Kauffman Foundation: Capacity Building Grant

The Kauffman Foundation's Capacity Building Grant aims to enhance the organizational effectiveness of nonprofits through leadership development, strategic planning, and technology improvements. With funding between $100,000 and $250,000, this grant focuses on strengthening internal capacities rather than supporting specific programs. Organizations aligned with the foundation's strategic priorities and those demonstrating a capacity gap are encouraged to apply for these short-term, impactful grants.

Grantmaking
Our grantmaking will be aligned to our strategic priorities and focus areas, driving toward our goal of equitable economic mobility for Kansas Citians.
Capacity Building grants are designed to strengthen the organizational capacity of nonprofits by fostering sound leadership, strong boards, professional development for staff, technology, evaluation, strategic planning, communications, and sustainability.
Rather than funding a charity’s specific program or singular service, Capacity Building grants look for opportunities to support an organization’s focus on internal effectiveness and long-term stability. These one-time, short-term grants will be awarded to charities that demonstrate a specific capacity gap and who are aligned with our strategic priorities and focus areas.
This list is not meant to be exhaustive and additional capacity needs may qualify for these funds.
Board governance & leadership developmentCollaboration developmentCommunications & marketingData & evaluationFinancial planning & fundraisingHuman resource planningInformation technology planning & digital securityOperating systemsStrategic planning Funding

Eligibility

We make grants to organizations that are not 501(c)(3) public charities, including to social welfare organizations [501(c)(4)], trade associations and chambers of commerce [501(c)(6)], and for-profit enterprises, among others.While we are foregrounding our work in the Kansas City region to achieve our 2035 vision, we are not immediately excluding organizations located elsewhere. However, to successfully apply for and receive funding, those organizations will need to demonstrate impact to Kansas City through past work anchored in the region, along with alignment to our strategic priorities and focus areas designed to drive impact in Kansas City.Kansas City Region:It’s generally the six-county region of the metro area including Cass, Clay, Jackson, Johnson, Platte, and Wyandotte counties.

Ineligibility

Funding requests will not be used to start a business or to fund patent expenses.The Kauffman Foundation is unable to provide funding for the following:bricks and mortar, including buildings or housing

Nonprofits with an operating budget of at least $300,000 in the prior year whose work advances economic mobility (college access, workforce development or entrepreneurship) in the Kansas City region.