Nonprofit Capacity Building Grant

The Nonprofit Capacity-Building Grant is a funding opportunity administered by the Whidbey Community Foundation (WCF), a private philanthropic organization committed to enhancing the quality of life on Whidbey Island. WCF has a broad mission to support charitable activities in the region through grantmaking and other strategic initiatives. This specific grant opportunity aims to strengthen the internal systems and infrastructure of nonprofit organizations serving Whidbey Island rather than directly funding program delivery. The grant supports one-time projects that are designed to enhance an organization’s management, governance, or administrative capacity in alignment with their strategic plan. Eligible projects may include staff or board training, evaluations of core programs, planning for financial sustainability or succession, technology assessments and upgrades, DEI policy development and implementation, and merger planning or execution. Notably, the grant does not support operational expenses like salaries unrelated to the capacity-building project, program expansion or creation, capital projects, endowments, or deficit relief. To be eligible for funding, applicants must be organizations operating with a charitable purpose or status on Whidbey Island. A physical presence on the island is not required, but services must be provided within the community. Organizations must also be in good standing with the Washington Secretary of State and the Office of the Attorney General, and be current with all applicable federal and state reporting obligations. Grants are not available to individuals, for-profit entities, religious organizations (for sacramental or theological purposes), political or lobbying initiatives, or private operating foundations. Applications are evaluated by WCF’s volunteer Grants Committee, which includes community members and board representatives. Priority will be given to organizations that have identified vendors or solutions for the proposed work, developed a feasible timeline and budget, demonstrated the capacity to carry out the project, and clearly defined what success will look like. Additional preference will be given to organizations with annual budgets of $100,000 or less and those demonstrating a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The application cycle for 2025 opened on July 1 and will close at 11:59 PM PST on August 31. Award notifications will be sent on October 19, and grant terms will begin on November 1. Grants are one year in length, with a required end-of-grant report and a mid-year progress update. Additionally, grantees are expected to participate in a virtual cohort debrief session to share lessons and learn from peers. Applications must be submitted via the Grant Lifecycle Manager (GLM) portal by Foundant. WCF provides an applicant tutorial to help organizations navigate the GLM system. For questions, applicants can contact the foundation at info@whidbeyfoundation.org or 360-660-5041.

WCF emphasizes the importance of clear project definitions, feasible budgets, and alignment with strategic goals. Early preparation using the GLM tutorial is recommended.