The Capacity Building Fund
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Capacity Building Fund’s (CBF) geographic focus?

Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

What is the average grant size and range of grants?

Planning Grants are in the range of $2,500 to $5,000 for a three to four (3 to 4) month planning phase, beginning with the mid-fall award date. Grants to implement the plan (12 to 18 months for implementation) have been in the range of $15,000 to $25,000 and are made in the spring.

How many grants are made each year?

Ten to 15 Planning Grants have been awarded and subsequently six to 10 plans have been funded. Please note, there is no capacity to make multiyear awards.

What types of groups are funded?

Groups eligible for funding consist of at least five organizations that want to learn together how to build knowledge and skills (capacity) in order to further both individual organizational goals and the group’s goals. Such groups are called learning networks for the purposes of the CBF.

Who needs to be in the learning network, and what do they need to learn?

The design is up to each network. Examples of why groups might come together include but are not limited to the following:

• The organizations have staff, board members or constituents in similar positions, and they would like these people to further their learning and skills together. (For example, a group of executive directors from a particular city may want to form a learning group). OR
• The organizations recognize an issue of concern that can be better addressed by multiple partners, and they want to learn how to work on that issue together. OR
• The organizations’ missions are the same or very similar (for instance, all groups are focused on developing affordable housing).

Do all the members of the network need to be federally tax-exempt with a 501(c)3 exemption?

No, tax exemption under Section 501(c)3 is not required for application to the CBF. However, if the lead applicant is not a 501(c)3 entity, it must provide sufficient documentation of its mission, membership, budget and internal procedures, and financial controls to assure accountability for any funding received.

What type of activities, organizations and networks will not be funded?

The CBF will not fund a single organization or fewer than five (5) organizations. There will be no funding for general operating, ongoing staffing, program or special projects. Only learning projects defined and developed by the network and that span a 12- to 18-month period will be funded. Large scale, one-time learning events such as a conference, Future Search or Open Space meetings and one-time trainings will not be funded (although attendance for network members can be a line item if the case has been made that the training or large scale event’s content moves the network forward towards its learning goals).

What will grants pay for?

In the planning phase, grants will pay for staff, board time and paid consultant time (for those groups that use a consultant) and other incidentals necessary to create a plan for learning. Implementation Grants can pay for a wide array of line items from materials, travel, staff time, consultant/convener time, meeting expenses and so forth. The coordinating group will be allowed a 10 percent administrative fee.

What if during the planning process original groups drop out or new ones join?

The CBF expects that the planning process may result in changes to the original idea for learning and formation. In fact, a sound planning process should lead to some changes in the original thinking regarding a project. This is why the CBF is funding planning and implementation as separate steps. It is perfectly fine if groups funded for planning come back with a design that calls for a different project coordinator or a somewhat changed set of organizations. We ask for five original groups in the planning phase to ensure that multiple groups are involved in the planning.

Will there be an assessment phase?

All of TSNE’s Mission Effectiveness Programs are assessment based. The CBF will provide a self-assessment tool to planners that will test for readiness and ability to move forward, and will define the common place or platform from which groups are learning. This is so change can be measured (e.g., knowledge and skills gained and, further out, changes resulting from this). Where possible, CBF staff will facilitate the assessment.

How can I learn more about planning a learning network?

The CBF encourages each group to develop its own path for learning and building capacity. We are not asking that you replicate a particular style of learning network, but rather together develop a learning path that will build the capacity of your groups to address a goal of shared concern.

Will previous grantees be able to apply for further funding?

Not at this time. However, the CBF may choose to continue funding for several projects that have learning implications for the broader field of nonprofits and for capacity builders.