Grants for Nonprofits - Capacity Building

The Hubbell-Waterman Foundation is actively seeking grant applications from nonprofit organizations operating within Scott County, Iowa, and Rock Island County, Illinois. The foundation's mission is deeply rooted in enhancing community well-being through strategic investments in three key areas: culture and the arts, education, and social welfare. This aligns with their overarching goal of fostering a vibrant, educated, and supportive community by addressing critical needs and enriching local life. Within the realm of culture and the arts, the foundation prioritizes cultivating and supporting both visual and performing arts, investing in landmark cultural institutions, and backing new, innovative programs that contribute to community enrichment. For education, their focus extends to pre-K–12 education, encompassing after-school and summer programs, creative learning initiatives, life skills and career training, environmental education with a sustainability emphasis, and crucial mental health programs for students and their families. Social welfare initiatives are designed to support accessible programs for individuals and families, specifically targeting at-risk and low-income family services, food and nutrition support, housing security, immigrant and refugee community support, and physical and mental health services. The foundation's funding strategies support a variety of grant types to achieve its impact goals. These include capital campaigns and acquisitions for construction and renovations, operational and/or program grants for up to three years following a capital campaign, and multi-year program grants, also not exceeding three years. These program grants may also cover general operating expense reimbursement. The target beneficiaries are primarily nonprofit organizations serving the specified counties, and through these organizations, individuals and families who will benefit from improved access to cultural experiences, educational opportunities, and social support. Expected outcomes include a more culturally vibrant community, improved educational outcomes and access, enhanced life skills, increased environmental awareness, better mental health support for students and families, and stronger social safety nets for vulnerable populations. The foundation's strategic priorities are clearly laid out in its long-term funding priorities and its defined areas of focus. Their theory of change appears to be that by strategically investing in these three core areas through various grant mechanisms, they can catalyze positive, sustainable change within the communities of Scott County, Iowa, and Rock Island County, Illinois, ultimately leading to a more inclusive and thriving society.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local health departments, nonprofits, and educational institutions in Illinois to develop partnerships and implement public health strategies that address health disparities in underserved communities outside of Cook County and Chicago.

This grant provides financial support to non-profit organizations that develop innovative outreach solutions to improve access to services for underserved Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors.

This program provides up to $25,000 in professional IT services to mid-sized to large Michigan-based nonprofits, helping them enhance their technology infrastructure and security while aligning their digital strategies with their mission goals.

This funding opportunity supports the establishment of a 24-hour hotline to provide crisis intervention and resources for Indigenous victims and survivors of family violence, ensuring they receive culturally relevant and accessible services.

The Connect Illinois Broadband Grant Program includes $400 million in appropriated funds available for expansion of broadband infrastructure throughout the state. Through multiple rounds of competitive matching grants, Connect Illinois will provide direct matching grants, awarded on a competitive basis via merit based review, to grant applicants including broadband providers, rural cooperatives, local governments, nonprofit organizations, and partnerships.

Focuses on funding new initiatives or expanding existing workforce training programs and studies in the offshore wind sector, with an emphasis on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEIJ) principles.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have established the Hurricane Response Marine Debris Removal Fund. This fund supports projects focused on assessing, removing, and disposing of marine debris in coastal communities affected by hurricanes and other storm events. The initiative aligns with the foundations' broader mission to conserve and restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats, as well as to benefit human communities impacted by natural disasters. The primary target beneficiaries of this grant program are coastal communities in Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico, and South Carolina that were impacted by the 2022 hurricanes Fiona, Ian, Nicole, and Typhoon Merbok. The impact goals are to reduce the effects of marine debris on these communities, protect industries, and prevent further harm to habitats and fish and wildlife populations. The program aims to address both the immediate and long-term consequences of storm-related marine debris. The program prioritizes projects that offer dual benefits, meaning they benefit both human communities and fish and wildlife. Emphasis is placed on projects that are ready for direct clean-up efforts and have already completed marine debris assessments, addressed hazardous materials, and secured necessary permits and disposal logistics. Community engagement and co-design processes that incorporate traditional knowledge are also encouraged to ensure maximum benefits and sustainability. Expected outcomes include a significant reduction in marine debris from coastal habitats and nearshore waters, leading to enhanced ecological integrity and functionality of ecosystems. Measurable results will include the reduction of impacts to properties, community infrastructure, assets of economic and cultural importance, and improved navigational safety. The grant duration is four years, with awards of up to $6 million to achieve these accelerated and comprehensive outcomes for impacted coastal resources and communities.

