Capacity Building Grants

Last updated October 28, 2026

Grantable tracks 1,339 active capacity building grants in its free grants database, drawn from 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: Foundation · Updated daily

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
MIHEF Capacity Building Grants Michigan Health Endowment Fund · Foundation Not published · Varies _NOTE: The Concept Paper deadline is indicated above with the pre-proposal deadline._ The Michigan Health Endowment Fund is a philanthropic foundation that works to improve the health and wellness of Michigan residents while reducing…	Not published	Varies
The Wellspring Fund Grant Program Headwaters Foundation for Justice · Foundation Not published · Varies At Headwaters, we believe that a community’s collective power is a source of abundance and of transformative change.	Not published	Varies
GCCF: Community Impact Grants - Innovation Greenwood County Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $50K The GCCF Community Impact Grants - Innovation supports groundbreaking initiatives that drive significant change in Greenwood County.	Not published	Up to $50K
Cullen Foundation Performing Arts Action Grant Cullen Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Up to $10K The Action Grant is an expedited route for past Cullen performing arts grantees seeking less than $10,000 per year.	Rolling	Up to $10K
Ashton W. Lilly Fund for Philanthropy Grant Cumberland Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $50K Easily learn more about the Ashton W. This grant has a rolling deadline.	Not published	Up to $50K
UJA Designated Grants United Jewish Appeal-Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies UJA makes designated grants available through requests for applications or by invitation to organizations for specific programs, capacity building, or initiatives. UJA awards grants to 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations that are:	Not published	Varies
Targeted Arts Development Initiative Grant Program Tennessee Arts Commission · Foundation Not published · $1K – $5K The Targeted Arts Development Initiative Grant Program aims to support arts projects in underserved, rural communities in Tennessee, particularly focusing on distressed and at-risk counties.	Not published	$1K – $5K
LSC Technology Initiative Grant Legal Services Alabama Inc · Foundation Not published · $25K	Not published	$25K
CACF: Central AL Cultural and Community Enhancement Grants Central Alabama Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $3K – $25K The CACF: Central AL Cultural and Community Enhancement Grants support 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Montgomery, Lowndes, and Macon counties.	Not published	$3K – $25K
Value Chain Development Grant Greenwave Organization Corp · Foundation Not published · Up to $100K GreenWave is offering grants to support teams of participants across regional kelp value chains as they tackle bottlenecks, improve infrastructure, and boost efficiency.	Not published	Up to $100K
Tomorrow Builders Fellowship Wepower · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Heartland Community Foundation: Stockton Community Fund Grant Greater Salina Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Heartland Community Foundation: Stockton Community Fund The Stockton Community Fund is an unrestricted community grant funds designated to support current and future charitable needs of communities in the Heartland area.	Not published	Varies
Bush Prize: Native Nations Grant The Bush Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $250K The Bush Prize: Native Nations honors Native-led organizations committed to innovative solutions in their communities. Grants can reach up to $500,000, covering 25% of the organization’s previous fiscal year expenses.	Not published	Up to $250K
Capacity Building Fund Grant The Denver Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies _NOTE: We consider requests for Capacity Building at The Denver Foundation on an ongoing basis, with decisions made monthly. The Capacity Building Fund at The Denver Foundation is closed in December each year.	Not published	Varies
Kuni Foundation- Imagination Planning Grant for IDD Housing Wayne D Kuni and Joan E Kuni Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $75K The Kuni Foundation's Imagination Planning Grant focuses on addressing the urgent need for quality, affordable housing for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Oregon and Washington.	Not published	Up to $75K
Wilson Foundation: Equip Grant The Huey & Angelina Wilson Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Wilson Foundation's Equip Grant, in collaboration with the Louisiana Alliance for Nonprofits, offers a comprehensive 12-month program aimed at enhancing nonprofit organizational capacity.	Not published	Varies
Trust in American Institutions Challenge Lever for Change · Foundation Not published · Varies At Lever for Change, we help donors find and fund bold solutions to the world’s biggest problem —including issues like racial inequity, gender inequality, access to economic opportunity, and climate change.	Not published	Varies
Lewisville-Clemmons Grants Shallow Ford Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Grants of up to $7,500 are available to nonprofits to provide solutions to unmet community needs in Lewisville and Clemmons and raise organizational capacity, strengthen a sense of community, and have an end goal to become self-sufficient…	Not published	Varies
TFF: Capacity Building Grant Tracy Family Foundation · Foundation Not published · $5K – $15K The TFF Capacity Building Grant supports nonprofit organizations, schools, and government agencies in Illinois, helping them strengthen their operational effectiveness.	Not published	$5K – $15K
Better Together Fund Grants The Dallas Foundation · Foundation Not published · $15K – $65K The Better Together Fund Grants aim to foster social change by supporting collaborations among nonprofits, focusing on formal partnerships that enhance efficiency and impact.	Not published	$15K – $65K
Strategic Impact Grants Arts Council of Anne Arundel County Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies This grant opportunity is designed to fund projects that result in substantive, organizational transformation, taking the organization's operations or performance to the next level.	Not published	Varies
UWTC: T. Merrell Shipherd Fund United Way of Tompkins County Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The T. Merrell Shipherd Fund was established to honor T. Merrell Shipherd, former Director of United Way of Tompkins County, who, throughout his life, worked to bring people together to find effectives solutions to community challenges.	Not published	Varies
Kauai United Way Funding for Participating Agencies Kauai United Way · Foundation Not published · Varies Non-profit organizations must demonstrate:	Not published	Varies
Data Fellowship Grant Delta Analytics · Foundation Not published · Varies The Data Fellowship by Delta Analytics offers a unique opportunity for individuals with strong technical skills in data science, engineering, or visualization to volunteer and empower nonprofits.	Not published	Varies

Showing 1273–1296 of 1,326

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.

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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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