UMDI’s Organizational and Community Capacity Building work helps organizations and communities strengthen—and when needed, establish—the skills, systems, and structures required to carry out their missions effectively. We work closely with leadership, staff, and community partners to develop practical, mission-aligned capabilities that support effective operations, meaningful engagement, and sustainable impact.
Our Range of Services
UMDI manages projects of all sizes, supporting clients through one-time engagements as well as long-term partnerships that evolve over time.
UMDI's approach is grounded in a deep understanding of each organization’s context, purpose, and people. We partner with organizations at different stages of development, whether they are building core capacities for the first time or refining existing practices to better meet evolving needs. The result is capacity that enables organizations to do their work well—today and into the future.
Featured Project: Development of Massachusetts Farmland Action Plan
In 2024, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources released the Massachusetts Farmland Action Plan, a 25-year strategic initiative to address the farmland needs and goals of the Commonwealth. UMDI designed and led the entire planning process, including convening a Subject Matter Expert advisory group, engaging stakeholders in multiple listening sessions, conducting a statewide survey of hundreds of farmers, and holding facilitated strategic planning sessions before drafting the detailed plan itself.
Featured Project: Strategic Planning and Community Engagement for the Resilient Lands Initiative
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs’ Resilient Lands Initiative (RLI) seeks to understand how land conservation can help Commonwealth residents adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change. UMDI led this multi-year research and planning project, including facilitating monthly listening sessions across the state, hosting in-person and virtual planning sessions, and producing ten white papers on critical environmental topic areas.
Featured Project: Organizational Assessment and Operational Planning for Youth Engagement in Amherst, MA
UMDI was engaged by the Town of Amherst, Massachusetts, to assess engagement opportunities for youth in grades 6–9. The project included a full inventory of organized activities and the development of an interactive map now used by town officials and staff to support planning for a future Youth Empowerment Initiative.
Featured Project: Leadership Coaching for Prevention of Blindness Society
UMDI partnered with the Prevention of Blindness Society in Metropolitan Washington (POB) to strengthen internal grant-writing capacity through targeted executive leadership coaching. The six-month engagement supported revenue diversification, informed funding decisions, and long-term sustainability.