Nonprofit Impact Initiative Capacity-Building grants

Application Timeline

Fall Cycle

Application Opens August 1

Application Closes October 15

Spring Cycle

Application Opens February 1

Application Closes April 15

Decisions will be announced within 8-10 weeks of the application deadline. Prior to completing and submitting a grant application please contact the Community Impact Team to discuss your proposal.

Grant Awards

Typically range from $1,000 to $7,500 for one year. View past recipients.

Up to 10% of total project costs may be dedicated to administrative overhead expenses of the capacity building project.

Eligibility Requirements

All applicants must meet the following:

1. Be a nonprofit organization with a 501(c)(3) designation by the IRS
2. Directly serve Brown, Kewaunee or Oconto counties, or be an organization that serves Door County by addressing age-related issues or providing programming for populations age 60 or older
3. Conduct business without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual preference, age, marital status, disability, or national origin

Faith-based organizations are eligible to apply if their services are designed to benefit the broader community, are open to individuals of all faiths, and do not require participation in religious practices such as prayer, worship, or religious education. Programs would focus on community benefit rather than faith conversion.

All applicants should contact our community impact team to confirm eligibility and discuss their proposed project prior to applying.

Types of Grants

Grants will provide funding to contract with a third-party that can assist with capacity-building efforts in the following areas:

Organizational Leadership & Governance

1. Board development and training (ex: recruitment, orientation, duties, responsibilities)
2. Board Members or executive leadership training or coaching

Organizational Planning

1. Strategic planning
2. Marketing, communications, or brand planning
3. Fund development planning
4. Succession planning (executive or board)
5. Risk management
6. Organizational assessments (ex: culture/climate, DEI, financial health)

Technology

1. Setup and initial training of technology platforms replacing outdated or insufficient systems (ex: CRMs, donor management systems)
2. Technology assessments & planning
3. Website overhauls

Organizational Transition/Collaboration Planning

1. Merger
2. Restructuring
3. Joint Venture Project
4. Partnering/Collaboration
5. Dissolution

Grantmaking Criteria

Organizations best suited for this opportunity have annual operating expenses under $3 million. Grants to larger organizations may be considered depending on the scope and impact of the work or if the proposed project involves meaningful collaboration with smaller nonprofits.

Projects will be evaluated on the following criteria. Strong programs will provide:

1. Clarity in the description of the capacity challenge
2. Clarity in the workplan design to address the capacity challenge, including feasibility
3. A brief description of the anticipated results
4. Defined and measurable outcomes
5. An articulated plan to reinforce the gains in capacity
6. Budget clarity and relevance
7. A contract and workplan from the service provider that clearly addresses the capacity challenge.

What We Do Not Fund

• Expenses or consulting work that has already been completed, contracted, or is underway before the grant is awarded.  
• Marketing collateral or strategy execution, such as the development or printing of marketing materials, the development or delivery of advertisements, social media communications or promotion, and annual reports or newsletters
• Independent contractors performing staff functions, such as implementation of development plans, fundraising, or grant writing,
• Capital improvements and expenses associated with capital campaigns, such as feasibility studies
• Attendance at professional conferences
• Staff development trainings or retreats
• Annual appeals, capital campaigns, or other fundraising activities or events
• Individuals
• Endowments
• Debt retirement, debt financing, reduction of operating deficit or replenishment of resources used to pay for such purposes
• Lobbying or legislative activities
• General operating or direct service program support
• Projects that add to staff member or provide board member  compensation
• Organizations who seek funding to disburse to a secondary nonprofit organization

Apply For a Grant

Apply online by submitting the application, a complete budget, and a third-party service provider work plan. Review the online application questions and requirements, which include this budget form.

Organizations are asked to seek a minimum of two bids from third-party service providers. The selected firm or consultant must provide a written work plan that includes at minimum a description of the services to be performed, expected outcomes, and a fee schedule for the services provided.

The Greater Green Bay Community Foundation does not recommend or endorse any service provider/consultant. For more information on how to identify and work with consultants, please click here. For a list of firms/consultants used by past grantees, please contact our Community Impact Team.

Final Report

We welcome conversation or updates at any point during the grant. Recipients will be contacted by Foundation staff via email near the one-year mark following their award with options for completing a brief final report.

Organizations looking to apply for a new grant before the one-year mark should contact the Community Impact Team to discuss completing their final report prior to submitting a new application.