Resilient Organizations Initiative

Surdna’s Resilient Organizations Initiative offers free capacity support to our grantee partners in building long-term strength and sustainability. These programs are fully funded and designed to meet organizations where they are—with practical tools, expert support, and a focus on resilience.

Explore our current offerings below. Please note that some have deadlines; others are rolling:

Leadership Development with the Institute for Nonprofit Practice

A group of people smile and laugh while standing on steps together holding a sign that reads "Institute for Nonprofit Practice"

Surdna is proud to partner with the Institute for Nonprofit Practice to offer seats in the National Core Certificate Program—a dynamic, six- to nine-month cohort-based leadership development experience. Designed for senior-level social sector leaders, the program provides essential tools, peer support, and practical guidance to help you lead high-performing, mission-driven organizations. Fully funded spots are available each year for leaders at Surdna grantee organizations. 

Participants engage in reflective learning, build relationships across the sector, and leave the program better equipped to navigate complex leadership challenges. This opportunity is especially valuable for leaders seeking to grow their strategic thinking, inclusive leadership, and organizational effectiveness. 

Registration: The 2025-2026 cohort application window is currently closed. Applications will open for the 2026-2027 year in winter 2026. 

Financial Resilience Coaching with BDO 

In collaboration with BDO’s Nonprofit & Grantmaker Advisory team, we’re offering financial coaching to help organizations strengthen their financial management in uncertain times. Join a live webinar focused on scenario planning, cash management, and risk mitigation—or sign up for personalized one-on-one or team coaching sessions with BDO’s expert advisors. These sessions provide a confidential space to explore challenges and build your organization’s financial resilience.

Topics include budgeting under uncertainty, cost containment, and compliance best practices tailored to your unique context. Whether you’re a seasoned finance professional or a program leader looking to strengthen financial fluency, this coaching meets you where you are. 

Registration: Rolling admissions—contact your Surdna program officer to sign up for a webinar or one-on-one training. 

 

Fundraising Coaching with Thread Strategies 

Need support with your fundraising strategy? Our partnership with Thread Strategies provides custom coaching to help you build more sustainable and effective development practices. Whether you want to diversify revenue, better engage your board, or enhance your fundraising systems, Thread’s experienced coaches offer flexible, goal-driven support tailored to your organization’s needs. 

Coaching engagements can be structured around a particular campaign, leadership transition, or long-term development planning. The goal is to help you move forward with clarity, confidence, and a practical fundraising roadmap that aligns with your values. 

Registration: Rolling admissions—contact your Surdna program officer to sign up for a coaching session.

Programs

Inclusive Economies

The Inclusive Economies Program fosters the creation of an inclusive and equitable economy in which people of color can maximize their potential as leaders, creators, and innovators across sectors.

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Sustainable Environments

The Sustainable Environments program seeks to support communities of color and low-wealth communities to direct infrastructure and land use investment dollars, drive decision-making processes and design policy solutions because those who are disproportionately impacted by environmental and climate inequity have the most powerful solutions to resolve these inequities.

 

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Thriving Cultures

The Thriving Cultures Program is guided by Radical Imagination for Racial Justice, our future-oriented, world-building strategy, which is organized across three interconnected grantmaking approaches:

  • Create invests (through regranting organizations) in artists of color who work with communities of color to imagine and build racially just systems and structures at a local scale.
  • Clarify invests in researchers and cultural critics of color to interpret and disseminate knowledge about the work of artists and to build a more equitable research and criticism infrastructure.
  • Connect advances the role of artists and communities of color in shaping public policy, narrative change, and philanthropic practices that advance racial justice.

What We Do Not Fund

Our grantmaking does not support:

  • Individuals (However, we do fund organizations that make grants to individual artists.)
  • Capital campaigns or building construction
  • Projects that are based or focused outside of the United States, tribal lands, or U.S. territories
  • Purchase of equipment
  • Awards, scholarships, or endowment funds

Grants are made by invitation only. We are not accepting unsolicited inquiries or letters of intent at this time.

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