Capacity Building Grants

Last updated October 7, 2026

Grantable tracks 1,351 active capacity building grants in its free grants database, drawn from state and foundation sources and updated daily. 60 of them have a verified open deadline or accept applications on a rolling basis. 729 list an award amount, with a median of $25K.

Grants tracked: 1,351; from 967 funders
Median award: $25K; middle half $10K–$100K
Total listed funding: $138.7M; across 729 grants that list an amount
Rolling deadlines: 55; 72 with a published date

On this page: State Foundation · Updated daily

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
CMAB Arts Organization Development Grant Central Minnesota Arts Board · Foundation Oct 21, 2026 · Varies The CMAB Arts Organization Development Grant provides funds to support activities and purchases that contribute to the organizational sustainability, growth, and improvement of nonprofit arts organizations in Region 7W…	Oct 21, 2026	Varies
Community Grants - Capacity Building Grant Yellowstone Club Community Foundation · Foundation ~October · Varies One-time grant to support operational infrastructure development, organizational resiliency, or strategic/business planning.	~October	Varies
Community Grants - Catalyst Grant Yellowstone Club Community Foundation · Foundation ~October · Up to $10K Supports new nonprofits with organizational development or the building out of a specific program.	~October	Up to $10K
Leveling-Up Award Dakota Resources · Foundation ~October · $1K Annual award recognizing organizational breakthroughs and capacity building in economic development organizations.	~October	$1K
Arnold F. Keller, Jr. Grant for New Initiatives/Program Expansion Capitol Hill Community Foundation · Foundation ~October · $25K The Keller Grant is a single $25,000 grant awarded each year. Similar to Innovation Grants, it supports the creation or expansion of major initiatives with potential to significantly benefit the Capitol Hill community.	~October	$25K
Wausau Marathon County Impact Grants (Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin) Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin Inc · Foundation Oct 27, 2026 · $1K – $100K Wausau Marathon County Impact Grants 'provide funding for projects and programs that most effectively make a positive impact on the greater Wausau area and Marathon County' (Wisconsin).	Oct 27, 2026	$1K – $100K
Hancock Whitney Opportunity Grant (Hancock Whitney Community Reinvestment Act Program) The Greater New Orleans Foundation · Foundation ~October · Up to $25K The Hancock Whitney Opportunity Grant, in collaboration with the Greater New Orleans Foundation, invites applications from eligible nonprofits starting October 7, 2025.	~October	Up to $25K
FY2027 Capital Project Capacity-Building Grant Program Commerce Open Grants/Loans/RFPs · State Oct 30, 2026 · Varies Grant program to help local governments, federally recognized tribal governments, and federally designated nonprofit organizations strengthen their capacity and advance viable capital projects that directly benefit overburdened communities…	Oct 30, 2026	Varies
Capital Project Capacity-Building Grant Program Commerce Open Grants/Loans/RFPs · State Oct 30, 2026 · Varies FY2027 funding to help local governments, federally recognized tribal governments, and federally designated nonprofit organizations strengthen their capacity and advance viable capital projects that directly benefit overburdened…	Oct 30, 2026	Varies
Latah County Community Foundation Grants Latah County Community Foundation · Foundation Oct 30, 2026 · Up to $3K The Latah County Community Foundation offers grants up to $3,000 to support various charitable projects in Latah County. Eligible applicants include public charities and organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status.	Oct 30, 2026	Up to $3K
The 410 Grant Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky · Foundation Oct 31, 2026 · Up to $20K The 410 Grant aims to foster a new generation of philanthropic leaders in Northern Kentucky by pooling resources among members who contribute $410 annually.	Oct 31, 2026	Up to $20K
VCF: Nonprofit Capacity Building Grant The Vermont Community Foundation · Foundation ~November · Up to $5K The Vermont Community Foundation offers the Nonprofit Capacity Building Grant to support consultant fees for nonprofits aiming to enhance their organizational capacity.	~November	Up to $5K
MCF Community Investment Program (CIP) Grant Montana Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Nov 1, 2026 · Up to $50K The MCF Community Investment Program (CIP) supports innovative projects that enhance the quality of life in Rosebud, Custer, and Fallon County, Montana.	Nov 1, 2026	Up to $50K
Leadership Advancement Award (Sabbatical Program) Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc · Foundation ~November · Up to $10K Provides opportunity for executive directors to step fully away from day-to-day work responsibilities during a sabbatical period	~November	Up to $10K
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
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 RIHOU capacity-building grant to support housing organizations in removing barriers to affordable housing development.	Nov 13, 2026	Varies
OregonServes AmeriCorps Planning Grant Opportunity 2026-2027 Higher Education Grants · State Nov 13, 2026 · Varies Request for Applications (26-049-RFA) to provide financial support to organizations developing new AmeriCorps programs that will place AmeriCorps members in service within Oregon.	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
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: 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

Showing 1–24 of 1,345

Capacity building grants by the numbers

How deadlines work

Rolling or ongoing: 55 4%
Upcoming date published: 72 5%
Stated cycle, no date yet: 210 16%
No deadline published: 1,014 75%

When dated deadlines fall

Share of the 72 grants with a published date, by quarter.

33%

Jan–Mar

10%

Apr–Jun

Jul–Sep

53%

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

967 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 1,351 active capacity building grants (with a deadline today or later, or none published) as of October 7, 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 1,351 capacity building grants Grantable lists as of October 7, 2026, 729 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, 967 funders have at least one active grant in this category.

When are capacity building grants due?

Of 1,351 grants listed, 55 accept applications on a rolling basis, 72 have a published upcoming deadline, 210 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 1,014 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site. Among dated deadlines, 53% 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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