The Black Equity & Excellence Fund, established by the Central New York Community Foundation, is dedicated to supporting community-based projects that foster self-sufficiency and enhance the physical and economic well-being of the Black community in Central New York. This initiative aligns with the Foundation's broader mission to strengthen race-related matters and promote social and educational growth within the community. By investing in projects that directly address the unique needs and challenges faced by Black residents, the fund aims to create a more equitable and thriving environment, reflecting the Foundation's strategic priority of community development and social justice. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are organizations and projects that explicitly serve the Black community, particularly in Onondaga and Madison counties. The overarching impact goal is to improve the quality of life for Black individuals and families through various interventions. The program aims to empower the Black community by building upon existing capabilities and addressing systemic disparities. This is achieved by focusing on specific interest areas that have been identified as crucial for community advancement and well-being. The fund prioritizes projects within several key focus areas, including Black Creatives, Black Leadership + Advancement, Black LGBTQIA+, Black Mental Wellness, Black Legacy + Generational Wealth, Black Business, Black Maternal Health, Black Civic Engagement, Black Youth + Students, and Black Tech. These areas reflect the Foundation's theory of change, which posits that targeted investments in these sectors will lead to holistic development and greater equity. Projects are encouraged to contribute to dialogue that strengthens race-related matters and supports social and educational growth, indicating a strategic approach to fostering long-term, sustainable change. Expected outcomes include increased self-sufficiency, improved physical and economic conditions, and enhanced community well-being within the Black community. Measurable results are tied to the types of projects funded, with different funding levels supporting various initiatives, from grassroots efforts and pilot programs to the expansion of existing projects and large capital projects. The eligibility criteria, which mandate Black leadership in senior executive positions and at least 51% Black board membership, further ensure that the projects are community-led and responsive to the needs of the Black population, thereby maximizing impact and fostering authentic community empowerment.

This funding opportunity provides €10,000 to small climate-focused organizations worldwide to improve their communication skills and outreach efforts.

This initiative provides funding for nursing education projects that promote accessibility and inclusion for students with disabilities, aiming to create lasting change in clinical learning environments.

The Western New York Foundation’s Impact Capacity Assessment Program Core (iCAP Core) is a tailored program specifically designed for emerging and smaller nonprofits in the region. Its primary objective is to provide a comprehensive understanding of capacity building and its influence on both internal and external facets of these organizations. This aligns directly with the foundation's mission to foster effective organizations, which are defined as those that fulfill their mission through sound management, strong governance, and a persistent rededication to assessing and achieving results. The iCAP Core program is a 6-month initiative aimed at addressing the complexities of capacity-related opportunities and challenges, reflecting the foundation's strategic priority to invest in organizational development. The target beneficiaries of the iCAP Core program are non-profit organizations that have obtained tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) or are fiscally sponsored, have been in operation for at least two years with at least $50,000 in annual revenue, and are specifically food system, arts and culture, or rural organizations. These organizations must be headquartered within the seven counties of Western New York: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, and Wyoming. The impact goals are to strengthen leadership, enhance board effectiveness, improve overall organizational development, and create a sustainable capacity-building plan. The program prioritizes several key elements. A significant focus is placed on leadership, specifically the relationship between the Executive Director and Board Chair, providing one-on-one consultation and coaching to strengthen their skills and vision. Board training is another core priority, equipping members with knowledge for effective governance, strategic decision-making, and resource mobilization. Comprehensive organizational development covers a wide array of areas including leadership structure, financial management, fundraising, communications, marketing, and IT systems. Expected outcomes include enhanced leadership skills, a more informed and skilled board, improved organizational infrastructure across various functions, and the creation of a detailed 1 to 2-year organizational capacity-building plan with actionable goals and progress measurements. Measurable results will be derived from the implementation and assessment of this capacity-building plan, which will also inform future foundation investment in the organizations' capacity development. A $10,000 stipend is provided to offset administrative expenses during iCAP, further supporting the participating nonprofits in achieving these outcomes.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Northeast Florida that are facing funding disruptions, specifically those addressing food insecurity, housing instability, and healthcare access for vulnerable communities.

The Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Washington Innovation Fund is a program designed to enhance Washington state's criminal legal system by supporting innovative, sustainable, and data-driven practices. Its overarching goals are to improve community safety, foster collaboration among various sectors, and provide support to victims and individuals involved in the criminal legal system. This aligns with a foundational mission of creating a fair and equitable criminal legal system in Washington that prioritizes these critical areas. The program draws on the Edward Byrne Memorial JAG program, a significant federal source of criminal justice funding, administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), which provides essential resources to state and local jurisdictions for system improvement and community advancement. The target beneficiaries of the JAG Innovation Fund include local governments and private community-based or non-profit agencies that are working to improve the criminal legal system. The program aims to impact community safety directly, enhance support for victims, and strengthen cross-sector collaboration and collective accountability within the system. Ultimately, the expected outcomes include the implementation of more effective and data-informed stewardship of criminal legal system resources, leading to a more just and safer Washington. The JAG Innovation Fund focuses on several key priorities for funding, including organizational or program capacity building, supporting new ideas, projects, or promising practices, enhancing system and community collaborations, and expanding or supplementing existing programs or practices. The program identifies nine specific Purpose Areas to allow for diverse and flexible criminal legal system improvement projects. These areas range from Planning, Evaluation and Technology Improvement to Crime Victim Programming, Support and Advocacy, Community Safety Enhancement, and Corrections, Community Corrections and Re-Entry, among others. Approximately $1,000,000 of JAG funding is dedicated to the Innovation Fund each award cycle, with individual project awards supporting proposals up to $150,000. The funding period for projects is from November 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025. To ensure accountability and community relevance, non-governmental applicants must provide one or more letters of support from a local government unit in the project's jurisdiction, explaining the proposed program's benefits to the local government agency and jurisdiction. This requirement underscores the program's strategic priority of fostering robust community and governmental partnerships as a theory of change for sustainable criminal legal system improvements.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for innovative healthcare projects aimed at improving services and access for underserved populations in Tennessee's rural counties.

The educate2elevate (e2e) Grant is a collaborative funding initiative bringing together resources from across New Mexico for high-impact grantmaking, with the Albuquerque Community Foundation as the Donor Name. This grant aligns with the foundation's mission by focusing on education and school-based partners, specifically targeting Central New Mexico. The e2e funding area's original intent to support educational initiatives and address food insecurity among students and families remains the core focus for this year's RFP. The target beneficiaries of this grant are students and their families in Central New Mexico, encompassing Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance, and Valencia counties. The program aims to address food insecurity and enhance educational opportunities for these populations. Impact goals include expanding equitable access to nutritious meals, fostering community partnerships to provide food resources, and supporting early childhood education settings to ensure young children have access to nutritious meals and snacks during crucial developmental years. The grant prioritizes programs that provide enhancement of school meal programs, community partnerships, and early childhood education initiatives. For school meal programs, projects expanding equitable access to nutritious meals for students, including out-of-school time meal programs, nutrition programs, and school-based gardens, are emphasized. However, funding for free and reduced lunch programs will not be considered. Community partnerships involve collaborative efforts between local organizations, businesses, and stakeholders to expand food access and reduce food insecurity among students. Early childhood education initiatives aim to address food insecurity among young children and their families in settings like preschools and daycare centers. Expected outcomes include improved access to nutritious meals for students, enhanced community collaboration in addressing food insecurity, and better nutritional support for young children in early childhood education settings. While specific measurable results are not detailed in the provided information, the focus on expanding access, providing resources, and supporting initiatives implies a quantitative and qualitative assessment of the reach and effectiveness of the funded programs in reducing food insecurity and supporting student well-family well-being in Central New Mexico. The foundation's strategic priority is clearly to support education and food security, particularly in Central New Mexico, through collaborative and impactful grantmaking.

