Capacity Building Cohort Specialist

About Communities Rise

Communities Rise’s mission is to foster movements to build power in communities impacted by systemic oppression. To create a more equitable system, we pursue cross-sector collaborations and provide capacity-building and legal services to community organizations and small businesses.

Preferred Start Date: Late-February – Early March 2026

Title: Capacity Building Cohort Specialist

Work Location: Communities Rise employees generally work remotely, and we currently do not have a physical office location. This position, however, requires occasional in-person meetings and events in and around the Seattle area. You would be required to travel to Seattle to pick up your computer equipment on or before your first day of work.

Classification: Full-time -temporary, exempt position

Regular business hours - Monday through Friday. 9am-5pm, with a general expectation of at least 40 hours per week. However, in this exempt position actual hours will vary and some work will occur outside regular business hours. This is a grant funded temporary position for which the end date is uncertain, depending on funding which at this time does not extend beyond 2026. Continuation of employment beyond 2026 will depend on availability of funds. Note, also that employment at Communities Rise is terminable at will.

Reports to: Co-Executive Director of Capacity Building

Salary: $85,000 annual

Benefits: Paid medical, vision, and dental insurance; 13 paid holidays plus week-long office closures in

July and December; 12 vacation days and 12 Sick and Safe Time days in the first year; 100% of Paid

Family and Medical Leave premiums paid by employer; 401K retirement plan and access to free

personalized retirement planning advisors; monthly stipends for remote work and personal phone

expenses; paid professional development expenses.

Communities Rise is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that provides, among other things, pro

bono legal services to low-income small businesses and nonprofits in Washington State. As one of the

only Washington civil legal aid organizations that advises business entities rather than individuals, we

are in a unique position to help low-income individuals build lasting economic power for their

communities. Our Capacity Building team is seeking a Capacity Building Specialist with experience providing capacity building support to nonprofits. The ideal candidate is passionate about helping under-resourced nonprofit leaders achieve their goals while protecting their organizations during these turbulent times. Candidates who demonstrate experience working or volunteering in the nonprofit sector are also preferred.

• Cross-Sector Collaborations: We partner with funders, community organizations, and community leaders to co-design, implement, and amplify initiatives that promote equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Capacity Building: We enhance the capacity of community organizations working in areas impacted by systemic oppression through our nonprofit cohort program, grant writing, and fundraising clinics.
• Legal Services and Trainings: We provide legal support to nonprofit organizations and small businesses, addressing their business legal needs through direct representation, legal clinics, and training sessions.

About the Role

As the Capacity Building Specialist, your role is pivotal in providing one-on-one coaching to our 2026 Nonprofit Capacity Building Cohort. You will work in collaboration with our Capacity Building Team to support the planning, execution, and data collection for this program. These efforts will ensure the program aligns with Communities Rise’s mission and values, incorporates feedback from previous cohort evaluations, and meets contract requirements.

Our Capacity Building Cohorts provides technical knowledge, skills, and opportunities to build partnerships with peers facing similar challenges in their community and equity work. We achieve this through the consistent support of trusted coaches who recognize and respect communal wisdom and the transformative power of community, which can inspire and motivate change.

During the cohort, we conduct a capacity assessment, develop a work plan, provide monthly coaching, host workshops on topics selected by the cohort, and hold cohort meetings to discuss challenges and solutions within a community of peers. We also provide a stipend for participating organizations to help cover staff time or resource costs related to capacity building.

Our program model is deeply rooted in our core commitment to justice and racial equity. This commitment is integrated into all areas, including specialized training, personalized coaching and mentoring, peer learning within our cohort community, tailored workshops, and opportunities for increased visibility and connections with funders.

