Washington Capacity Building Grants

The Whidbey Community Foundation (WCF) Capacity-Building Grant program is designed to strengthen the organizational effectiveness of nonprofits operating on Whidbey Island. This aligns directly with WCF's mission to support the foundational strength of these organizations, believing that robust internal capacity directly translates to more effective programs and services for the community. The grants are specifically for one-time projects that address an organization's strategic plan to improve management, governance, and administration, rather than funding direct programmatic improvements. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are nonprofits with charitable status or purpose on Whidbey Island. The overarching impact goal is to enhance the overall effectiveness and sustainability of these organizations. By investing in internal capacity, WCF aims to create a ripple effect, where stronger organizations are better equipped to serve their own beneficiaries and achieve their missions more effectively. The program prioritizes projects that contribute to an organization's long-term health and efficiency. Specific areas of focus include evaluation of core programs, staff or board training, assessment and implementation of technology upgrades, various types of planning (HR, succession, fundraising, financial sustainability), merger planning, and the development and implementation of diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. Projects that are not eligible include operating costs (other than those related to the capacity-building project), expansion of existing programs, creation of new programs, brick-and-mortar projects, endowment campaigns, pass-through grants, or grants to cover lost funding or budget deficits. Expected outcomes include improved organizational management, enhanced governance structures, and more efficient administrative processes. Measurable results could include, for example, a successfully implemented new technology system, a completed strategic HR plan, or a more diverse and inclusive board following training and policy development. The foundation's strategic priority is rooted in a theory of change that posits by strengthening the internal capacity of its grantees, WCF indirectly but powerfully strengthens the vital programs and services these nonprofits provide to the Whidbey Island community. Grants typically range from $1,000 to $10,000, with most falling between $1,000 and $5,000, and the deadline for applications is August 31, 2024.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in South King County that offer emergency shelter services for families experiencing homelessness, focusing on best practices in care and service delivery.

The Washington Emergency Management Division Human Services Program works with Federal, State, and Local partners to support disaster preparedness and recovery for Washington’s individuals, households, and businesses. Programs include: The Individual Assistance Program (IA): IA is the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) program to support individual and business recovery and is authorized through a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration. The IA program has multiple components including cash assistance and crisis counseling, a detailed declaration process and benefits that vary depending on several factors. For more information, please click here. The Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Program: SBA disaster loans are available even without a Presidential Disaster Declaration and are a great tool to provide low-interest loans to individuals, families, businesses and organizations that suffer physical or economic loss due to a disaster or other disruption. For more information, please click here. Limited English Proficiency Program: The LEP program supports language accessibility for individuals, families and businesses by working with state and local governments and community organizations to promote preparedness activities in communities around the state. For more information, please click here. Disaster Resilience, Recovery and Restoration: Disaster Recovery includes both pre-disaster recovery planning and post-disaster recovery to re-envision and restore a community. Technical assistance and information is available for local governments, special districts, and organizations. Please click here for more information.

The Art Project Grants for Organizations program, administered by the Iowa Arts Council within the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), offers financial incentives to various nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations, schools, governmental agencies, and tribal councils. The program's mission aligns with supporting a wide variety of arts-related activities across Iowa, fostering artistic excellence and ensuring service to Iowans. This initiative is a cornerstone of the Iowa Arts Council's 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, prioritizing projects that advance its goals and contribute to the cultural enrichment of the state. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are organizations and institutions located in Iowa or border communities that can demonstrate a commitment to arts experiences and learning opportunities. The program targets projects that create public value for Iowans through deliberate public engagement and access to project activities. Impact goals include promoting artistic excellence, increasing access to arts, and fostering community engagement through various art forms. Eligible projects range from community events, performances, and exhibitions to festivals or workshops dedicated to arts-related activities, ensuring a broad reach across different artistic disciplines and community settings. Priority is given to projects that not only demonstrate artistic excellence but also align with the strategic goals outlined in the Iowa Arts Council's 2022-2026 Strategic Plan. The program focuses on supporting one-time project expenses incurred and expended during the eligible funding period of July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025. This ensures that the funding directly supports new or significantly unique arts initiatives. Furthermore, for annual events or public art projects, applicants must demonstrate uniqueness, change in content from year to year, or broad-based community engagement and programming, respectively, highlighting a focus on dynamic and impactful programming. Expected outcomes include enhanced cultural experiences for Iowans, increased participation in arts activities, and the creation of accessible arts learning opportunities. Measurable results could include the number of individuals reached by projects, the diversity of communities served, the artistic quality of the initiatives, and the alignment of projects with the Iowa Arts Council's strategic plan objectives. The grant amounts, ranging from a minimum request of $2,500 to a maximum of $10,000, are intended to support these project-specific expenses, contributing to the successful implementation and impact of diverse arts programming throughout the state.