The Ion Bank Foundation is currently accepting applications for its grant program, designed to support organizations and initiatives that contribute to the betterment of communities it serves. The foundation's mission is aligned with fostering community well-being through strategic investments in various key areas. This program offers both designated and competitive grants, with competitive grants specifically targeting direct costs for starting or improving programs, as well as capital needs. The foundation emphasizes that indirect/overhead expenses are permitted, with specific documentation required for overhead exceeding 10% of the request. The grant program targets a broad range of beneficiaries within Hartford County, Litchfield County, and New Haven County in Connecticut, and Morris County in New Jersey. The primary impact goal is to address demonstrated community needs and advance community plans. The foundation seeks to achieve this by funding projects that show potential for leveraging additional or sustaining support, clearly explain their project plan, and provide a realistic budget. The Ion Bank Foundation's strategic priorities include affordable housing and rehabilitation, community services (encompassing healthcare, education, job training, social services, childcare, and credit/financial services), economic development, and the revitalization or stabilization of distressed or underserved areas. The foundation's theory of change posits that by investing in these key areas, it can contribute to a more stable, healthy, and prosperous community environment. Expected outcomes and measurable results include the successful implementation of evidence-based programs, improved community services, enhanced economic opportunities, and the revitalization of targeted areas. The foundation looks for strong proposals that summarize an organization's track record, adopt evidence-based models, and demonstrate a clear project plan. Preference is given to requests with broad, visible community involvement and collaborative ventures, indicating a focus on collective impact and sustainable change. Eligibility for the grant program extends to non-profit organizations recognized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, municipal entities seeking grants for public purposes, and religious organizations undertaking nonsectarian projects aligned with the foundation's priorities. Applicants must be located in, or serve communities within, Ion Bank's defined assessment area for Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) purposes. Grants typically range from $1,000 to $10,000.

The City of Knoxville Parks and Recreation Department's annual Challenge Grant Program aims to support non-profit projects that enhance public parks and recreation facilities within the city limits. This initiative aligns with the department's mission to foster community engagement and promote the use of public spaces for recreation and well-being. The program's focus on projects associated with public parks and recreation facilities directly contributes to the department's strategic priority of maintaining and improving accessible recreational opportunities for all residents. The target beneficiaries of this grant program include various community groups such as 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and 501(c)(6) status organizations, homeowner associations, schools, and Scout troops. The impact goals are to encourage activities within City Parks and Greenways, offer match funds for fitness classes like Yoga and Tai Chi, and support passive programming such as painting and birdwatching. These goals are intended to increase community participation in park activities and enhance the quality of life for Knoxville residents. The program prioritizes projects that take place on City-owned or -leased property and are related to facilities available to all residents on a yearly basis. This ensures that the grants directly benefit the broader community and support accessible public resources. The funding structure, which reimburses recipients 50 percent of the project cost up to $3,000, aims to make these projects more feasible for eligible organizations. Expected outcomes include an increase in diverse activities offered in city parks and greenways, a greater number of residents participating in fitness and recreational programs, and improved utilization of public recreational facilities. The measurable results would involve tracking the types of projects funded, the number of participants in various activities, and the overall engagement with city parks. The program's theory of change posits that by providing financial support for community-led initiatives in public spaces, the City of Knoxville can cultivate a more active, engaged, and healthy populace.

