The Connecticut Community Foundation is accepting applications to help organizations invest in vital building blocks creates a strong operational infrastructure that builds efficiencies, improves program delivery and increases overall impact.

Nonprofits need certain capacities to be able to meet their missions, including strong leadership, financial management, technology, fund development and communications.

Their approach focuses on:

• Funding key capacity building and organizational development initiatives that lead to stronger, more adaptable organizations.
• Empowering nonprofits to seek assistance that they deem to be the right fit and culturally-competent for the organization
• Prioritizing organizations who are addressing disparities within their communities
• Rejecting “readiness” myths which often further inequities in philanthropy and the nonprofit sector

Efforts they support include:

• Training and professional development opportunities to help staff or board build skills
• One-on-one coaching support with an expert in the field or professional consultant
• Organizational development projects including strategic planning, financial management systems, evaluation, fundraising, programming or communications.
• Work that increases the inclusive representation of BIPOC individuals in leadership positions on boards and nonprofit staff

Criteria

In order to apply for funding, an organization must:

• Be a not-for-profit organization recognized under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a municipal entity seeking a grant for public purposes. Organizations may also have a nonprofit fiscal sponsor, if they do not have their own nonprofit status.
• Have a board, representative of the community, of which a majority is neither employees nor relatives of employees.
• Possess a Nonprofit Registration to Solicit Funds (or exemption, if appropriate) from the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. This registration must be renewed annually.

They encourage requests that:

• Provide services or support to the communities located within their 21-town service area
• Support system change and advocacy efforts
• Include support for core nonprofit operations such as staff time, overhead and evaluation
• Support organizations led by Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC)

For more information, visit Connecticut Community Foundation.