning. What can I do to learn more about the work of the clinic and to identify various projects that I could work on that

are needed?

Capacity Building Scenarios Practice Round

Capacity Building ScenariosInstructions

1) Read your scenario and complete your worksheet (10 minutes) 2) Group up into your scenarios and discuss the best possible

solution (10 minutes)3) Discuss each scenario and each solution with new groups (10

minutes)

Consider:

• Your community • Your resources • Your skills/academics/interests • Barriers

Reflection

• What did you learn from the activity—either about the scenario itself or how you or other students may approach similar situations at your site?

• Why did we do this activity?

• How might you apply what you learned moving forward?

Needs Assessment

Remembering the practice scenarios and your knowledge of capacity building

projects, complete the needs assessment brainstorm worksheet

ConclusionCapacity Building in Our

CommunityTakeaways:

• Practiced the skills to problem solve possible capacity building barriers

• Learned about capacity building and how it applies to Bonner and partners

• Began to brainstorm capacity building projects for your own service site

• Set a tentative date to discuss site needs and your ideas with your site supervisor or community members using the Organizational Capacity Building Opportunities worksheet