Non-Profit Real Estate

Space Needs Evaluation

Centre for Social Innovation, Bathurst Street, TorontoWhether an assessment of current space use or developing a plan for future needs, CapacityBuild will explore the activities, needs and access required for your organization.  Through interviews, site visits, programming evaluation and observation a detailed picture of space needs is created.  A thorough understanding is developed of the importance of geographic location, the proximity of various activities and how stakeholders access the premises.

This knowledge informs consideration of new or renovated space options or the possibility of co-locating with other, like-minded organizations.  A practical plan with concrete next steps is created to guide decision making around premises.  The space evaluation also enables a survey of the local real estate market to determine potential sites and test availability.

Non-Profit Real Estate Finance

After years of paying rent many organizations are ready to take charge of their location through building ownership. Escalating real estate values and redevelopment activity is driving community organizations to seek security of tenancy and predictability of rental expenses going forward. CapacityBuild Consulting will work with your organization to create a financial framework for real estate purchase and identify opportunities can challenges in sourcing the necessary funds. Forward planning scenarios assist in determining current organizational readiness and to develop the right approach.

Co-location Feasibility

An increased level of interest is emerging amongst community organizations to use space more efficiently and cooperatively. The goal may be to bring together a group with critical mass in order to negotiate better terms with a landlord or to make better use of idle spaces in your current premises. It may be to aggregate co-dependent services into one physical site. Whatever the intention, CapacityBuild will work with the stakeholders to determine common areas, shared areas and individual areas in an overall space plan.

An overarching business strategy incorporating a clear financial plan demonstrates how space and rent can be shared. Different scenarios demonstrate the benefits and opportunities of an expanded group of participants.

“As an ad hoc group of companies looking at co-location possibilities for the literary arts community, we needed direction and expertise to take us through the first stage in our exploration. Scott brought his significant business background and excellent communications skills to the process, which helped us enormously. He was responsive and imaginative, and brought our study in on time. It was a pleasure to work with him.”

Margaret Reynolds, Assoc. of Book Publishers of BC