Transform Lake County Grant- Capacity Building

The Transform Lake County Grant focuses on capacity building for nonprofits, neighborhoods, and residents in Lake County, Indiana. Grants of up to $10,000 aim to enhance organizations' internal operations, management, and governance. This initiative seeks to empower eligible 501(c)3 organizations, ensuring they can provide essential services sustainably. The funding is designed for specific projects that strengthen infrastructure, leadership, and technology, ultimately fostering organizational effectiveness and community impact.

Donors support Transform Lake County grants through gifts to the Lake County Community Fund (LCCF). Transform Lake County Grants are intended to strengthen and empower nonprofits, neighborhoods and residents in Lake County.
Capacity Building Funding Requests: Up to $10,000
Transform Lake County Capacity Building Grants focus on improving organizations’ operating capacity so that they can continue to provide their essential services to the community.
Capacity building grants focus not on the outward-facing, mission-based work of a nonprofit but on the inner workings of the organization. Ultimately, these grants are intended to help build organizational effectiveness and further the success of the organization’s mission. Through these grants, Legacy Foundation seeks to strengthen the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of organizations serving Lake County.

Eligibility

TLC Grants are open to 501(c)3 organizations serving Lake County, Indiana. In selected cases, projects undertaken by organizations that normally fall outside Legacy Foundation’s guidelines may be able to receive funding. Examples include: faith-based organizations whose proposal impacts the broader community units of government whose proposal extends beyond the traditional governmental functions that impact the broader community such as libraries or parks.Eligible types of projects:Funds are to be used to strengthen an organization’s infrastructure, management, and governance.Funding is for specific activities or projects designed to strengthen an organization’s governance, leadership, technology, programmatic evaluation, and administrative capacity. Examples of such activities include, but are not limited to:Communications & MarketingExternal communication strategy planningEvaluationAssessment of management and governance systemsEvaluation of program and/or service effectivenessPlanningStrategic planningSuccession planningFund development planningTechnologyUpgrades to organizational technologyEstablish or upgrade a management systemTrainingBoard and/or staff development Consultants are allowable expenses.

Ineligibility

Projects that do not qualify:Examples of what is not considered capacity building may be, but are not limited to:Media campaignsCreating or expanding a new program/serviceSite relocation or general renovationsHiring new staff membersCreating or contributing to an endowmentPaying overhead expenses such as rent, utilities, etc.Supporting capital campaigns