Purpose Built Series
The Purpose Built Series provides a framework for planning and evaluating capital projects, giving nonprofits and funders clear tools to guide decision-making.
Capital projects create more than just new buildings—they can transform the trajectory of nonprofit organizations and the communities they serve. By investing in the built environment, nonprofits have the opportunity to strengthen their infrastructure, expand their capacity, and deepen their impact. These projects often mark pivotal moments in an organization’s life, offering the potential to amplify programs, inspire community pride, and catalyze enduring positive outcomes that extend well beyond the walls of the facility itself.
Many philanthropists choose to invest in bricks-and-mortar initiatives for these very reasons. Between 2006 and 2015, nearly 10 percent of all foundation giving, or $31.6 billion, supported capital projects. Yet despite this substantial investment in infrastructure, many funders and nonprofit leaders lack the specialized knowledge, tools, and experience to navigate the complexities of these undertakings. Without a clear framework that ties design and feasibility back to mission, organizations can struggle through the process, missing the opportunity to fully leverage a capital investment as a catalyst for greater impact.
In response to this need, The Atlantic Philanthropies and the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation engaged MASS to research the impact of the built enviroment and to develop tools that could guide nonprofits and funders planning capital projects. Beginning in 2014, MASS conducted interviews, held workshops, reviewed literature, and examined a wide range of projects worldwide.
The research began with a review of existing tools, frameworks, and metrics, assessing their efficacy. MASS then collaborated with staff at The Atlantic Philanthropies and the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation to draw on their direct experiences and deep knowledge of philanthropic practice, while also engaging a broader network of design and nonprofit professionals through interviews and workshops.
The study found that the most successful projects are built with purpose—anchored in a clear mission that informs design, with a scope aligned to an organization’s capacity to build, operate, and maintain. Drawing on these learnings, MASS created the Purpose Built Series, a set of tools and resources to help funders and nonprofits align mission, design, and feasibility when investing in, creating, and evaluating capital infrastructure.
- Introducing the Purpose Built Series - This executive summary provides an overview of the study and its core principles.
- Making Capital Projects Work - This report more fully describes the Purpose Built principles, illustrating each with examples.
- Planning for Impact - This prospective planning tool is a practical, comprehensive guide for those initiating capital projects.
- Charting Capital Results - The evaluative tool is a step-by-step guide for those looking to assess completed projects.
→ Access additional Purpose Built resources here
