The Chesapeake Bay Trust and the Chesapeake Bay Funders Network are excited to announce that the Capacity Building Grant Program is now open!

The Capacity Building Grant Program is an annual program of the Chesapeake Bay Funders Network (CBFN). This program funds key capacity-building strategies vital to establishing a strong base, including (but not limited to) the development of robust financial plans to modify or diversify organizational revenue sources and collaboration among organizations. Collaborative models may range from increased coordination through network development, sharing of back-office support, and/or shared decision-making and resources to full integration of programs, planning, and funding via organizational mergers. Requests to modify or develop more robust organizational financial plans or to investigate and plan for collaborations or mergers among organizations are encouraged.

Grants will be awarded to eligible nonprofit organizations to either a) strengthen their internal capacity, or b) strengthen the capacity of other nonprofit organizations.

Examples of Project Types Include (but are not limited to):

  • Contractual Support to assess organizational effectiveness
  • Developing or refining a strategic plan
  • Developing a stronger and more diverse board
  • Developing the leadership skills of organizational leaders or up-and-coming leaders within the staff
  • Training of management staff
  • Creation of a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) plan
  • And more…

What this funds: This grant program welcomes applications for projects in the state of Maryland. Applicants can request funds from one of the following tracks.

This program can support nonprofit organizations that provide services in the Chesapeake Bay watershed jurisdictions in DE, DC, MD, NY, PA, VA, and WV that have between 1 and 50 employees (at least one staff member must be employed full-time – more than 35 hours per week), a water and/or natural resource-focused component within their mission, and an active Board of Directors.

Application Deadline: July 18th, 2024, at 4:00pm EST.

For more information and to view the Request for Proposals, visit: https://cbtrust.org/grants/capacity-building/

For questions and technical assistance, contact: Kacey Wetzel at kwetzel@cbtrust.org or (410) 974-2941 x104.