Overview

SIF leads a range of different types of Capacity Camps, which began as condensed versions of our Accelerator.

Each Capacity Camp is tailor-designed by SIF to meet both the organizations' and the funders' interests. Capacity Camps feature a series of learning sessions followed by an "add on" activity. Some Capacity Camps have concluded with pitch events. Others have included executive coaching. Another involved taking funders on a day-long trip to New Bedford for site visits. 

Capacity Camps have allowed SIF to serve a broader range of nonprofits. They have also allowed SIF to test different approaches to building the capacity of small nonprofits.

For more information, please contact Sarah Dingee, Program Manager, at sdingee@socialinnovationforum.org. 

Current Capacity Camp and Alums:

Year: 2021
Topic: Strengthening the New Bedford Community
Funders: Schrafft Charitable Trust and The Island Foundation
Participating Organizations: 

• Coastal Foodshed
• Discovery Language Academy
• Entrepreneurship for All
• GalleryX
• Groundwork Southcoast
• Youth Opportunities Unlimited

Year: 2021
Topic: Youth Development
Funder: State Street Foundation
Participating Organizations: 

• Bikes Not Bombs
• Friends of the Children – Boston
• Level Ground Mixed Martial Arts
• Minds Matter Boston
• SquashBusters
• St. Stephen’s Youth Programs
• The Possible Project

Year: 2020
Topic: Inclusion and Accessibility
Funder: Liberty Mutual Insurance
Participating Organizations: 

• BalletRox
• Best Buddies
• Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC)
• Helping Hands: Monkey Helpers
• Open Door Arts
• Operation A.B.L.E of Greater Boston
• The Next Step Fund

Year: 2019
Topic: College Access
Funder: State Street Foundation
Participating Organizations: 

• Freedom House
• Hyde Square Task Force
• Noonan Scholars
• One Goal
• POSSE Foundation
• Sociedad Latina
• Summer Search
• The Boston Higher Education Resource Center (Boston HERC)

Year: 2018
Topic: Healthy Living Community Partners
Funder: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
About 50 Participating Nonprofit Organizations 

Year: 2018
Topic: Workforce Development
Funder: State Street Foundation
Participating Organizations: 

• East Boston Ecumenical Center
• Project Hope
• Project Place
• South Boston en Acción
• St. Francis House
• STRIVE, Program of JRI
• United South End Settlements

Year: 2016
Topic: Environmental Sustainability
Funder: Schrafft Charitable Trust
Participating Organizations: 

• Boston Area Gleaners
• Change is Simple
• Food For Free
• Friends of the Middlesex Fells Reservation
• Healthy Waltham
• MassRecycle
• New Entry Sustainable Farming Project
• Regional Environmental Council