CFGDM: Capacity Building Grants

The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines offers Capacity Building Grants to enhance the effectiveness of nonprofit organizations. These grants support initiatives like strategic planning, governance improvements, and financial stability efforts, ensuring nonprofits can thrive and fulfill their missions. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations and projects should benefit the Greater Des Moines community. This program aims to build resilient organizations that contribute positively to the local community.

NOTE: Capacity Building Grants are awarded throughout the year and can be requested at any time.  Organizations interested in this grant program are strongly encouraged to contact the Director of Nonprofit Relations to discuss the proposal before applying.
The Capacity Building Grant Program invests in initiatives that enable nonprofit organizations to strengthen their boards and governance, enhance internal management, and strategically plan for the future, all while focusing on fulfilling their mission. Our community thrives when our nonprofit sector thrives. Our goal is to support the building of resilient organizations that leverage opportunities to move their missions forward to the betterment of our community. We focus our grantmaking on organizations serving Greater Des Moines.
Examples of well-aligned capacity building projects:

• Strategic planning and visioning for the nonprofit.
• Succession and talent pipeline planning to ensure organizational leadership.
• Financial scenario/business planning for stability.
• Fund development/marketing strategy development (excluding feasibility studies).

Eligibility

Grants are made only to charitable organizations or causes with 501(c)(3) status, or to governmental agencies serving a charitable purpose.Geographically, funding is limited to projects that will significantly improve the Greater Des Moines community.

Ineligibility

It is not the Community Foundation's practice to fund completed projects or proposals or projects that have begun implementation.Projects not eligible or competitive for the Capacity Building grant program may be a better fit for our GIVEdsm platform. Examples might include:Ongoing annual operating and program expensesCapital infrastructure projects (bricks and mortar) Sectarian religious programs promoting a particular faithTactical items such as hardware/equipment, collateral materials, donor management software or website development