CFECI: Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants

The Community Foundation of East Central Illinois is offering Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants up to $5,000 to enhance the effectiveness of local nonprofits. These grants aim to strengthen core operations in areas like governance, financial management, and leadership development. Organizations must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt with at least two years of operation and contribute a 10% match. Priority will be given to those with budgets under $1 million, fostering sustainable growth and community impact.

The Community Foundation of East Central Illinois (CFECI) will be awarding $60,000 in grants to strengthen the nonprofit sector as part of its vision of raising the quality of life throughout the region it serves.
CFECI will provide grants of up to $5,000 to eligible nonprofits for capacity building and technical assistance to improve an identified area of operations. These Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants require a 10% matching contribution.
Purpose
Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants strengthen nonprofits by increasing their core systems and operations. By improving infrastructure, these time-limited projects help nonprofits more effectively carry out their missions – now and into the future.
This grant program focuses on projects that improve capacity in an identified area of organizational operations, including (but not limited to):
CommunicationsData managementDiversity, equity and inclusionFinancial managementFundraisingGovernanceLeadershipMission & strategyProgram deliveryProgram evaluation
Examples of capacity building projects include:
Leadership development: supporting a leadership training experience for two or more members of the organization’s leadership/ management team.Planning activities: including organizational assessments, strategic planning, fund development, communications/marketing, or business planning.Board development: may include activities such as leadership training, executive coaching, defining the role of the board, and strengthening governance.Internal operations: improvements to financial management, human resources or volunteer management.Technology improvements: IT capacity through upgrades to hardware and software, networking, websites, and staff training to optimize use of technology.
Applicants are encouraged to identify training, consulting and/or 1:1 coaching opportunities that best meet their organizational needs. Upon request, CFECI can provide a list of local consultants with various specialties in nonprofit capacity building.
Amount
Applicants may request up to $5,000, which requires a 10% matching contribution from the applicant organization.

Eligibility

These Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants require a 10% matching contribution.Eligible nonprofit organizations:Must be a charitable tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization with no less than 2 years of operation. Must be located in and serve residents of CFECI’s service area which includes Champaign, Piatt, Ford, Iroquois, Vermilion, Edgar, Douglas, Coles and Moultrie counties.Applications must be for one of the following eligible capacity-building activities:Board training and educationStaff training and leadership developmentStrategic planningSuccession planningTechnology/softwareOther assessment, consulting, 1:1 coaching, or facilitation that improves an identified area of organizational capacity.