Responsibilities

• Cohort Admin and Coaching (75%)
  • Assist with the outreach, selection, and recruitment of organizations for capacity building cohorts, provide one-on-one capacity building and coaching to representatives from nonprofit cohort organizations to help them achieve their self-identified goals, including creating tracking tools, strategic planning, building work plans, developing meeting agendas, taking notes, and preparing and distributing resources.
    • Topics can range from nonprofit leadership, governance, board development, fundraising, nonprofit management, and finance.
  • Participate in a cohort evaluation conducted by an external evaluation partner.
  • Communicate with Capacity Building Team staff on completion of deliverables, ensuring coaching is aligned with Communities Rise’s mission and values, previous cohort evaluation feedback, and contract requirements, including:
    • Attending cohort planning meetings with the Capacity Building Team staff
    • Supporting cohort organization participation in CR-provided workshops, Peer Learning Community meetings, clinics, and cohort graduation
    • Tracking cohort organization progress and development for funder reports and invoicing.
  • Maintain detailed, consistent, and thorough records of all interactions with cohort participants.
• Other Duties As Assigned (25%)
  • Administrative time will include onboarding/offboarding meetings with CR staff, as well as capacity-building team check-in meetings or emails.
  • Attending events to represent Communities Rise
  • Supporting the CR team in agency-wide events and planning, such as our annual VOICES fundraiser or strategic planning efforts.
  • Supporting the Capacity Building program as needed.

Qualifications

• Required Qualifications
  • You must live and be authorized to work in Washington State.
  • At least 3-5 years of experience in nonprofit organizational development and capacity building coaching, working primarily with QTBIPOC communities and grassroots organizations.
  • Alignment with Communities Rise’s mission and commitment to racial equity and centering our work around communities of color and communities impacted by structural oppression.
  • Communities Rise is currently working remotely. This position requires occasional in-person meetings and events such as cohort graduation in and around the Seattle area.
  • Strong communication skills and the ability to organize and track data on coaching progress.
  • Experience with capacity building opportunities as a recipient, provider, or nonprofit staff person.
• Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience working on issues of social justice and race equity, which includes the ability to assess power dynamics, resolve conflicts, and adjust and respond to organizational needs.
  • Empathy, cultural humility, and a desire to build authentic relationships in the community.
  • Willingness to recognize and respect communal wisdom, centering the values, wisdom, and leadership of cohort participants.
  • Laughter and a sense of humor.
  • Adult education experience, teaching, and facilitation with demonstrated commitment to our mission and vision.
  • Initiative for intentional learning and enhanced skills related to understanding and dismantling institutional racism, promoting anti-racism, and recognizing the impact of oppression and dismantling institutional racism.
  • Demonstrates familiarity with using donor and client databases, including but not limited to Salesforce.
  • Creative, flexible, and reliable community-minded approach to solving problems and willingness to carry out the wide-ranging and often shifting responsibilities of a small and evolving nonprofit.

How To Apply

Email us at jobs@communities-rise.org with “Application for Capacity Building Specialist Position” in the subject line. Please include your resume, cover letter, and list of at least three references. Please include your reference list with names, titles, email addresses, and phone numbers for each reference.

We will review applications on a rolling basis, with a priority deadline of February 2, 2026. We are hoping for a start date between late February, early March.

Communities Rise is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or any other protected class under applicable law. We encourage people from communities of color, people with disabilities, indigenous peoples, refugees, migrants, working-class people, and/or LGBTQIA+ community members to apply for this position. Communities Rise will provide, except in cases of undue hardship, reasonable accommodations for candidates participating in all aspects of the hiring process. To request assistance or accommodations, please contact jobs@communities-rise.org

Benefits: Paid medical, vision, and dental insurance; 13 paid holidays plus week-long office closures in

July and December; 12 vacation days and 12 Sick and Safe Time days in the first year; 100% of Paid

Family and Medical Leave premiums paid by employer; 401K retirement plan and access to free

personalized retirement planning advisors; monthly stipends for remote work and personal phone

expenses; paid professional development expenses.

English Proficient

Spanish Preferred

Other languages Preferred