WFC Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants

Whidbey Community Foundation (WCF) supports the organizational strength and effectiveness of nonprofits on Whidbey Island. Capacity-building grants are awarded to nonprofits for one-time projects that address a part of the organization’s strategic plan to improve the management, governance, and administration of the organization, not direct programmatic improvements. By strengthening the internal capacity of an organization, WCF believes the programs and services will also be strengthened.

Types of Projects that Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants Support

Organizations can request up to $10,000 for a Nonprofit Capacity-Building Grant. We anticipate that most grants will range between $1,000 – $5,000. Project examples include but are not limited to:

• Evaluation of core programs
• Staff or board training
• Assessment of technology systems or implementation of technology upgrades
• Planning (HR, succession, fundraising, financial sustainability)
• Merger planning and implementation
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion policy development and implementation

Grant Guidelines

Submitting a proposal begins with reviewing your organization’s eligibility and WCF’s criteria and priorities to determine if the Foundation aligns with your needs. By submitting a proposal, you give the Foundation permission to share your information with other interested individual donors.

Program/Project-based Grants

All grants within the Nonprofit Capacity-Building Grant Program are Program/Project-based Grants. Program/Project-based Grants are considered restricted. We require a separate program/project-specific budget to be submitted alongside the organization’s annual budget.

For project/program support, WCF will consider up to 100% of the project budget (no greater than $10,000 total).

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

• Any organization that operates with a charitable status or for a charitable purpose on Whidbey Island is eligible to apply for a grant.
• You do not need to have a headquarters or physical presence on Whidbey, so long as services are provided here.
• Applicants must be in good standing with the Washington Secretary of State and Office of the Attorney General, and be current with all state and federal reporting requirements.

Ineligibility

• The following projects are NOT eligible for grant support:
  • Operating costs, including salaries, other than those related to the capacity-building project.
  • Expansion of existing programs or creation of new ones
  • Brick-and-mortar projects or endowment campaigns
  • Pass-through grants to other nonprofits
  • Grants to supplant lost funding or eliminate budget deficits.
• The following ineligible organizations or purposes:
  • Annual campaign appeals
  • Endowments
  • Individuals
  • Political or lobbying activities
  • Private operating foundations
  • For-profit organizations
  • Scholarships
  • Religious organizations for sacramental or theological purposes