Organizational Resilience Capacity Building Grants

The Organizational Resilience Capacity Building Grants by Act For Alexandria aim to bolster organizations that support the youth workforce in Alexandria. These grants, focused on enhancing organizational effectiveness, will fund initiatives such as leadership coaching, succession planning, and professional development. By empowering nonprofits, ACT seeks to create equitable pathways to success for young people, ensuring they have access to fulfilling careers and meaningful opportunities that contribute to their overall economic well-being.

ACT is pleased to announce our 2026 capacity building grants will focus on organizations supporting Alexandria’s youth workforce and career readiness ecosystem. As we seek to advance Economic Well-Being, we recognize the importance of strengthening the resilience of organizations helping Alexandria’s young people find fulfilling careers, meaningful employment opportunities, and equitable pathways to success.
FAQs
What is a capacity building grant?
A capacity building grant is designed to help a nonprofit develop competencies, strategies, systems, and structures to improve organizational effectiveness and resilience.The aim of a capacity building grant is to strengthen an organization to grow its impact and accomplish its mission and goals.These grants are meant to aid development at a structural and organizational level, they are not intended to cover general operating expenses nor provide on-going programmatic support.When capacity building is successful, it strengthens a nonprofit’s ability to deliver on its mission over time, thereby enhancing the nonprofit’s ability to have a positive impact on lives and communities.
What are the capacity building priorities for 2026?
ACT will fund projects focused on investing in leaders, teams and operations to build organizational resilience. Sample requests include:
Executive, team and/or board member coachingSabbaticals and operational support, including bonus/salary support for interim leadershipSuccession planningPlanning for resilience – understanding organizational culture, assessing staff burnout and turnover and how to address these challengesPlanning for right-sizing the organizationScenario planning and risk managementProfessional development and training, building team culture and understanding how to work better together
What are ACT’s strategic planning priorities?
Support Community Voice
Support and amplify local leadership to ensure groups that have been historically excluded are involved in civic decision making.
Support Community & Economic Well-Being
Advocacy and Narrative Change – building public support for policies and programs that support AlexandriansCareer Pathways for Young PeopleHousing Access and AffordabilityEconomic Mobility – programs and supports that enable families to sustainably address the high cost of living in Alexandria – such as workforce development, entrepreneurship, homeownership, childcare, etc.

Eligibility

Organizations must have a 501c3 or be fiscally sponsored by a 501c3 organization.Organizations must serve Alexandria.If the organization serves the broader region or isn’t solely focused on Alexandria, the capacity building request must demonstrate how the grant will have an impact on Alexandrians.Organization must support one of the key priorities of ACT’s strategic plan:Community Voice Community & Economic Wellbeing.Organizations can also complete this checklist to determine if they should apply:Serves the geographic area of Alexandria – City of and Fairfax County, AlexandriaActively addressing racial equity externally and internally within the organizationDemonstrates a commitment to organization wellbeing and staff wellnessUsing funding solely for capacity building project related to investing in leadership to build organizational resilienceWill expend grant funds during the period of January – December 2026.Agrees to share the impact and learnings from the capacity building grant by February 2026 in the form of a written report, conversation, or video format, as selected by the nonprofitWill participate in one grantee convening in 2026 and conversation with ACT staff in 2026.