Capacity Building Grants

Last updated October 28, 2026

Grantable tracks 1,339 active capacity building grants in its free grants database, drawn from state and foundation sources and updated daily. 62 of them have a verified open deadline or accept applications on a rolling basis. 713 list an award amount, with a median of $25K.

Grants tracked: 1,339; from 960 funders
Median award: $25K; middle half $10K–$100K
Total listed funding: $137.9M; across 713 grants that list an amount
Rolling deadlines: 57; 78 with a published date

On this page: State Foundation · Updated daily

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
Management Improvement Fund Grant Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Up to $15K The Management Improvement Fund Grant supports small to midsize nonprofits in Minnesota by providing up to $15,000 for technical assistance aimed at enhancing organizational capacity and nurturing BIPOC leadership.	Rolling	Up to $15K
Community Excellence Award United Way of Greater Charlottesville · Foundation ~November · $5K Funds support non-profit human service organizations in Planning District Ten that desire to implement a strategic planning framework centering core values, service, and collaboration.	~November	$5K
Capacity Building Grant Programs Bainbridge Community Foundation · Foundation ~November · $1K – $3K The Bainbridge Community Foundation's Capacity Building Grant Programs are designed to enhance the effectiveness of nonprofit organizations in Washington State.	~November	$1K – $3K
Communities of Color Nonprofit Stabilization Fund (CCNSF) The New York Urban League Inc · Foundation ~November · $35K – $45K A capacity-building grant program established by NYC Council in 2014 to support Black, Latino, and Asian-led community-based organizations (CBOs) throughout New York City's five boroughs. Funding Purpose - Capacity Building Support:	~November	$35K – $45K
Pathways to Removing Obstacles Housing Capacity-Building Grant eCivis Grants Network (direct) · State Nov 13, 2026 · Varies Capacity-building grant program for housing initiatives under the Department of Housing.	Nov 13, 2026	Varies
Asthma Education Services Provider Capacity Building DHS Grant Funding · State Nov 13, 2026 · Varies Funding to build capacity for asthma education service providers.	Nov 13, 2026	Varies
2026 Capacity Building Grants Act for Alexandria · Foundation ~November · Up to $10K ACT supports nonprofit excellence and strengthens leadership within nonprofits by investing in organizational needs.	~November	Up to $10K
Capital Readiness Advisors for Community Capacity Initiative Commerce Open Grants/Loans/RFPs · State Nov 16, 2026 · Varies Request for Qualifications and Quotations (RFQQ) for capital readiness advisors to support community capacity initiatives.	Nov 16, 2026	Varies
Institutional Impact Grants Wake Forest University · Foundation Nov 16, 2026 · $100K – $1M The Institutional Impact Grants by Wake Forest University aim to support U.S. colleges and universities in fostering moral, civic, and intellectual character among their community members.	Nov 16, 2026	$100K – $1M
CCCF Capacity Building Grants Central Carolina Community Foundation · Foundation Nov 30, 2026 · Up to $10K Central Carolina Community Foundation's Capacity Building Grants help nonprofits invest in leadership, systems and infrastructure — funding may support planning (strategic/succession/business), leadership (board development, governance…	Nov 30, 2026	Up to $10K
Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants: Planning Grant St Croix Valley Foundation · Foundation Nov 30, 2026 · Up to $25K The Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants: Planning Grant, offered by the St. Croix Valley Foundation, provides essential funding for nonprofit organizations in the St. Croix Valley region.	Nov 30, 2026	Up to $25K
Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants: System-Wide Infrastructure St Croix Valley Foundation · Foundation Nov 30, 2026 · Up to $250K The Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants from the St. Croix Valley Foundation aim to enhance the infrastructure of nonprofits serving the St. Croix River area.	Nov 30, 2026	Up to $250K
Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants: Implementation St Croix Valley Foundation · Foundation Nov 30, 2026 · Up to $100K The St. Croix Valley Foundation offers Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants to enhance the effectiveness of local nonprofits in Minnesota and Wisconsin.	Nov 30, 2026	Up to $100K
CORE Grant Program Friends of CMH Sumner Community Memorial Hospital Foundation · Foundation Nov 30, 2026 · $5K Friends of CMH Foundation accepts grant requests to help team members enhance the patient experience.	Nov 30, 2026	$5K
Friends of UW Health Grant Program Friends of University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics Inc · Foundation ~December · Varies	~December	Varies
Dayton Foundation: Greenlight Grants The Dayton Foundation · Foundation Dec 1, 2026 · $500 – $8K The Dayton Foundation's Greenlight Grants offer quick funding opportunities for local nonprofits in Greater Dayton, ranging from $500 to $7,500.	Dec 1, 2026	$500 – $8K
Allied Arts Capacity-Building Grant Allied Arts of Oklahoma Inc · Foundation Dec 11, 2026 · Up to $5K Allied Arts of Oklahoma's Capacity-Building program helps nonprofit arts and cultural organizations grow stronger to fulfill their missions.	Dec 11, 2026	Up to $5K
Capacity-Building Grants Allied Arts of Oklahoma Inc · Foundation ~December · Up to $5K	~December	Up to $5K
Rural Hospital Planning and Transition Grant Program Dept of Health Grants · State Dec 11, 2026 · Varies Grant program for rural hospital planning and transitions.	Dec 11, 2026	Varies
Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County Grant Healthcare Foundation of Northern · Foundation Dec 15, 2026 · $20K – $100K The Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County Grant aims to enhance healthcare access for low-income residents through targeted programs for the uninsured and underinsured.	Dec 15, 2026	$20K – $100K
Wake Forest Capacity Building Grant Wake Forest University · Foundation ~December · Up to $50K The Wake Forest Capacity Building Grant, part of the Educating Character Initiative, aims to enhance character education in U.S. higher education institutions.	~December	Up to $50K
Microsoft Technology Grant - Winter Listed by Wyoming Community Foundation · Foundation Dec 15, 2026 · Up to $20K The Microsoft Technology Grant is offered through the Wyoming Community Foundation with funding from Microsoft. It helps organizations in Laramie County, Wyoming pay for technology: hardware or software upgrades and skills building.	Dec 15, 2026	Up to $20K
IMPACT: A Nonprofit Capacity Building Program The Van Wert County Foundation · Foundation ~December · Varies IMPACT is an annual nonprofit capacity building program designed to increase the capacity of nonprofit organizations by developing and strengthening their skills, instincts, abilities, processes, and resources.	~December	Varies
FCCF Grant Application (Unrestricted Community Grants) Franklin County Community Foundation Inc · Foundation ~December · Varies Grants are awarded from unrestricted endowment funds and pass-through grants provided by community members. In 2025, more than $320,779 was available for the grants cycle.	~December	Varies

