WCCF: Capacity-Building Grant Cycle II

The WCCF Capacity-Building Grant Cycle II provides funding from $5,000 to $50,000 for projects enhancing operational, programmatic, and organizational maturity of nonprofit organizations in Washington County. Eligible projects include arts, community development, education, health, and environmental initiatives. Nonprofits must apply for specific capacity-building projects and cannot combine requests. Previous grant funds must be fully utilized before applying for new grants, ensuring effective use of resources to strengthen community services.

NOTE: Grant seekers who are interested in making application through this cycle must first contact the WCCF in order to discuss the intended request and secure the application passcode.
Capacity-Building Grant Cycle I (August) and Capacity-Building Grant Cycle II (October)
The continued growth of the WCCF, as well as the success of the Foundation’s special capacity-building grant cycle in 2018, has resulted in some exciting changes to the Foundation’s two annual competitive grant cycles (formerly the Field of Interest Grant Cycle and the Discretionary Grant Cycle). As the name implies, grants in these cycles will be targeted to capacity-building projects.
Grants in these two cycles shall range from $5,000 to $50,000 and shall be awarded in any of the following areas:
Arts & Humanities – projects that benefit arts education, arts appreciation, and cultural and historic projects in our community.Community Imprecoovement and Economic Development – projects that focus on strengthening, unifying and building the economic, cultural, educational and social services, and the spirit of any community or neighborhood. Community improvement projects include, but are not limited to, agricultural fairs, community festivals, community parks, green space projects and walking trails. Economic development projects include, but are not limited to, blight removal, increased entrepreneurism, improved low-income housing, job creation, and workforce development.Education – projects to enhance the education experience for persons of any age, including literacy and lifelong learning.Environment & Animal Welfare – projects to protect the environment and to ensure biodiversity, including conservation, protection of ecosystems, agricultural projects, protection of wildlife, and the care of domesticated animals.Health & Fitness – projects that promote the physical and emotional health of the community, including medical services, counseling, fitness, and wellness programs.Human Needs – projects that give aid, comfort, support or assistance to children and youth, senior citizens, or the indigent.Religious/Faith-Based – projects that promote interdenominational sharing and understanding and that emphasize the importance of spiritual growth and development.

Eligibility

Eligible Grantees: Any exempt non-profit organization providing charitable services in Washington County is eligible to apply.Eligible Requests: In these two cycles, only capacity-building projects will be considered. Capacity building is defined as any activity that increases the nonprofit’s operational, programmatic, financial, or organizational maturity.Examples include but are not limited to: ( current priority funding areas)Improvements to accounting and financial systemsImprovements to communications, such as marketing plans or marketing materials; websites with content management systemsData management, such as constituent/donor management software or collection management softwareEquipment or material purchasesCapital campaigns nearing completion of the campaignFacility upgrades to real estate/property owned by the applicant (leasehold improvements will not be considered)Strategic plansSuccession plansProgram design or program expansionRequests must be submitted in increments of $5,000, up to a maximum grant request of $50,000.Applicants may only submit one request in each capacity-building cycle, and the request must be exclusive to one capacity-building project, not a combination of unrelated projects. Applicants who receive a capacity building grant must wait for a minimum of one year to apply for a second capacity building grant. Applicants must have utilized all money from a previous capacity-building grant before they may submit for a new capacity-building grant. Applicants who have any outstanding grant reports are not permitted to apply for a capacity building grant until all delinquent grant reports have been received.

Ineligibility

In  these two cycles, the WCCF will not accept applications for routine projects, to support existing programs, for general operating support, to reduce deficits, for regranting projects, for endowment projects or for event sponsorships. The WCCF will not accept applications from private foundations or from individuals.