The Tourist Development Council Arts, Culture & Heritage (ACH) funding program, administered by the St. Johns Cultural Council, aims to bolster the economic impact of local tourism. Its core mission is to encourage exceptional arts, culture, and heritage programming while enhancing advertising and promotion for these tourism opportunities. This aligns with a broader strategy to position St. Johns County as a culturally rich and vibrant destination, utilizing a portion of the Tourist Development Tax to support relevant operations and promotions that specifically attract visitors. The program targets organizations and events within St. Johns County that are dedicated to arts, culture, or heritage and primarily seek to draw tourists. Beneficiaries include for-profit businesses, private institutions of higher education, and municipalities that are qualified to operate in Florida. The ultimate impact goal is to increase the positive economic contributions of tourism through cultural engagement. The ACH Grant Program prioritizes activities that attract visitors, evidenced by promotion to tourists. It offers two main funding options: "Out-of-Area Marketing Support" for existing, unchanged events or programs, and "Program and Marketing Support" for new or significantly improved programs/events. A significant focus is on marketing efforts that reach audiences outside St. Johns, Flagler, Putnam, Clay, Duval, and Nassau counties, with reimbursement based on the percentage of documented out-of-area reach. Expected outcomes include enhanced advertising and promotion of St. Johns County's cultural offerings, leading to a greater influx of tourists. Measurable results will likely be tied to the documented out-of-area reach of marketing campaigns and the overall increase in tourism-related economic activity within the county. The program's strategic priority is to leverage arts, culture, and heritage as key drivers for tourism, thereby contributing to the county's economic vitality.

The Florida Department of State's Specific Cultural Project (SCP) grant program aims to fund individual cultural projects, programs, exhibitions, or series that align with the mission of the applicant organization or artist and further the state's cultural objectives. This grant supports a broad range of cultural endeavors, categorized into four proposal types: Arts In Education, Discipline-Based cultural or artistic projects, Underserved Cultural Community Development, and Artist Projects. These categories reflect a strategic priority to foster cultural enrichment and development across various sectors and communities within Florida. The program targets a diverse group of beneficiaries, including both public entities and Florida non-profit, tax-exempt corporations, as well as individual artists. Specific eligibility requirements are tailored for different proposal types and disciplines such as Museum, Professional Theatre, Traditional Arts, Arts in Education, Local Arts Agency, and State Service Organizations. For instance, Artist Projects are designed for professional creative artists who are Florida residents and are not enrolled in degree or certificate programs, ensuring that the grant supports local talent and contributes to the state's artistic landscape. Underserved Cultural Community Development projects specifically focus on organizations with a Total Cash Income of $150,000 or less, indicating a clear goal to empower and uplift less-resourced cultural entities. The SCP grant focuses on several key areas to achieve its impact goals. Arts In Education projects emphasize promoting arts and culture in educational settings, likely aiming to enhance cultural literacy and creative development among students. Discipline-Based projects support various cultural or artistic forms, fostering a vibrant and diverse cultural environment. Underserved Cultural Community Development projects are prioritized to assist with the growth of cultural organizations in areas that may lack sufficient cultural resources, thereby promoting equitable access to cultural programming. Artist Projects are geared towards generating public benefit through the creation or presentation of new artistic work, directly supporting artists and enriching public cultural experiences. Expected outcomes include the successful execution of cultural projects that meet specific quality and engagement criteria, such as Arts in Education residencies having a minimum of 30 contact hours, and Artist Performances on Tour demonstrating high-quality performances and educational components. Measurable results are implicitly tied to the successful completion of these projects and their adherence to the stated objectives and eligibility. The grant period from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, allows for a focused timeframe for project implementation and impact assessment. The overall theory of change for the Florida Department of State appears to be that by strategically funding diverse cultural projects and artists, they can foster a more culturally rich, educated, and equitable state, aligning with their broader mission to support and advance the arts and culture sector.