Showing 1–24 of 1,326

Capacity building grants by the numbers

How deadlines work

Rolling or ongoing: 57 4%
Upcoming date published: 78 6%
Stated cycle, no date yet: 214 16%
No deadline published: 990 74%

When dated deadlines fall

Share of the 78 grants with a published date, by quarter.

36%

Jan–Mar

10%

Apr–Jun

Jul–Sep

49%

Oct–Dec

Funders with the most active capacity building grants

Greater Salina Community Foundation 17 active
Enterprise Community Partners Inc 9 active
Program to Aid Citizen Enterprise Inc 8 active
National Institutes of Health 7 active
The Rhode Island Community Foundation 7 active
Central New York Community Foundation Inc 6 active

960 funders have at least one active grant in this category.

Source: Grantable's grants database, compiled from funder websites, Grants.gov and state grant portals. Figures cover all 1,339 active capacity building grants (with a deadline today or later, or none published) as of October 28, 2026, and refresh daily. Award amounts are each grant's listed maximum; 10 listed amounts over $10M are left out, since they're usually program-wide totals rather than single awards.

About capacity building grants

Capacity building grants invest in the infrastructure of organizations — strategic planning, technology upgrades, leadership development, financial systems, and operational improvements. Unlike program grants, these funds strengthen your organization's ability to deliver all of its programs more effectively.

A long list is the starting point, not the shortlist. Our grant prospecting guide shows how to narrow capacity building grants down to the funders most likely to say yes, using their giving records.

Capacity Building Grants by state

Browse capacity building grants available to organizations in 31 states.

Top funders for capacity building

Foundations and grantmakers active in community improvement & capacity building — explore each funder's giving history, typical grant sizes, and what they fund.

View all 469 community improvement & capacity building funders

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do capacity building grants award?

Of the 1,339 capacity building grants Grantable lists as of October 28, 2026, 713 publish an award amount. The median listed award is $25K, and the middle half fall between $10K and $100K. The largest is $10M. Amounts are each grant's stated maximum, so a typical award can be smaller.

Which funders offer the most capacity building grants?

By number of active listings, the leading funders are Greater Salina Community Foundation (17), Enterprise Community Partners Inc (9), Program to Aid Citizen Enterprise Inc (8), National Institutes of Health (7), and The Rhode Island Community Foundation (7). In all, 960 funders have at least one active grant in this category.

When are capacity building grants due?

Of 1,339 grants listed, 57 accept applications on a rolling basis, 78 have a published upcoming deadline, 214 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 990 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site. Among dated deadlines, 49% fall in October–December.

What do capacity building grants typically fund?

Common uses include strategic planning, technology infrastructure (CRM, accounting software, website), staff training and professional development, board development, fundraising infrastructure, evaluation systems, financial management improvements, and organizational assessments. Some also fund mergers, collaborations, and shared services arrangements.

Which funders offer capacity building grants?

Notable funders include the Kresge Foundation, Hewlett Foundation, Ford Foundation, and Irvine Foundation. Many community foundations offer local capacity building programs. United Ways fund partner agency capacity. The Nonprofit Finance Fund provides financial capacity building. Tech-specific capacity grants come from TechSoup, Idealware, and Microsoft Philanthropies.

How do I make the case for a capacity building grant?

Start with a clear organizational assessment identifying gaps. Show how stronger infrastructure connects to better program outcomes and sustainability. Include specific metrics — current state, target state, and how you'll measure improvement. Funders want to see that capacity investments will have lasting impact beyond the grant period.

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