2026 Capacity Building Grants are now open!
Overview
ACT supports and encourages nonprofit excellence and strengthens leadership within nonprofits by investing in organizational needs. ACT has invested more than $2M in capacity-building grants to Alexandria nonprofits since 2005.
In light of our commitment to equity, ACT has adopted a trust-based approach to grantmaking that breaks down the traditional power dynamic between funder and grantee and begins to create a collaborative environment that supports listening, learning, and true partnership. We believe it will enable ACT to be more nimble and responsive to needs that arise.
ACT is pleased to announce our 2026 capacity building grants will focus on organizations supporting Alexandria’s youth workforce and career readiness ecosystem. As we seek to advance Economic Well-Being, we recognize the importance of strengthening the resilience of organizations helping Alexandria’s young people find fulfilling careers, meaningful employment opportunities, and equitable pathways to success.
The application process will open on October 14 and close on November 14.
For more information, view the recording and/or slideshow of ACT’s Capacity Building Grant Information Session.
Ready to get started? Interested organizations are encouraged to apply for funding before the deadline on November 14.
Please note – the application must be completed in Foundant, ACT’s grant management system.
Additional questions can be sent to grants@actforalexandria.org.
FAQs
What is a capacity building grant?
- A capacity building grant is designed to help a nonprofit develop competencies, strategies, systems, and structures to improve organizational effectiveness and resilience.
- The aim of a capacity building grant is to strengthen an organization to grow its impact and accomplish its mission and goals.
- These grants are meant to aid development at a structural and organizational level, they are not intended to cover general operating expenses nor provide on-going programmatic support.
- When capacity building is successful, it strengthens a nonprofit’s ability to deliver on its mission over time, thereby enhancing the nonprofit’s ability to have a positive impact on lives and communities.
What are the capacity building priorities for 2026?
- ACT will fund projects focused on investing in leaders, teams and operations to build organizational resilience. Sample requests include:
- Executive, team and/or board member coaching
- Sabbaticals and operational support, including bonus/salary support for interim leadership
- Succession planning
- Planning for resilience – understanding organizational culture, assessing staff burnout and turnover and how to address these challenges
- Planning for right-sizing the organization
- Scenario planning and risk management
- Professional development and training, building team culture and understanding how to work better together
Who is eligible to apply?
- Organizations must have a 501c3 or be fiscally sponsored by a 501c3 organization.
- Organizations with a mission and programmatic work that supports youth workforce development and career readiness.
- Organizations must serve Alexandria.
- If the organization serves the broader region or isn’t solely focused on Alexandria, the capacity building request must demonstrate how the grant will have an impact on Alexandrians.
- Organization must support one of the key priorities of ACT’s strategic plan – Economic Wellbeing.
What are ACT’s strategic planning priorities?
- Support Economic Well-Being
- Career Pathways for Young People
- Economic Mobility – programs and supports that enable families to sustainably address the high cost of living in Alexandria – such as workforce development, entrepreneurship, homeownership, childcare, etc.
Organizations can also complete this checklist to determine if they should apply:
- Serves the geographic area of Alexandria – City of and Fairfax County Alexandria
- Mission and programmatic work supports youth workforce development and career readiness
- Demonstrates a commitment to organization wellbeing and staff wellness
- Using funding solely for capacity building project related to investing in leadership to build organizational resilience
- Is a 501c3 or fiscally sponsored by a 501c3 organization
- Will expend grant funds during the period of January – December 2026
- Will participate in one grantee convening in 2026 and conversation with ACT staff in 2026
- Agrees to share the impact and learnings from the capacity building grant in February 2027 in the form of a written report, conversation, or video format, as selected by the nonprofit
What is the grant timeline?
- Application opens – October 14
- Information session – October 16
- Application deadline – November 14
- Grant Review Committee meets – Early December
- Grant award notifications and agreements – Mid December
- Grants awarded – January 2026
How much funding is available, how much can I apply for and how many grants do you anticipate awarding?
- ACT will invest $50,000 in capacity building grants.
- Organizations can request up to $10,000 and we anticipate 5 awardees. Please note this will be a very competitive grant process and organizations must align with ACT’s strategic planning priority of Supporting Economic Wellbeing.
How often does ACT offer capacity building grants?
- ACT anticipates offering capacity building grants on an annual basis.
How do I apply?
- Visit Foundant, ACT’s grant management system: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=actforalexandria. Organizations must create an account to apply for a grant. The application will be live on October 8.
What is trust-based philanthropy?
- The trust-based philanthropy movement is reimagining the role funders can have in building a more just and equitable society. The goal is to create mutual accountability between funders and nonprofits. We want to change the power dynamics and structural barriers that can often get in the way of nonprofits achieving their intended impact.
- We believe our philanthropy will be more strategic, rewarding and impactful when we approach our relationships with nonprofit partners from a place of trust and collaboration rather than compliance and control.
- The trust-based framework encompasses 6 practices. While we are not in a place to practice all of them right now, our proposed grant process aims to simplify and streamline paperwork by taking a more relational approach which will ultimately save time for the nonprofit and help us gain a deeper understanding of the work through deeper and more interactive relationships with nonprofits.
What is racial equity*?
- Racial equity is the condition that would be achieved if one’s racial identity no longer predicts one’s life outcomes. When we use the term, we are thinking about racial equity as one part of racial justice, and thus we also include work to address root causes of inequities, not just their manifestation. This includes elimination of policies, practices, attitudes and cultural messages that reinforce differential outcomes by race or fail to eliminate them. Racial equity is both a process and an outcome. As a process, we apply a racial equity lens when those most directly impacted by structural racism are meaningfully involved in creating, implementing, and evaluating the policies and practices that affect their lives. As an outcome, racial equity is when we achieve equal outcomes across all Alexandria racial groups.
What is systemic racism*?
- This is an interlocking and reciprocal relationship between the individual, institutional and structural levels which function as a system of racism. These various levels of racism operate together in a lockstep model and function together as a whole system. These levels are:
- Individual (within interactions between people)
- Institutional (within institutions and systems of power)
- Structural or societal (among institutions and across society)
Where can I find additional resources on racial equity?
- City of Alexandria Race & Social Equity Office – https://www.alexandriava.gov/Equity
- Meyer Foundation Racial Equity Toolkit – https://meyerfoundation.org/racial-equity-toolkit/
- *Additional glossary of terms – https://www.alexandriava.gov/equity/race-and-social-equity-definitions and https://www.racialequitytools.org/glossary
Where can I find resources on resilience? This is a list curated from Heather Jelks from Nautilus Coaching & Consulting.
- What It Takes to Heal
- Resilient Leadership 2.0
- The Eight Concepts of Bowen Theory
- Resilient Leadership for Turbulent Times
- Missing Conversations: 9 Questions All Leaders Should Ask Themselves
- The Thin Book of Trust
- Podcast: Resilient Leadership
- Perseverance (a collection of essays)
What if I have additional questions?
- Please email grants@actforalexandria.org or call 703-739-7778 to make an appointment.
Previous Grant Opportunities
ACT for Alexandria’s grantmaking continues to evolve based on the needs and challenges in our community. Check out our Past Grant Programs to learn more about ACT’s recent investments to support Alexandrians!
