Nonprofit Capacity Building Institute

“Equipping nonprofits and their partners with the skills, the tools, and the confidence to move affordable housing projects from concept to capital to completion.”

The Nonprofit Capacity Building Institute (NCBI) is a training and certification system designed to build the organizational, financial, and technical capacity of nonprofits and their partners to deliver affordable housing.

Across Florida, local governments are seeking to advance their housing goals by making land available, providing funding, and encouraging nonprofit participation. Yet too often, nonprofits lack the infrastructure and financial readiness to turn opportunity into results. Land sits idle, deals stall, and local government staff are forced to spend significant time providing one-off technical assistance. At the same time, lenders and equity partners hesitate to engage with organizations that cannot demonstrate governance stability, financial capacity, or project readiness.

NCBI addresses this gap through a structured, statewide certification framework that builds nonprofit capacity, accelerates deal flow, and aligns local governments, lenders, and developers around a shared standard for readiness.

To address the interconnected challenges facing local housing ecosystems, NCBI organizes its work through specialized certification tracks that align nonprofit and local government capacity under one standard for governance, financial management, and development readiness ensuring consistency across the ecosystem.

The Core Pathway (101–301)

At the center of this system is our Lender Readiness Certification Program, the flagship program that ensures every participant meets the baseline criteria for lender confidence and project accountability.

The Lender Readiness Certification Program includes three progressive certification levels: NCBI 101 (Building Blocks), NCBI 201 (Momentum), and NCBI 301 (Legacy), forming a complete pathway from organizational capacity to certified developer status.

NCBI Courses

Why choose NCBI? Each course framework unlocks new opportunities. Building Blocks connects nonprofits to potential board members and capacity grants. Momentum prepares them for predevelopment financing and lines of credit. Legacy positions them for advanced financing and partnerships.

For local governments, it provides a ready-made capacity-building solution that aligns with policy mandates. For lenders, it delivers confidence in nonprofit partners. And for the communities we serve, it accelerates the delivery of affordable housing.

Along the way, nonprofits also gain access to coalition membership, the Resource Center, and recognition opportunities that cannot be accessed elsewhere.

The first tier, Building Blocks, equips emerging nonprofits with the leadership, systems, and infrastructure required to function as credible development organizations. Participants strengthen their boards, ensure staff capability, modernize technology, and implement policies, procedures, and compliance systems that meet funder and lender expectations. The course emphasizes strategic planning, governance, and internal alignment, creating the foundation for sustainable housing development.

The second tier, Momentum, prepares nonprofits to move from organizational readiness to active project development. Participants gain fluency in development fundamentals: project feasibility, market and site analysis, zoning, capital stack design, and lender engagement. For local governments, these certification levels produce reliable, project-ready partners and a stronger development pipeline.

By the end of this phase, organizations have a clear grasp of how to manage a project’s moving parts, evaluate risks, and meet lender expectations. For local governments, Momentum creates faster more reliable project pipelines. For lenders and funders, it produces lower-risk partners capable of executing real projects and maintaining accountability.

The third tier, Legacy, certifies nonprofits as trusted, repeat developers with the capacity to manage multiple projects, engage equity partners, and sustain long-term affordability. Participants explore advanced finance, portfolio management, and leadership strategies while preparing for the Impact Arena Showcase, a platform where graduates present their projects to lenders, funders, and public partners during our annual conference.

Together, NCBI 101, 201, and 301 form a comprehensive academic continuum that equips participants with both the organizational infrastructure and the technical proficiency to plan, finance, and execute affordable housing projects.

Tuition & Certification Options

$349

Strengthen leadership & governance
Build organizational systems and infrastructure
Modernize technology & compliance
Establish credibility with lenders and funders

$459

Move from planning to project execution
Master feasibility, zoning & site analysis
Build strong capital stacks & lender relations
Manage risk & deliver project accountability

$797

Lead as a certified, repeat developer
Manage multiple projects & partnerships
Master advanced finance & portfolio growth
Showcase impact at the Impact Arena

$997

Get full access to NCBI 101–301 courses
Save over $600 with bundled pricing
Earn complete Lender Readiness Certification
Build lasting capacity from foundation to legacy

Questions? Contact Us

Have questions about the courses or bundle? Not sure which tier is the right fit for your organization?

Whether you need help with enrollment, pricing, or access, Charles Knighton, II is here to help. Reach out anytime at knighton@flhousing.org