Sacramento Region Community Foundation

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Capacity Building Micro Grants

The Sacramento Region Community Foundation provides Capacity Building Micro Grants to respond to the immediate capacity building needs of nonprofits in the Sacramento region.

Learn about this program's evolution from our Immediate Need Grants funding opportunity

Capacity Building Micro Grants are available to qualifying nonprofit organizations serving one or more counties in the four-county region of Sacramento, Placer, Yolo and El Dorado. Only one proposal per organization will be considered per round, and award amounts will range from $1,000 to $5,000.

This grant opportunity is closed.

Please note that the requirements articulated below were developed for a previous round of the grant opportunity. Details for future rounds may differ.

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  • Maintain tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
  • Service the four-county region of Sacramento, El Dorado, Yolo and Placer
  • Have a current profile on the region’s nonprofit database, GivingEdge
    • If your organization is selected for funding, you must have a current profile on GivingEdge, the Foundation’s online knowledgebase for nonprofits
    • If you do not currently have a profile, you must apply during open enrollment, May through September
  • Have an annual organizational budget ranging from $50,000 to $750,000
  • Have not received a Capacity Building Micro Grant in the current calendar year (January to December)
    • Organizations that apply in round one, may apply again in subsequent rounds if they were not awarded a grant in previous rounds

Capacity Building Micro Grants provide support to Sacramento region nonprofits to create and/or expand capacity building activities that strengthen the organization's ability to fulfill its mission and build long-term organizational sustainability.

If applying for funding, the organization must demonstrate an immediate need for capacity building efforts (i.e. significant organizational transitions such as major shifts in funding sources, or rapid growth) that would greatly impact your organization's ability to serve the community.

Supported capacity building projects include (but are not limited to):

  • Strategic planning

  • Board development

  • Communications planning

  • Development and fundraising planning, implementation and training

  • Technology, network and information technology planning, and implementation

  • Succession planning

  • Nonprofit financials

  • Consultant expenses

  • Leadership development

Capacity building grants cannot be use for:

  • Expansion of existing program capacity
  • Program expansion
  • Funding for individuals
  • Annual appeals
  • Capital campaigns
  • Sponsorships
  • Scholarships
  • Lobbying

Priority consideration will be given to those applicants that:

Immediate Need Identification

  • Effectively state how this Capacity Building Micro Grant will advance and strengthen your organization’s ability to fulfill its mission in an effective manner
  • Provide services in one or multiple counties within the Foundation’s service area: Sacramento, Yolo, Placer, and/or El Dorado counties
  • Provide reasonable explanation as to why the capacity building need is time sensitive and requires a grant decision within the next 60 days
  • Reflect clear purpose and meets the mission of your organization
  • Incorporate clear and measurable objectives that directly address the stated need
  • Align with the mission of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation and grant priorities

Proposal Request (as outlined in the application)

  • Possess a sound, practical, and effective strategy with built-in evaluative measures for continuous quality improvement
  • Demonstrate past fiscal responsibility with no significant budget deficits or cash-flow issues (if you do not yet have a GivingEdge profile, a request for an operating budget may be required)