UMDI supports nonprofit organizations in building the strategic clarity, leadership capacity, community engagement, evaluation systems, and diversified funding needed to sustain impact in changing environments. Our integrated approach strengthens long-term resilience while helping organizations demonstrate results and adapt with purpose.
Much of this work is advanced through UMDI’s Nonprofit Sustainability Center (NSC), our dedicated initiative focused on strengthening the essential capacities that allow nonprofits and funders to achieve—and sustain—meaningful outcomes over time.
Featured Projects
Program Design and Evaluation for The Care Center
The Care Center–an innovative program supporting young mothers in Holyoke, Massachusetts to achieve high school and college success–was poised for transformational growth but needed clarity around long-term sustainability. UMDI’s Nonprofit Sustainability Center began a partnership with The Care Center to assess organizational capacity, examine funding structures, and identify the strategic conditions required for durable success. Our work over the last 20 years has helped The Care Center maintain its singular focus on improving outcomes for young parents and their children, with enhanced capacity to sustain its nationally recognized two-generation education model.
Program Evaluation for City of Homes
Launched by nonprofit community development corporation Way Finders in collaboration with city government, the City of Homes (CoH) Pilot initiative focused on rehabilitating vacant and/or abandoned residential properties in Springfield, MA. UMDI performed an external evaluation of the program to document key learnings and understand whether utilizing a cross-sector approach to make these properties affordable to first-time homebuyers represents a sustainable approach to neighborhood stabilization.
Craig’s Doors
UMDI completed an organizational assessment of governance, leadership, finances, staffing, and community engagement for Craig’s Doors, an emergency shelter provider in Amherst, MA. Ultimately, the assessment offered a roadmap for how Craig’s Doors can sustain its values of radical compassion while also strengthening systems for the long haul, ensuring that vulnerable residents continue to have a reliable place to turn.
Supporting Services
Leadership and Professional Development
UMDI offers practical, tailored development programs at individual, group, and system-wide levels to help your nonprofit build capable leaders and help board members connect.
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Community Engagement
UMDI can help unite communities through intentional engagements designed to foster meaningful partnerships and create outcomes shaped by all the voices that matter.
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Program Evaluation
UMDI supports program evaluation efforts across the full program lifecycle, from design to planning to implementation.
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