The Innovia Foundation has launched the Community Heart & Soul® Program, a resident-driven initiative aimed at strengthening rural communities within its 20-county service area across Idaho and Washington. This program aligns with the foundation's mission to "BUILD COMMUNITY" and "TAKE ACTION" on what matters most to residents. The foundation's strategic priority is to foster local community decision-making, increase volunteerism, encourage investment in community-supported programs, and stimulate economic development. The target beneficiaries are rural communities in the designated 20-county region. The program's impact goals are to increase resident participation in local decision-making, boost volunteer engagement, promote investment in community programs, and drive economic development and downtown revitalization. It also aims to establish community endowment funds, ensuring long-term sustainability and local ownership. The Community Heart & Soul approach is based on three core principles: "Involve Everyone," "Focus On What Matters Most," and "Play The Long Game," reflecting a theory of change that empowers residents to shape their communities' future while preserving their unique character. The program prioritizes communities that can provide a $10,000 local match, demonstrating local commitment and investment. Innovia will award up to ten $30,000 grants to support community-based project coordinators and actions for up to two years. The grant period is from October 1, 2024, to August 31, 2026. The foundation emphasizes an advisory process with local volunteers to ensure that grant opportunities address the evolving needs of the communities they serve. Expected outcomes include a measurable increase in local community decision-making participation, higher volunteer rates, increased investment in community-supported programs and activities, and tangible economic development and downtown revitalization. The establishment of community endowment funds is another key measurable result, indicating sustainable community growth and self-sufficiency. Eligibility requires applicants to be a public charity with 501(c)(3) status, a federally recognized tribe, or a public entity, ensuring that the grants support organizations with a clear charitable purpose and a commitment to the well-being of their communities.

The Emergency Solutions Grants Program (ESG) is a federal block grant authorized by subtitle B of the McKinney Vento Homelessness Assistance Act, funded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, and administered by SD Housing for the State of South Dakota. This program aligns with a mission to combat homelessness and provide emergency shelter and homelessness prevention services. The grant aims to support individuals and households who are currently homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, providing a critical safety net and pathways to stability. The primary target beneficiaries of the ESG program are individuals and households experiencing homelessness or those on the verge of it. The program's impact goals revolve around stabilizing these vulnerable populations and facilitating their rapid re-housing. By offering both short-term and medium-term rental assistance and essential services, the ESG program seeks to prevent the escalation of homelessness and create a more secure living environment for those in need. The ESG program prioritizes several key activities to achieve its objectives. These include street outreach to connect with unsheltered individuals, providing emergency shelter, and implementing homelessness prevention strategies. Additionally, the program focuses on rapid re-housing assistance, which aims to quickly move people from homelessness into permanent housing. The program also supports the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) for data collection and administrative costs to ensure efficient operation. Expected outcomes of the ESG program include a reduction in the number of individuals and families experiencing homelessness, increased access to safe and stable housing, and improved housing stability for at-risk populations. Measurable results could include the number of individuals successfully re-housed, the duration of homelessness experienced by participants, and the number of households prevented from becoming homeless. The underlying strategic priority and theory of change are that by providing immediate assistance, shelter, and re-housing support, the cycle of homelessness can be interrupted, leading to greater self-sufficiency and improved quality of life for the beneficiaries.

The Wyoming Arts Council’s Creative Fellowships program, established in 1986, honors Wyoming's literary artists whose body of work demonstrates exceptional writing. This program is rooted in supporting artistic excellence within the state, aligning with a mission to foster and recognize literary talent. The program is designed to provide financial support and recognition to deserving writers, thereby contributing to the cultural richness of Wyoming. The primary beneficiaries of this fellowship are Wyoming literary artists who are at least 18 years old, not full-time students, US citizens or legal residents, and have been domiciled in Wyoming for at least 20 months in the past two years. The program specifically targets writers in the categories of Poetry, Creative Nonfiction, and Fiction. The impact goal is to empower these artists, enabling them to continue their craft and contribute to the literary landscape, while also elevating Wyoming's artistic profile. The program prioritizes exceptional writing and artistic merit, as applications are juried by noted authors, literary agents, or writing professionals from outside the state. It focuses on identifying and rewarding literary excellence across three distinct categories. A key focus is also on promoting a sense of community among Wyoming writers, as recipients are expected to share their work at one of the three Wyoming literary conferences. Expected outcomes include the continued production of high-quality literary work by Wyoming artists, increased recognition for these artists, and a more vibrant literary community within the state. Measurable results include the awarding of up to three fellowships annually, with each recipient receiving $5,000 upfront. The program also ensures a spread of awards by stipulating that artists cannot receive the fellowship within a four-year period and are limited to two lifetime awards, promoting wider participation and impact.

This program provides financial assistance to owners of historic buildings, non-profits, and community groups in Ellensburg, WA, to help preserve and restore historic properties and murals.

