THE GROWING CAPACITY PROJECT

We've partnered with Bishop Museum to design a 

Mentoring and Training Program

Focused on capacity-building skills for museums and museum-like* organizations in Hawaiʻi

*Note: eligible participants are those working in or interested in working in Hawaiʻi-based institutions such as cultural centers, library archives, cultural practitioner groups (including Hālau Hula), zoos, aquariums, gardens, and other organizations providing informal learning in Hawai'i.


Nonprofit GrowthGen, LLC (NPGG) is partnering with Bishop Museum on a project funded by the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) called Gathering Resources and Growing Capacity: Museums Working Together in Hawaii (the Growing Capacity Project). This two-year grant supports the development and delivery of three online mentoring and training programs for people working or seeking to work in museums and museum-like organizations in Hawai‘i. One program will focus on grant writing; the additional two programs are being developed in response to community input via a survey, listening sessions, and conversations with stakeholders to identify professional development needs in the sector.


As former Bishop Museum staff members, Mary and Mandy are thrilled and honored to collaborate with the Museum on this project that aims to


  1. grow capacity in and partnerships among Hawai'i museums, cultural organizations, and museum-like entities;
  2. provide workforce development; and
  3. support the professional development of staff working in this sector.


Click here to see Bishop Museum’s press release about the Growing Capacity Project (IMLS # MN-252908-OMS-23).


Program 1 has wrapped!


Program 1: Gathering Resources in Hawai'i for Hawai'i


If you would like to see more about Program 1, click here.


The Program 1 Recap includes key themes and topics covered throughout the program.

It also contains links to shareable content and videos from our guest presenters and class discussions.


Program 2 is underway!

Program 2: Project Management

If you would like to see more about Program 2, click here.


This six-week Project Management program ran from October 9 - November 23rd, 2024.

Program 3 applications are open through November 24th!


Program 3: GrantsGen Mentoring and Training Program


To learn about this program, click here.


This 13-week grant-seeking and -writing program runs from January 9th - April 5th 2025.



CATALYST FOR THE GROWING CAPACITY PROJECT

Nonprofits in Hawai‘i’s museum and culture sectors are often leanly staffed. The work of collections management, programming, education, and community engagement can leave little time for planning, strategic thinking, and fundraising. Often organizations need to rely on external experts to assist with these activities. The Growing Capacity Project offers a model of professional development rooted in mentorship, so that staff ‘learn by doing’ with the support of NPGG mentors and fellow participants in the program. The intention is to build a network among professionals working in Hawai‘i museums and museum-like organizations that is sustained beyond the program for partnering, collaborating, and sharing resources. 


PROJECT OVERVIEW

NPGG will offer three mentoring and training programs between April 2024 and July 2025. Recruitment will prioritize Native Hawaiians and those working in Native Hawaiian-serving organizations. Each program can accommodate up to 15 participants. IMLS grant funds provide eight free seats per program plus a stipend for each participant. Additional seats may be available through direct payment or fiscal sponsorship (interested sponsors please see below). The first mentoring program wrapped up in June 2024. Applications for the second mentoring program are now open. 


PROJECT SUPPORTERS AND PARTNERS

The Growing Capacity Project would not be possible without the support of key colleagues and supporting organizations. 


We want to express our gratitude to the following organizations for helping to support and share this work: the Donkey Mill Art Center, East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center, Friends of ʻIolani Palace, Lyman Museum and Mission House, Hawaii Museums Association, the Hawaii Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations (HANO), and Skog Rasmussen, LLC.


The Project Team is also very grateful for the guidance from our advisors: Leah Caldeira, Bishop Museum director of Library & Archives, Kamalu du Preez, Bishop Museum cultural resource specialist and Hawaiʻi Museum Association Board Member, and Halena Kapuni-Reynolds, National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) associate curator for Native Hawaiian history and culture. 


WE STRIVE TO CENTER COMMUNITY

  • OUR 2023 AND 2024 SURVEYS have provided input about professional development needs in Hawaii’s museum and culture organizations.
  • STAY IN THE KNOW by signing up for the Growing Capacity Project email list.
  • CONTACT US with questions, comments, or suggestions about the Growing Capacity Project.


Become a Sponsor

The IMLS grant prioritizes applicants who are Kānaka ʻŌiwi  or are working in Native Hawaiian-serving organizations and will cover the materials, costs, and a stipend for eight participants in each of the three mentoring and training programs. However, there is space for 15 participants in each program (seven seats beyond the grant-funded seats in each program). NPGG seeks partners to fund the participation of these additional seats. Persons and organizations interested in helping to grow the capacity of Hawaiʻi museums and museum-like organizations by sponsoring participants in the mentoring and training programs should contact NPGG mentor Mary Ramsay.


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