Capacity Building Grants
Capacity Building grants are designed to help a nonprofit with its organizational infrastructure. The Foundation does this by partnering with experts in organizational management.
Capacity Building grants primarily focus on three areas: Board Governance, Planning, or Training/Professional Development.
Capacity building requires a commitment of a nonprofit’s time and resources. Therefore, we encourage applicants to have at least one paid staff person.
Capacity Building Grants are reserved for 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations and other eligible entities that predominantly benefit residents of Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties, Michigan. Applicants must also provide revenue and expense statements for the past two fiscal years.
Examples of Capacity Building issues include:
- Board Development or Board Governance
- Fundraising, Marketing, or Technology Planning
- Long-range Planning, Succession Planning
- Executive Leadership Development
- Staff Training and Development
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training
CAPACITY GRANT TIMELINE:
- The 2026 Capacity Grant application period is December 3, 2025 - February 4, 2026 at 5 pm.
- The first step in applying for a Capacity Building Grant is a virtual consultation with the Foundation between December 3, 2025 and January 30, 2026. This step is mandatory.
- Applications will be reviewed by committee in mid-March 2026 with notification to awardees by early April.
Capacity Building Applications require the following attachments:
- Letter of Commitment from your Governing Board Chair, detailing the organization's commitment. This is required because the majority of our capacity work involves the organization’s board of directors.
- Statements of revenue and expenses for the past two fiscal years.
- Organization’s current Annual Operating Budget document.
SAMPLE Capacity Building Grant Application (for review only, do not submit)
