From surviving to thriving: Louisiana's capacity building evolution
Learn how the Louisiana Alliance for Nonprofits transformed capacity building across 125 organizations by combining Resilia's platform with strategic in-person convenings, proving that partnerships can’t be mandated, but they can be cultivated.
The Louisiana Alliance for Nonprofits works to educate, engage, and empower the nonprofit community for a stronger Louisiana.
01
About
The Louisiana Alliance for Nonprofits runs a comprehensive capacity building program funded by the Wilson Foundation, designed to strengthen nonprofit organizations across Louisiana. The program intentionally brings together diverse organizations, from brand-new grassroots groups just receiving their EIN to established nonprofits with decades of experience.
Led by Jill Roshto, the program operates on a core belief: even if you started in your garage because you saw a need and wanted to make a difference, to be effective, you have to operate as a business.
JILL ROSHTO
Executive Director
“I love all the resources, I love the online platform, but I think it's that combination, because at the end of the day, people still like the human connection.”
02
Challenges
Running a high-quality capacity building program with minimal staff resources meant they faced the impossible task of being everything to everyone, around the clock, while serving organizations at vastly different developmental stages.
Key Challenges
One-Woman Operation, 24/7 Needs
As the sole staff member, Jill couldn't provide templates, answer questions, or offer support at 8 o'clock at night when nonprofits were actually working on their organizations. Contracting helped, but grantees needed consistent access to comprehensive resources.
Collaboration That Can't Be Forced
Like funders across the country, the Louisiana Alliance for Nonprofits wanted to encourage partnership and reduce duplicated efforts. But they knew from experience that telling nonprofits to work together simply doesn't work.
Experience Gaps Across Cohorts
The program needed to serve organizations separated by years of development—from groups that didn't know basic nonprofit terminology to established organizations ready for advanced strategy.
03
How Resilia Supported Growth
Through a five-year partnership with Resilia, the Louisiana Alliance developed a hybrid model that provides comprehensive support while creating the conditions for collaboration to emerge naturally.
Comprehensive resource access
Resilia provides the depth of resources and expertise that would be impossible for a small foundation to create independently: current templates, expert videos covering diverse perspectives, and activities accessible 24/7 when grantees are actually working on their organizations.
One-on-one coaching
The coaching component bridges the gap between knowing resources exist and understanding how to apply them. After five cohorts, the Louisiana Alliance for Nonprofits has received zero negative feedback about coaching: organizations that engage consistently report it helps them tremendously.
Strategic curriculum refinement
Through continuous partnership, the program evolved from trying to cover everything to focusing on essentials: two sessions each on finance, fundraising, storytelling, and board development. Each in-person session now strategically aligns with specific Resilia templates and resources to reinforce learning.
“I think it's the combination of knowing those resources are there, and that coaching piece to help them go the next step, or to understand how they should better be using Resilia. I think it's fantastic.”
Jill Roshto
04
Results
Five years into their Resilia partnership, the Louisiana Alliance has created a sustainable capacity building model that scales personalized support while fostering collaboration that actually sticks.
125 Organizations Strengthened
Five cohorts completed, with an upcoming December gathering bringing together 112 people across all cohort years. The program creates ongoing opportunities for cross-cohort networking, with strategic assignments based on mission.
Super Users Make Super Progress
The ability to track usage clearly shows that organizations who use the tool make the most progress with their capacity building journey. The investment pays off when organizations engage with the platform's resources.
Continuous
Evolution
The program refines every year based on feedback and insights. For the next cohort, the Louisiana Alliance for Nonprofits is introducing a three-day primer workshop for brand-new organizations, covering basic nonprofit terminology and foundational concepts before the main program begins, with Resilia supporting the curriculum.
05 Impact
Capacity Building that Scales
The hybrid model proves that a small foundation with limited staff can deliver comprehensive capacity building to large cohorts by combining digital resources, personalized coaching, and strategic in-person convenings: each element amplifying the others' impact.
05
Mission
The Louisiana Alliance for Nonprofits is helping organizations build the skills, structure, and confidence needed to move from surviving to truly thriving. By combining Resilia’s on-demand platform with intentional in-person convenings, the program ensures that organizations at every stage have access to the resources and coaching they need, right when they need it.
What makes this model powerful is its blend of human connection and practical, around-the-clock support. Leaders can access templates, expert guidance, and coaching as they apply new practices to real-time challenges.
The result is both immediate and long-term impact: organizations strengthen their operations, collaboration emerges organically across cohorts, and Louisiana communities benefit from nonprofits that are more strategic, sustainable, and equipped to drive change statewide.