Helpful Tips for Submitting a Small Capacity Building Grant Application
Carefully review the 2020 Small Capacity Building Grant Guidelines before submitting an application.
The Foundation is pleased to be offering four broad funding categories in 2020 – some examples of what might be considered in each are provided here:
Organizational development and capacity building: Capacity building grants support an organization’s operational effectiveness and impact, typically with the assistance of an external assistance provider.
Campaign feasibility studies
Strategic planning
Board development
Executive transitions/succession planning
Program evaluation
Exploratory strategic alliances
Collaborative learning opportunities
Emergency and business continuity planning
Staff or board training and development:
Conferences
Workshops/trainings
NOTE: Tuition requests for Leading From Within programs are not eligible. The Foundation directly supports scholarship opportunities through its partnership with Leading From Within.
Defined projects:
Program design and piloting
Strategic marketing, communications or donor development efforts
NOTE: While staff time, consulting services, and other costs related to the proposed project are welcome, these small grants are not intended to support staff positions. (e.g., hiring a development director)
Small capital items and equipment
Small Capacity Building Grants are very competitive. The Foundation receives many more requests than it can fund. Proposals with the best chance of being funded clearly state the need, readiness, and commitment to the project.
Review your budget. A thoughtfully prepared budget demonstrates you have considered all of the costs associated with the request as well as the resources needed to ensure the project’s success. We have provided a sample budget to assist you. Click here to view budget sample.
Supporting documentation. If you are submitting an application for a contracted service, include any bids and or RFQ responses you have received. Materials that organizations provide will assist in substantiating your funding request in response to your budget.
Vendor cost proposals, estimates or company agreements
Coaching proposal, board committee report, consultant bio
Theories of change, logic models
MOUs, partnership agreement, needs assessment, network model
Deferred maintenance, vehicle, or technology replacement plan
An agency may submit one Small Capacity Building Grant request between February and November. We ask that you put forward your most pressing and compelling project within the above categories and encourage you to contact the Foundation about the suitability of your proposal prior to drafting your application.