Capacity Building Funding Program (United States)

Deadline: 15-May-25

The Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF) invites applications to support foster children, their caregivers, and transitioning foster youth.

The Foundation recognizes that the strength and capacity of the nonprofit organizations and programs serving foster children, their families, and youth are key to the healthy development of foster children and transitioning youth. The Foundation offers this funding opportunity to provide meaningful support that enables nonprofit organizations and programs to strengthen and grow their capacity to serve foster children, their caregivers, and transitioning foster youth.

Funding Information

• Grants generally range from $5,000 to $40,000 and may be multi-year commitments, based on submission of satisfactory progress reports. Grants will not be made for capital, endowments, re-granting activities, or operating costs.

Funding Priorities 

• The Foundation seeks to support projects that will increase the capacity of the organization, the program, or the system in the community to deliver quality services to the clientele described under Eligibility Requirements. Capacity building efforts may address
  • Governance and leadership;
  • Strategic relationships;
  • Evaluation and impact;
  • Resource development;
  • Internal operations and management;
  • Program design, delivery, and evaluation;
  • Executive and key staff transitions; and
  • Staff training.

Eligibility & Requirements 

• Tax-exempt Hawaii organizations are eligible to apply. Organizations may be either 501(c)(3) or religious organizations. Units of government and public schools are not eligible for this funding opportunity. Fiscal sponsorships are not permissible.
• The majority percentage of the organization’s or program’s clientele or project beneficiaries must be:
  • children in the foster custody of a Hawai`i state government agency; children placed by a Hawai`i state government agency in therapeutic foster placement or in kinship, foster, respite, guardianship, permanent custody, or adoptive families; or
  • their caregivers, or
  • current foster youth or young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 who have aged out of the state child welfare or mental health systems.

Review Criteria

• The strongest proposals will be those that meet all or most of the following criteria:
  • Readiness to Build Capacity
    • Organization demonstrates awareness of its strengths and weaknesses.
    • Planning and/or self-assessment have taken place prior to beginning the project.
    • Project is based on a well-considered strategy.
    • Project timing is relevant for the organization’s stage of development.
    • Board supports and is engaged in the project. If the project is program based, upperlevel management supports and is engaged in the project.
    • Organization demonstrates an ability to evolve, learn, and be responsive to change.
  • Integrity of Proposed Project
    • Project is focused and well-defined.
    • Project identifies clear outcomes and measures of success.
    • Appropriate stakeholders are involved in the project.
    • Project budget is adequate, relates to the project narrative, and costs are reasonable.
    • If a consultant is involved in the project, that person is qualified to undertake the project.
  • Potential for Impact of the Project
    • Project will build substantial new capacity within the organization, program, or system.
    • Project positions the organization or system for greater impact in fulfilling its mission.
    • Project must involve an evaluation/measurement component.

For more information, visit HCF.