The Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative (NSI) is dedicated to investing in nonprofit organizations during transformative times, such as during strategic restructuring or executive transition. Founded in 2012 by a group of Los Angeles foundations, NSI's mission is to normalize and financially support the exploration of strategic restructuring agreements to aid organizations in sustaining their impact within the communities they serve.
The Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative offers a variety of grants focusing on organizational transformation within Los Angeles County nonprofits, particularly during strategic restructuring or executive transitions. The initiative places a strong emphasis on partnerships as a means to build capacity, advocating for a shift towards mission sustainability rather than organizational sustainability alone. Strategic restructuring partnerships, supported through negotiation and integration grants, are seen as essential to improving organizational effectiveness and efficiency. These partnerships may result in combining organizational elements, ranging from jointly managed programs to full mergers. The initiative also includes a specialized Executive Transition Fund targeting organizations facing leadership changes, offering grants and support to navigate these challenging transitions with a focus on planning, implementation, and equity. Transition planning grants are awarded to facilitate comprehensive preparation for such changes, including interim leadership and executive onboarding among other supports, with an aim of ensuring the organization remains stable and impactful throughout the transition.