Nonprofit Impact Initiative Capacity-Building Grants

The Nonprofit Impact Initiative Capacity-Building Grants support the growth and sustainability of nonprofits in Brown, Door, Kewaunee, and Oconto counties. These grants prioritize organizations led by people of color and those serving older populations. Eligible nonprofits can apply for funds to enhance their capacity through expert training and development, fostering better governance, financial management, and community collaboration. The initiative aims to strengthen local organizations and improve service delivery across diverse community sectors.

Capacity-building grants invest in the health and sustainability of nonprofit organizations in Brown, Door, Kewaunee and Oconto counties. Within each cycle, there are grant dollars specifically allocated to support organizations led by people of color and those serving populations age 60 and older, as well as grant dollars available for organizations serving all sectors of the community.
Types of Grants
Grants will be awarded to assist eligible organizations with dedicated capacity-building efforts. A typical application will involve the cost of hiring third-party expertise.
Examples of such efforts could include, but are not limited to:

• Board training that enhances organizational capacity in the areas of recruitment, orientation, or retention
• Board governance (examples include officers, committees, effective meeting facilitation, accountability)
• Development and activation of ad hoc or board committees
• Leadership development
• Organization/Board Planning (annual/strategic)
• Collaboration/Partnerships
• Financial management oversight (budgets and financial reporting)
• Development of volunteer recruitment, management, retention best practices
• Development of best practices in nonprofit management
• Development of succession plans (leadership and non-leadership levels)
• Technology (use/implementation, needs assessment, planning)
• Communications/Marketing planning
• Service (design, evaluation, record keeping)
• Project management training
• Staff development and training (team building, performance management, staffing structure)
• Hiring of consultant to increase capacities (staff, board, organizational)
• Creation of peer-to-peer learning opportunities
• Establishment and implementation of lean process improvements

Eligibility

All applicants must meet the following:Be a nonprofit organization with a 501(c)(3) designation by the IRS
Directly serve Brown, Door, Kewaunee or Oconto counties
Conduct business without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual preference, age, marital status, disability, or national origin
Have an operating budget of under $3,000,000
This requirement does not apply to organizations serving populations over the age of 65.Please contact us to discuss your application if your organization serves this population.Be in existence as a nonprofit, tax exempt organization, for at least two years from date of incorporation
Be willing to adhere to the grantmaking policies of Greater Green Bay Community Foundation and this fund as contained in the grant agreementCash matching encouraged, but not required.

Ineligibility

What we do not fund:Annual appeals, capital campaigns, feasibility studies or other fundraising activities or events
Religious activities or programs that serve, or appear to serve, specific religious organizations, groups, denominations or beliefs
Endowments
Debt retirement, debt financing, reduction of operating deficit or replenishment of resources used to pay for such purposes
Efforts serving those outside of rural Northeast Wisconsin
Contractors who actually perform the work, as differentiated from consultants who train and teach to build capabilities
Direct service program support
Projects that add to staff member or provide board volunteer compensation
Organizational expenses unrelated to the capacity-building project

501(c)(3) nonprofits serving Brown, Kewaunee or Oconto counties, or serving Door County residents age 60+. Applicants must contact the Community Impact Team before applying.