2026 Capacity Building Grants

Geographic Scope: Alexandria, VA (City of Alexandria and Fairfax County Alexandria)

ACT supports nonprofit excellence and strengthens leadership within nonprofits by investing in organizational needs. Capacity building grants are designed to help nonprofits develop competencies, strategies, systems, and structures to improve organizational effectiveness and resilience. Since 2005, ACT has invested more than $2M in capacity-building grants to Alexandria nonprofits.

2026 Focus Area

The 2026 grants will focus on organizations supporting Alexandria's youth workforce and career readiness ecosystem. The grants aim to advance Economic Well-Being by strengthening the resilience of organizations helping Alexandria's young people find fulfilling careers, meaningful employment opportunities, and equitable pathways to success.

Funding Details

• Total Available: $50,000
• Per Organization: Up to $10,000
• Anticipated Awards: 5 grantees
• Grant Period: January – December 2026

Capacity Building Priorities

Sample requests include:

• Executive, team and/or board member coaching
• Sabbaticals and operational support, including bonus/salary support for interim leadership
• Succession planning
• Planning for resilience – understanding organizational culture, assessing staff burnout and turnover
• Planning for right-sizing the organization
• Scenario planning and risk management
• Professional development and training, building team culture

Eligibility Requirements

• Status: Must be a 501(c)(3) or fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) organization
• Mission: Mission and programmatic work must support youth workforce development and career readiness
• Geography: Must serve Alexandria (City of Alexandria and/or Fairfax County Alexandria)
• Strategic Alignment: Must support one of ACT's key strategic priorities – Economic Wellbeing
• Use of Funds: Funding must be used solely for capacity building projects related to investing in leadership to build organizational resilience
• Commitment: Must expend grant funds during January – December 2026
• Participation: Must participate in one grantee convening in 2026 and conversation with ACT staff
• Reporting: Must agree to share impact and learnings in February 2027 (written report, conversation, or video format)

ACT's Strategic Planning Priorities

• Support Economic Well-Being
• Career Pathways for Young People
• Economic Mobility – programs and supports that enable families to sustainably address the high cost of living in Alexandria

Application Philosophy

ACT has adopted a trust-based approach to grantmaking that breaks down the traditional power dynamic between funder and grantee and creates a collaborative environment that supports listening, learning, and true partnership.

Grant Timeline

• Information Session: October 16, 2025
• Grant Review Committee Meeting: Early December 2025
• Award Notifications and Agreements: Mid December 2025
• Grants Awarded: January 2026

Application Process

1. Create Account: Organizations must create an account in Foundant (ACT's grant management system) to apply
2. Access Application: Visit https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=actforalexandria (application live October 8)
3. Complete Online Application: All applications must be completed in Foundant
4. Submit by Deadline: November 14, 2025

Application Timeline

• Application opens: October 14, 2025
• Information session: October 16, 2025
• Application deadline: November 14, 2025

Resources

• PDF Version: A PDF version of the application is available for advance review
• Information Session: Recording and slideshow available from October 16 information session

Additional Support

• For questions: grants@actforalexandria.org or (703) 739-7778
• Can schedule appointment to discuss application

Requirements

• Organizations must complete the application in Foundant
• Eligibility checklist available to determine if organization should apply
• Grant funds must be expended during January – December 2026
• Organization must commit to participate in one grantee convening in 2026 and conversation with ACT staff
• Organization must share impact and learnings in February 2027 in form of written report, conversation, or video format