What We're Doing

The Campion Foundation is building the capacity of the sector through grantmaking, being a vocal advocate for capacity building and the nonprofit sector, and by advancing support for capacity building through our external partnerships with funder colleagues and supporting organizations.

Here are a few examples:

Philanthropy Northwest's Capacity Building Learning Circle
We are a founding member of the Learning Circle which is an opportunity for funders across Philanthropy Northwest's region (Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho) to gain a deeper understanding of capacity building and nonprofit needs, and to share best practices. The goals of the Learning Circle are to (i) connect funders who are interested in capacity building (new and experienced) and (ii) inspire action (either individually or collectively), ultimately increasing the resources devoted to capacity building and the effectiveness of those efforts.
Statewide Capacity Collaborative
In 2009, the Campion Foundation and six other Pacific Northwest funders (The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Medina Foundation, M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, The Seattle Foundation, Sherwood Trust, and Social Venture Partners) commissioned an assessment of current capacity building resources in Washington, including gap analysis, to help define the investments and funding strategies which would best serve their common goal of strengthening Washington's nonprofit sector. Today, joined by the Paul G. Allen Foundation and Empire Health Foundation, these funders invest collaboratively in projects which aim to strengthen statewide capacity in Washington and to leverage capacity building resources for greater impact.
Professional Development Opportunities for Current Grantees
In the often stressful, always busy, non-profit world employees are key to the success of their organizations. However, developing new skills and keeping abreast of changes in the field can often be overlooked due to time and budget pressures. To address this concern, we make professional development grants to the staff of current grantees for personal and professional growth opportunities. These activities—such as attending a national conference or completing a workshop or course—may encompass a wide variety of opportunities specific to the individual.

Program Areas

What We're Doing