We define organizational health as the ability of an organization to function effectively, cope adequately, change appropriately, and grow from within. Our objectives are to increase the stability, effectiveness, and resilience of nonprofits, to meet mission and community need, and to increase the capacity of smaller agencies.
Through the Capacity Building Grant Program, FCH will accept requests for needs related to organizational capacity. All grants approved through this program are unrestricted.
Our approach focuses on holistic organizational development, recognizing that true impact requires agencies to evolve their structures, processes, and capabilities continuously. By investing in an organization’s health—spanning areas like governance, strategic planning, infrastructure, and human resources—we aim to increase nonprofits’ long-term stability, resilience, and capacity to meet community needs.
Based on our nonprofit partner feedback, FCH now accepts applications to the Capacity Building Grant Program through one annual grant cycle. Organizations can request up to $30,000. The application is open and available at the beginning of each year.
Grant Program Details
Eligibility
To qualify, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
- Be a 501(c)3 organization or initiative operating under a 501(c)3 fiscal sponsor
- Serve one or more towns within FCH’s service area
- Have a mission and programs aligned with the foundation’s funding priorities
- Have completed at least one full calendar year of operational service delivery
- Provide a significant portion of services to residents in FCH’s catchment area through strategies specific to these communities. Statewide or national organizations whose strategies are not place-based in FCH’s service area are not eligible.
Note: Organizations currently receiving general operating support from FCH are not eligible for this program.
Application Process
Step 1: Eligibility Screening (Due March 31) Complete a brief eligibility form to confirm your organization serves FCH’s geographic area and aligns with our mission and funding priorities.
Step 2: Pre-Application Meeting (Completed by April 10) If eligible, you’ll schedule a short meeting (10-20 minutes) with our team. This conversation helps us both determine whether your request is a fit for capacity building funding. We’ll send you the questions in advance so you can come prepared and we can make the best use of your time.
Not every organization will move forward to a full application after this conversation, and that’s okay—we’d rather figure out the right fit now than have you spend time on an application that won’t work out.
Step 3: Submit Your Application (Due April 30) If we determine together that your request is capacity-building focused, you’ll receive access to the full application where you can provide details about your organizational development needs and plans.
Review Criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on:
Alignment with FCH’s Funding Interests:
- Does the organization focus on improving health issues or the conditions required for health and well-being in our community?
- Does the organization use indicators of community health and well-being to measure its performance or success?
Organizational Capacity Needs & Readiness:
- Does the request clearly address an organizational health need as identified by the applicant?
- Is there strong alignment between the proposed use of funds and the organization’s capacity-building goals?
- Is the organization prepared to undertake the proposed capacity-building work?
Priority will be given to small organizations with annual operating budgets at or under $500,000.
Connect with Sarah
Reach out to Sarah with questions about the application process.
Photo by Sarah Kenyon.
Connect with Natashea
Contact Natashea with questions regarding eligibility, strength of proposal, or any other big picture inquiries.
Upcoming Information Sessions
These brief 30-45 minute sessions provide an overview of the grant program and an opportunity for you to ask questions you may have about the application process, reporting, or what FCH staff consider when reviewing requests.
FCH’s Program Lead, Sarah Allyn, will share details about the Capacity Building Grant Program, including:
- Program Overview & Details (e.g. objectives, important dates)
- Eligibility Criteria for Organizations
- What FCH will consider when reviewing applications and making funding decisions
- Application Requirements
- Reporting Requirements
The info session’s dates and times are:
Tuesday, February 10th 10:00am – 10:45am
Friday, March 6th 2:00pm – 2:45pm
Register for an Info Session:
FAQ
We’re here to help you understand the Capacity Building Grant Program. Whether you’re wondering about approval criteria, how funds are allocated, or what your organization can request in your application, you’ll find our answers to frequently asked questions below. We hope these FAQs serve as a helpful resource as you explore this funding opportunity.
All grants provided through the Capacity Building Grant Program are unrestricted. This is based on our belief that nonprofit leaders know what their organization needs to function effectively. Within the application you’ll have the opportunity to detail your intentions and/or plans during the funded period to improve your work, however if these plans change, you have the flexibility to utilize the funds where they are most needed.
Apart from meeting eligibility requirements for the program, approved grant requests articulate an organization’s efforts to improve the way they function or operate. Common features, include, but are not excluded to:
- Information about current operational challenges
- Evidence of previous efforts to enhance organizational functioning
- Ways in which the organization wants to improve its operations during the funded period
- Specific, measurable intended outcomes
- Thoughtful analysis of potential change management challenges
To summarize, this program is for organizations that are in or entering a period of concerted effort to improve the way they function – this work can span many functional areas of an organization, such as governance, financial operations and management, fund development, staff, infrastructure, client engagement, organizational strategy and adaptability (and more!). Sometimes the improvement process may involve planning, experimentation, evaluation, strategic partnerships and other approaches.
No. While organizations often seek external facilitation for strategic planning or other processes, hiring a consultant is not a requirement of the grant program. The Capacity Building Grant Program supports various approaches to organizational improvement, which may or may not involve external consultants.
Yes. This program values organizations in the exploration phase. We’re interested in:
- Your strategic questions about organizational development
- Your ideas for potential improvements
- Your vision for the organization’s future
- Your learning process and approach to change
Don’t worry about having a fully formed plan. Share your questions, hunches, and ideas you are grappling with, of what you want to try and why.
FCH Staff can:
- Help generate strategic questions for your proposal
- Collaborate to develop and refine your application
- Suggest potentially beneficial processes
- Connect you with organizations with similar experiences
This is an unrestricted grant, but we do not approve requests specifically for programmatic work. The purpose of the Capacity Building Grant Program is to support organizational improvements – which almost always benefit programs or services. Approved requests must focus on:
- Enhancing organizational functioning
- Changing how the organization operates
- Improving systemic processes and infrastructure
While the grant’s impact may touch programmatic areas, the request cannot be solely about program-specific activities.
Starting in 2026, we’ve updated our application process to include three steps:
- Complete a brief eligibility screening form
- Participate in a short pre-application meeting with FCH staff (if eligible)
- Submit a full application (if your request aligns with capacity building)
We made this change based on feedback from nonprofit partners. This stepped approach helps us both determine fit earlier in the process, ensuring organizations don’t invest time in a full application that may not align with the program’s focus on organizational health and capacity building.
Past Grants
Established in 2021, FCH’s Capacity Building Grant Program has awarded $719,070 to twenty-seven organizations to date. Curious about individual grants made? See details from each cycle to date, below:
Learning and Evaluation
As part of the foundation’s effort to learn and understand the results of this program, grantee partners in the Capacity Building Grant Program will participate in the following learning and evaluation activities:
- Post-Grant Survey at the end of the funding period (estimated 15-20 minutes to complete)
- Post-Grant Check-in with an FCH staff member (45 minutes – 1 hour)
Additionally, grantees that have not previously or recently (more than 5 years) received funding from FCH will be asked to participate in a brief, 30-minute meeting in advance of their grant’s funded period.
Have a question or need additional information? Please reach out or schedule a meeting on Sarah’s calendar to discuss your request. These informal conversations are separate from the required pre-application meeting and can help you determine if this program is right for your organization. We also suggest looking at the Capacity Building Program’s Post-Grant Survey, this can help give prospective applicants insight as to whether or not their request is aligned with the aims of this grant program.