2026 Application Will Open March 5
Please join us on Thursday, March 5, for the launch of the Foundation’s 2026 capacity-building grant opportunity! The Foundation is partnering with Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital to offer capacity-building grants of up to $10,000 to 20 nonprofits ($200,000 in total) working to advance racially equitable health outcomes in the three zip codes of the South St. Petersburg Community Redevelopment Area (33705, 33711, 33712).
The Capacity Building: Strengthening Organizational Resilience opportunity offers more than just funding alone, however. The 20 nonprofits selected for the 2026 cohort will also participate in a Core Capacity Assessment administered by the Nonprofit Leadership Center (NLC). Using information provided by each nonprofit’s leaders and decision-makers, the Assessment will offer each funded partner custom recommendations for building their organization’s capacity in leadership, adaptability, management, technical capacity, and/or culture.
Sign up now to join us March 5 for a first look at this new opportunity, including timelines, details on how to apply, and more. The event will also feature a discussion with 2025 Foundation capacity-building funded partners to help potential applicants understand what to expect throughout the process and see how other nonprofits were able to build their organizations’ capacity through the grant.
Register Now
What is Capacity Building?
Capacity building is not just about expanding or serving more people. Instead, it is the process of improving a nonprofit’s ability to achieve its mission. By bringing a nonprofit to the next level of operational, programmatic, financial, or administrative maturity, the organization becomes more capable of operating efficiently and effectively. The organization, as a result, becomes more resilient, adaptive to change, and effective.
How Does Capacity Building Strengthen Communities?
Capacity building is not just about strengthening individual organizations; it’s also about creating a
robust, interconnected ecosystem that is resilient, equitable, and innovative. When we build the capacity of our local nonprofits, we’re building our community’s ability to respond to needs and support our local residents. With a stronger nonprofit ecosystem, we can better advance the kind of change that’s needed to create a community in which good health helps all people thrive.
What Are Examples of Capacity Building?
Different nonprofits have different goals and needs and are at different stages of development. As such, capacity-building projects will vary from group to group. Examples of capacity-building can include: purchasing technology or tools to make you more efficient in your work; developing or refining a communications plan; creating or improving a website; attending a conference or other forms of professional development; improving financial practices; planning or gaining skills in fundraising to diversify and strengthen your organization’s revenue, and more.