Cultural Competency Institute

The Alliance Cultural Competency Institute builds the capacity of those who provide training, consulting and other resources to nonprofits in areas such as fundraising, strategic planning or board development. Capacity builders gain vital skills though the Alliance Cultural Competency Institute to help nonprofits advance diversity and multiculturalism within nonprofit staff and boards, policies, programs and communities served.

Based on well-tested practice and new groundbreaking research, the Institute's goals include building the knowledge, skill and will of nonprofit capacity builders to intentionally focus on culture in their work that strengthens nonprofit leadership and organizational effectiveness.

Competencies attendees will develop:

• Strategies to unlock hidden potential in your clients, grantee or member organizations by helping them address the role of cultural identity in organizational effectiveness;
• Awareness of our own cultural lens and the role it plays when working with nonprofits as a trainer, grantmaker, consultant or in other supportive roles;
• Understanding of power and privilege dynamics and the way those impact capacity building, nonprofit organizations and the communities they serve; and,
• Tools and exercises to address complex issues of culture in your practice.

"Train the Trainer" Format

The Cultural Competency Institute provides an opportunity to experience approaches that raise awareness and understanding, and then builds skills to provide support to nonprofits using the methods learned.  Presenters reflect on the objectives, methodology, and potential pitfalls of approaches, and suggest ways for participants to modify them for their own settings.

Approaches apply to consulting, grantmaking and other capacity building roles.  The content is relevant even if you are not a trainer.