Standard Capacity Building Grant Program

The Marillac Mission Fund (MMF), a private foundation based in St. Louis, Missouri, supports nonprofit organizations through a variety of grantmaking initiatives, with a strong emphasis on strengthening the organizational capacity of nonprofits within its focus areas. The fund’s Standard Capacity Building Grant (CBG) Program is designed to assist grantees in undertaking significant and sustainable improvements in their governance, operations, and strategic direction. The fund is associated with Ascension and maintains a mission-driven approach rooted in social justice and community betterment. The Standard CBG is a pass-through grant, meaning that the funds are awarded directly to the nonprofit, which in turn compensates a consultant for services. Eligible capacity building activities include strategic planning (which requires a prior organizational assessment), financial assessment and planning, evaluation design, communications strategy, fundraising, human resources improvements, board development, leadership coaching, and restructuring efforts such as mergers or shared service arrangements. Consultant fees are the primary supported cost, but other directly related project expenses such as travel, training fees, materials, and overnight lodging may also be covered. Hardware purchases are excluded, and software is capped at 15% of the request. To be eligible, organizations must have completed at least one year of previous MMF grant funding. They must also have annual operating budgets between $75,000 and $5 million, sustained over the past three years. Applications are only accepted twice yearly during MMF’s regular responsive grant cycles, with deadlines on August 1 and February 1 at 11:59 p.m. Central Time. Applicants are required to vet more than one consultant and must include a Request for Proposal (RFP), the selected consultant’s budget, workplan, and timeline. For projects other than strategic planning, the nonprofit must submit a strategic plan completed within the last 24 months. If the proposed project involves strategic planning, an organizational assessment—such as the COAR—is strongly recommended. Applicants must consult with MMF staff prior to applying. While MMF does not endorse specific consultants, it does maintain a list of professionals previously used by grantees. A preview of the application and final status report forms are available to aid in preparation. If the application is approved, the grant funds are disbursed at the beginning of the grant period. The grant period spans one year, and the award ceiling is set at $25,000. The grant can be combined with a Responsive Grant request if applicable. Final reporting requirements include submission of all consultant invoices to demonstrate how funds were spent. Certain expenses are not eligible for funding under this program, including staff salaries, general event costs, capital improvements, rental fees, and any one-time events that do not contribute to long-term capacity development. More detailed guidance on creating a strong proposal can be found in MMF’s internal documentation and resource links. Applicants may reach MMF at its primary address at 4600 Edmundson Road, St. Louis, MO 63134, or by phone at (314) 733-6500. The grant is currently open for applications for the Fall FY26 cycle, with the most recent deadline being August 1, 2025. Since the grant recurs semiannually, the next cycle is expected to reopen in February 2026.