The 2025 Social Services Grants, a collaborative effort between the City of Topeka and United Way of Kaw Valley (UWKV), aim to support critical social services for Topeka residents. These grants are funded through a combination of City General Funds and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds, reflecting a commitment to addressing the community's most pressing needs. The program's mission aligns with supporting vulnerable populations and enhancing the overall well-being of the city, targeting a broad range of social issues through strategic allocation of resources. The grant program prioritizes several key areas to achieve its impact goals. These include senior citizen neighborhood-based programming (meals, activities, transportation), medical assistance for low-income individuals, programs for at-risk youth, emergency housing and utility assistance, neighborhood and independent living services for persons with severe and persistent mental illness, and support services for non-English-speaking residents. The overarching goal is to stabilize lives, prevent emergencies, and provide essential aid to those in crisis, fostering a more resilient and equitable Topeka. Target beneficiaries for these grants are diverse, encompassing the elderly, children, disabled adults, homeless individuals, low-income families, and non-English-speaking residents residing within Topeka city limits. The grants are designed to support programs that either serve all Topekans or specific groups with specialized needs. Expected outcomes include improved access to vital services, enhanced quality of life for vulnerable populations, and reduced instances of hardship and crisis. Measurable results could include the number of individuals served, the types of services provided, and the demonstrated impact on beneficiaries' well-being. Approximately $492,000 will be available for Social Services Grants in 2025, with individual grant requests ranging from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $27,000. Eligible expenses cover operating costs, staff salaries, and direct service costs such as supplies, transportation, childcare, healthcare, substance abuse services, employment services, recreational services, and facility leases. Emergency income payments for shelter (rent, mortgage, utility) are also eligible, provided they do not exceed two months and are paid directly to the provider. Food, however, is not an allowable expense. The program emphasizes a one-year project and budget period for funded initiatives.

This grant provides funding to agricultural professionals and organizations in the Western U.S. to implement educational and demonstration projects that promote the adoption of sustainable farming practices based on previous research findings.

The Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Washington Innovation Fund is a program designed to enhance Washington state's criminal legal system by supporting innovative, sustainable, and data-driven practices. Its overarching goals are to improve community safety, foster collaboration among various sectors, and provide support to victims and individuals involved in the criminal legal system. This aligns with a foundational mission of creating a fair and equitable criminal legal system in Washington that prioritizes these critical areas. The program draws on the Edward Byrne Memorial JAG program, a significant federal source of criminal justice funding, administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), which provides essential resources to state and local jurisdictions for system improvement and community advancement. The target beneficiaries of the JAG Innovation Fund include local governments and private community-based or non-profit agencies that are working to improve the criminal legal system. The program aims to impact community safety directly, enhance support for victims, and strengthen cross-sector collaboration and collective accountability within the system. Ultimately, the expected outcomes include the implementation of more effective and data-informed stewardship of criminal legal system resources, leading to a more just and safer Washington. The JAG Innovation Fund focuses on several key priorities for funding, including organizational or program capacity building, supporting new ideas, projects, or promising practices, enhancing system and community collaborations, and expanding or supplementing existing programs or practices. The program identifies nine specific Purpose Areas to allow for diverse and flexible criminal legal system improvement projects. These areas range from Planning, Evaluation and Technology Improvement to Crime Victim Programming, Support and Advocacy, Community Safety Enhancement, and Corrections, Community Corrections and Re-Entry, among others. Approximately $1,000,000 of JAG funding is dedicated to the Innovation Fund each award cycle, with individual project awards supporting proposals up to $150,000. The funding period for projects is from November 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025. To ensure accountability and community relevance, non-governmental applicants must provide one or more letters of support from a local government unit in the project's jurisdiction, explaining the proposed program's benefits to the local government agency and jurisdiction. This requirement underscores the program's strategic priority of fostering robust community and governmental partnerships as a theory of change for sustainable criminal legal system improvements.

The Construction Loan Program focuses on the activities that repair, replace, or create a facility. A construction loan project may comprise any combination of pre-construction and construction elements. The Public Works Board awarded funding for its most recent construction cycle at its September 8, 2023 meeting. View the full list of awardees and applicants in Box. The Board anticipates opening its next construction funding cycle in Spring 2024. The Public Works Board (Board) is authorized by state statute (RCW 43.155). Its purpose is to loan and grant money to counties, cities, and special purpose districts to repair, replace, or create infrastructure.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations, public service entities, and government agencies serving the residents of Orcas Island, Washington, to enhance community-driven projects during the holiday season.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations and community initiatives in the Walla Walla Valley that promote belonging and regional thriving through capacity, community, and capital projects.

This funding opportunity is designed to support organizations that provide financial education initiatives in Washington State, helping to improve financial literacy among residents.

This program provides funding to eligible early learning facilities, including nonprofits and local governments, to expand and maintain licensed child care spaces for low-income families in Washington State.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Indigenous-led organizations in Washington State to promote environmental justice, community health, and cultural resilience through various initiatives.

This program provides financial support to new and emerging cultural and science organizations in King County, Washington, helping them build sustainable operations and enhance public access to arts and science.

This funding opportunity is designed to strengthen the internal systems and infrastructure of nonprofit organizations serving Whidbey Island, focusing on projects that enhance management, governance, or administrative capacity.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to diaper banks in Washington State that distribute essential baby items, primarily diapers and wipes, to low-income families, with a focus on promoting racial equity and serving marginalized communities.