Capacity Waterloo Region (CWR) is a five-year pilot project to deepen that region’s capacity for social innovation by developing resources to support the people and ideas that lead to social change. Non-profits and social enterprises will benefit from new cross-sectoral collaborations, enhanced leadership skills and networks, and improved sectoral impact. The project’s three main initiatives are:
1. Executive-Director-in-Residence (EDIR) - providing non-profit and social venture leaders with coaching and connections to a crucial support system that can accelerate organizational innovation and personal growth.
2. Peer Learning Network – providing supportive learning environments for peers to identify and support concrete approaches to increase collaboration, innovation and leadership. In partnership with Communitech and the Volunteer Action Centre.
3. Board Governance Education – improving the quality and performance of non-profit boards through practical training that identifies governance best practices, applies them to the boardrooms of participating non-profits, and promotes the value of innovation and leadership for organizational wellbeing. Final touches are being done on the Board Governance Education initiative and the first session will be held in November. In partnership with Wilfrid Laurier University.
Social Venture Programming
CWR is working with IRAP (the Industrial Research Assistance Program) on a one-year social venture initiative to complement its three main programs. This program will allow them to offer some unique programming geared to enabling the launch and growth of social ventures – both non-profit and for-profit. Themes include social entrepreneurship, social finance and social media.
A project of Tides Canada Initiatives, CWR is led by a steering committee representing non-profit, education, and business. If you would like to keep updated on the progress of Capacity Waterloo Region, or if you wish to share your support and ideas, please contact Jennifer King at jenniferking@execulink.com
