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Building Community

Organization (BCO)

For more than 20 years, the Building Community Organizations (BCO) program has been one of BCODN’s proudest contributions to the community. Designed as a mentorship and capacity-building initiative, BCO brings together emerging Organizational Development (OD) practitioners, seasoned mentors, and community organizations to create lasting impact.

What started in British Columbia has inspired initiatives far beyond, BCO was even the model behind the OD Network’s Social Impact Day in 2019, showing how a local idea can ripple internationally.


How the BCO Programs Works

At its heart, BCO is about learning through service.

  • Emerging OD practitioners volunteer on real projects with community organizations.

  • Each team is guided and coached by an experienced senior consultant who provides mentorship in scoping, contracting, applying OD methodologies, and navigating client relationships.

  • Projects typically last 4–5 months, with teams dedicating a few hours each week to address meaningful organizational challenges.

Together, the teams and mentors strengthen the nonprofit sector while building practical, career-shaping experience.

Focus Areas of BCO Projects

Community organizations receive consulting support in areas such as:

  • Strategic planning & organizational design

  • Staff and leadership development

  • Team building and communication

  • Organizational change & process improvement

  • Performance management and effectiveness

“The professional support and consideration of the BCODN Team was empowering and encouraging. Their assessment and recommendations strengthened our internal structures and organizational effectiveness.”

Allen Brooks Nature Conservancy Society

Who Benefits From BCO?

Volunteer Consultants

Emerging practitioners gain:

  • Hands-on OD experience for their resume

  • Quality mentoring from senior consultants

  • Team-building, chartering, and consulting skills

  • A supportive environment to experiment with new OD tools

  • An expanded network of peers and mentors

Eligibility: Must be a BCODN member. Applications open each year for a limited number of spots.


Community Organizations

Nonprofits benefit from fresh perspectives, structured consulting, and mentorship-guided solutions. Outcomes often include:

  • Stronger alignment around goals and values

  • Improved communication and collaboration

  • Clearer strategies for growth, change, and impact

  • Capacity building that sustains beyond the project


Project Mentors

Senior OD practitioners (10–15 years experience) give back by:

  • Coaching teams through real-world challenges

  • Sharing resources, feedback, and guidance

  • Supporting the growth of the next generation of OD professionals

  • Strengthening organizations that otherwise may not access consulting

Mentors commit about 3 hours per week for 4–5 months and serve as both advisors and champions for their project teams.



Get Involved

Whether you’re a practitioner, nonprofit leader, or seasoned consultant, BCO is an opportunity to learn, contribute, and grow.

Contact our BCO Liaison at bco@bcodn.org for details.
Applications for the next season will be announced soon.

BCO is more than a program, it’s a legacy of impact, mentorship, and community growth that continues to shape the future of OD in BC and beyond.


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