683. Why Most Capacity Building Fails — and What Works Instead - Leona Christy, Catalyst Exchange
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Meet Leona 🤝, founder and CEO of Catalyst Exchange. Leona’s vision is bold and timely: to transform how nonprofits and schools build capacity—so leaders aren’t trying to change the world with a shovel and a dream. Through flexible funding, trusted expertise, and community-centered partnerships, Catalyst Exchange is strengthening the systems and people behind lasting impact.
In this conversation, Leona shares her journey from India to the U.S., and how her experiences shaped a mission rooted in equity, agency, and trust. She challenges traditional, funder-driven models of capacity building and offers a more responsive, mission-driven approach that centers those closest to the work.
Join us for a powerful conversation about sharing power, resourcing resilience, and showing up—especially when it’s hard.
Learn:
Why traditional capacity building often fails—and how to redesign it around mission and community
The difference between “painkillers,” “vitamins,” and “vaccines” in strengthening organizations
How flexible funding models restore agency to nonprofit leaders
What effective, equitable capacity building looks like in practice
Why resourcing community-based organizations is critical for long-term ecosystem health
Leona’s personal journey from immigrant professional to sector innovator—and how it shapes her leadership today
“Capacity building must be responsive to what organizations actually need.”
Episode Transcript
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Episode Highlights:
The Real Problem with Traditional Capacity Building (06:12)
From Program Funding to Systems Strengthening (07:45)
Capacity Advisors: Strategy, Therapy + Clarity (10:02)
Flexible “Wallet” Funding and Restoring Leader Agency (11:38)
Painkillers, Vitamins + Vaccines: A New Capacity Framework (16:05)
Place-Based Partnerships + Ecosystem Strength (14:52)
Mission-Driven, Responsive + Timely Capacity Building (20:58)
The Equity Gap in Capacity Resourcing (23:10)
Making the Case: Connecting Capacity to Fundraising Outcomes (26:18)
Moments of Generosity + Expanding Who Deserves Funding (29:42)
Leona’s One Good Thing: Show Up + Practice Perspective (32:52)
Powerful Quotes
“Strong organizations don’t just make change. They sustain it.” – Leona Christy
“It’s like trying to build a skyscraper with a shovel and a spade.” – Leona Christy
“Philanthropy funds programs—but not always the people and systems behind them.” – Leona Christy
“The person in the seat knows more about their needs and context than anyone else.” – Leona Christy
“Capacity building should be mission-driven, not funder-driven.” – Leona Christy
“If you need a painkiller, it’s not helpful to talk about vitamins.” – Leona Christy
“There is so much capacity debt across this sector.” – Leona Christy
“The nonprofits closest to communities often have the least access to resources.” – Leona Christy
“We need to show up when things are as hard as they are right now.” – Leona Christy
“Rest is important—but retreating isn’t the solution.” – Leona Christy
“Every single person has something to be grateful for.” – Leona Christy
“What do I have today that I would have done so much for 10 years ago?” – Leona Christy
“Agency is critical for real, lasting impact.” – Leona Christy
Leona’s One Good Thing:
1) Show up, especially when it’s hard. Rest is necessary, but retreating isn’t the answer, this is the moment to stay in the field and keep showing up.
2) Practice perspective and gratitude. Ask yourself what you have today that you longed for 10 years ago—or will value 10 years from now—and let that gratitude fuel you forward.
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