Our Multi-Year General Operating Support Program is rooted in the belief that strong, resilient nonprofits are vital to improving health outcomes in our region. By providing sustained, flexible funding, we aim to empower organizations to innovate, adapt, and create lasting positive change for the 52,000+ residents we collectively serve. We recognize that nonprofits need flexible funding to respond quickly to emerging community needs, invest in staff development, and strengthen organizational infrastructure.
Grant Program Details
Our aim is to provide annual grants through this program that represent approximately 10% of each organization’s five-year average operating budget. While this is our aim, we recognize that we may not be able to meet this benchmark with all grantee partners in the program. Grant amounts for all organizations will be determined with each individual organization.
Nonprofit partners in this program will receive five years of general operating support for the 2025-2030 funded period, reflecting our belief that transformational change requires sustained investment.
Selection Process Timeline
September 23 | Application Deadline
October 4 | Applicants learn if they’ve been selected for Stage 2
October 4 – 18 | Stage 2 Interviews
October 25 | Applicants learn if they’ve been selected for Stage 3
November 8 | Stage 3 Final Application Due
November 18 – 22 | Stage 3 Site Visits
December 13 | Decisions Announced
January 1 | Funded Period Begins
Please Note: Any organization that completes Stage 3 and is not selected as a grantee, will receive a modest grant to acknowledge the time and resources put towards the application process.
Photo by Sarah Kenyon.
Connect with Natashea
Contact Natashea to learn more about the finer details of the program.
Eligibility & Application Requirements
To be considered for our Multi-Year General Operating Support Program organizations must meet the following criteria:
- Be a 501(c)3 organization
- Demonstrate a strong geographic focus on FCH’s community
- Have a mission and activities that are aligned with our funding interests
- Do not currently benefit from a multi-year general operating grant from FCH
- Attend one of our Information Sessions
Information Sessions
Participation in one of our eight scheduled Information Sessions is a prerequisite for application consideration. These sessions are designed to:
- Provide a comprehensive overview of our program goals and selection criteria
- Offer an opportunity for discussion, questions, and clarifications
- Establish initial connections between applicants and our team
Our experience has shown that organizations that attend information sessions gain a clearer understanding of a program’s requirements and what information we’re seeking.
Please note: We will not consider applications from organizations that have not had a member of their staff participate in an Information Session. This requirement ensures all applicants have equal access to program details and expectations.
Information Sessions for this grant program have concluded.
Our Selection Process
At FCH, we believe in fostering strong, lasting partnerships with our nonprofit partners. Our Multi-Year General Operating Support Program reflects this commitment through a thoughtful, step-by-step selection process designed to respect your time and energy, while allowing us to get to each other better. Here’s how our process unfolds:
Key Information:
- Deadline: Monday, September 23rd
- Applicants must have participated in one of eight scheduled information sessions
- Application primarily requests information regarding your organization’s mission and geographic focus
What’s Involved: After attending an Information Session, organizations will be invited to submit a brief application through our online portal that focuses on your organization’s mission, activities, and geographic scope. It is also at this time we’ll ask for your current operating budget. Curious about our questions? This application can be previewed here.
Purpose: To get an initial snapshot of your work and understand your organization’s focus strategically and geographically.
Key Information:
- Organizations will know if they’ve been selected for an interview no later than October 4th
- Interviews will be recorded on Zoom for 1-hour
- Interviews will be with Nancy and Natashea (FCH’s CEO and FCH’s Director of Programs & Learning)
- Executive Directors are welcome to invite additional members of their team to participate
What’s Involved: A one-hour interview, held via Zoom will be scheduled with a select number of organizations that submit a Stage 1 Application. During our conversation, we’ll look to understand a bit more about your organization’s work with questions that lend themselves better to conversation – including strategic questions your grappling with or how you’ve approached program development as an organization. Curious about what we’ll ask? Questions for our Stage 2 Interviews can be found here.
Purpose: To dive deeper into your vision and understand how you approach your work.
Key Information:
- Organizations will be selected for Stage 3 no later than October 25th
- Deadline: The final application is due November 8th
- Site Visits will be scheduled the week of November 18th (hold that week if your calendar fills quickly!)
- Site Visits will be with Nancy and Natashea (FCH’s CEO and FCH’s Director of Programs & Learning)
- Site visits will be co-created between FCH and each finalist organization, FCH will have standard questions across all site visits (sent in advance) building on information shared in the interviews and the final application
What’s Involved: The third stage of our process includes two parts 1) a final application through our online portal and 2) a site visit. Site visits will take place the week of November 18th. Site visits will include some structured time for discussion (with questions sent in advance) but are also meant to be co-created between FCH and prospective grantees and give prospective grantees an opportunity to highlight specific programs, initiatives, or other aspects of their work. The final application (submitted in advance of the site visit) will ask for details about your organization’s human and financial resources. Curious about our questions? This application can be previewed here.
Purpose: Details provided in the final application will give us a sense of the organization’s resources, the organization’s current and historical financial health, and how staff and board are leveraged to advance the mission of the organization. The site visit allows us to gain a deeper understanding of your organization beyond what we’ve learned from your application and previous conversations. During our visit, we’ll be engaging in more in-depth discussions about your programs, operations, and strategic direction. The site visit is also an opportunity for you to ask us questions and explore how this potential partnership could support your goals. At this stage, questions will be unique to each individual site visit, but will be sent in advance of each organization’s scheduled site visit.
Selection Criteria
We recognize that every organization has its own unique path of growth and development. We’re interested in understanding where you are in your journey and where you’re headed. Here are the areas we’ll explore:
Mission, Strategy & Adaptability
We value organizations that are proactive and self-aware. We’re interested in learning how you:
- Monitor and assess your effectiveness: Understanding your strengths and areas for improvement.
- Identify internal opportunities for growth: Exploring ways to enhance your operations and programs.
- Recognize external opportunities: Staying attuned to your environment and considering new possibilities.
Financial & Human Resources
We understand that an organization’s strength is reflected in both its financial approach and its people. We’re interested in understanding:
- Your revenue sources: How you’ve developed your funding mix, considering your size and scope.
- Your experience with unrestricted funding: We’re particularly interested in organizations that have had limited access to flexible funding.
- Board engagement: How your board’s involvement aligns with and supports your organizational needs and goals.
- Staff development: Your approach to organizing your team and nurturing talent.
Opportunity for Growth
We’re excited to learn about the new stages of development you envision for your organization. This could involve:
- Program evolution: Enhancing services, evaluation methods, community engagement, or partnerships.
- Leadership and staffing changes: Bringing in new talent or developing existing team members.
- Organizational restructuring: Adapting your structure to better serve your mission.
- Shifts in revenue: Exploring new funding avenues or navigating changes in your financial landscape.
- Or something else entirely! We’re open to hearing about the unique ways your organization is evolving.
We recognize that growth and change can take many forms and that organizations may be further along in some areas than others. We’re looking for partners who are thoughtful about their evolution and ready to make the most of new opportunities.
Remember, we’re interested in understanding your organization’s unique story – where you’ve been, where you are now, and where you’re headed.