The Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa is celebrating 60 years in 2016, and to celebrate CFNEIA will be awarding a total of $50,000 specifically for nonprofit capacity building as a special 60^th anniversary grant opportunity. The $50,000 amount will be awarded to one nonprofit or shared between two applicants based on the quality of applications. Organizations must be serving residents of Black Hawk County.

“Since 1956, we have been honored to receive incredible community support that has allowed us to reach this important milestone for our organization,” said Kaye Englin, CFNEIA President and CEO. “We want to address the need for capacity building within nonprofits to help other agencies reach their next 60 years.”

The grant process opened on Sunday, April 24, with a letter of intent qualifying process completed through CFNEIA’s online grant application system. Organizations can submit up to two letters of intent. The deadline to submit letters of intent is June 30. CFNEIA will then invite select organizations to submit a full, comprehensive proposal. The core areas of Community Foundation support are art and culture, community betterment, education, environment, health, historic preservation and human service.

“Through grant applications and conversations with nonprofit leaders, we have identified building capacity as a real area of need for our nonprofit partners,” said Tom Wickersham, CFNEIA Program Director. “This grant opportunity is designed to help agencies become stronger, more effective, and more capable as they move into the future.”

Capacity building projects that will be considered include staff expansion, board and staff training, critical equipment needs, facility improvements, program expansion, strategic planning, technology needs, and other innovative ways to expand capacity.

The capacity building grant is one of two special grant opportunities the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa will be offering as part of its 60th anniversary. Details on the second grant will be released later this year.

For more information, including a specific capacity building definition, procedures and deadlines, eligibility requirements, and to access the application, go to www.cfneia.org/grant60. For questions regarding the grant, contact Tom Wickersham at 319-287-9106 extension 20.

Grant decisions will be announced at CFNEIA’s Celebration of Community event on November 4.