Capacity-building grants invest in the health and sustainability of nonprofit organizations serving Brown, Door, Kewaunee and Oconto counties.  Within each cycle, there are grant dollars specifically allocated to support organizations led by people of color and those serving populations age 60 and older.

Please contact our community impact team to confirm eligibility and to discuss your proposed project.

All applicants must meet the following:

• Be a nonprofit organization with a 501(c)(3) designation by the IRS
• Directly serve Brown, Kewaunee or Oconto counties, or organizations in Door County serving populations age 60 or older
• Conduct business without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual preference, age, marital status, disability, or national origin

Grants will be awarded to assist eligible organizations with dedicated capacity-building efforts. A typical application will involve the cost of hiring third-party expertise.

Examples of such efforts could include:

• Strategic Planning
• Organizational Assessment
• Executive Leadership Training or Coaching
• Board training that enhances organizational capacity (recruitment, orientation, or retention)
• Committee structure (activation, training, responsibilities)
• Financial management oversight training (budgets and financial reporting)
• Fund Development Board/Executive Training and Coaching
• Marketing & Branding Planning
• Website Upgrade
• Development of volunteer recruitment, management, retention best practices

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

• Clarity in the description of the capacity challenge
• Clarity in the work plan design to address the capacity challenge, including feasibility
• A brief description of the anticipated results
• Defined and measurable outcomes
• An articulated plan to reinforce the gains in capacity
• Budget clarity and relevance
• A contract and work plan from the service provider, which clearly addresses the capacity challenge

• Annual appeals, capital campaigns, or other fundraising activities or events
• Religious activities or programs that serve, or appear to serve, specific religious organizations, groups, denominations or beliefs
• Individuals
• Endowments
• Debt retirement, debt financing, reduction of operating deficit or replenishment of resources used to pay for such purposes
• Lobbying or legislative activities
• Capital improvements and expenses associated with capital campaigns, such as feasibility studies
• Expenses or consulting work occurring before the grant is awarded
• Contractors who actually perform the work, as differentiated from consultants who train and teach to build capabilities
• Direct service program support
• Projects that add to staff member or provide board volunteer compensation
• Organizational expenses unrelated to the capacity-building project
• Organizations who seek funding to disburse to a secondary-nonprofit organization

• 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

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.

An acceptable third-party service provider work plan will include at minimum a written document from the service provider/consultant listing the services to be performed, the expected outcomes, and a fee schedule for the services provided.

As a matter of policy, 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.

Spring Cycle
Application Opens: February 1
Application Closes: April 15

Fall Cycle
Application Opens: August 1
Application Closes: October 15

Decisions will be announced within 8-10 weeks of the application deadline.

Prior to completing and submitting a capacity-building grant application please contact Zianya Saldaña to discuss your proposal.

Grant recipients will be required to complete a brief follow-up report at the end of the project or grant period.