Nonprofits receive $125,000 in capacity building grants

As the local nonprofit sector grows, organizations need timely support to increase their capacity and sustainably expand their mission in the community. The Quad Cities Community Foundation designed Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants for exactly this reason.

The Community Foundation has announced the recipients of its fall 2024 Capacity Building Grants. Ten local nonprofits have received a total of $125,000 to build and strengthen the systems, structures, cultures, skills, resources, and power that they need to serve their communities.

“The Community Foundation knows that capacity building work is not always visible, but it is critical to nonprofit success,” said Kaleigh Trammell, grantmaking specialist at the Community Foundation. “Donors to our Community Impact Fund make these grants possible. Their generosity allows nonprofits to take that next step forward in growth and additional capacity. Every one of these nonprofits has a mission that brings resources, hope, and opportunity to our region, and capacity building grants provide resources to help them keep their focus on the future.”

The grantees are comprised of a wide range of organizations and focus areas, from arts and culture to healthcare. Capacity building work often involves the creation of a new strategic vision, technology upgrades, and leadership training. Each organization is proactively strengthening its ability to serve the Quad Cities community.

The following nonprofits received fall 2024 Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants:

  • Bettendorf Public Library Foundation: Modernizing online gateway and accessibility—$20,000

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley: Technology investment for fundraising—$6,584

  • Christian Friendliness–YouthHope: IT services and equipment to strengthen infrastructure—$20,000

  • Common Chord: Strategic planning—$20,000

  • Dress for Success Quad Cities: New donor management system for fundraising and data management capacity—$10,936

  • Heart of Hope Ministries: Volunteer management technology upgrade—$5,480

  • Humility Homes and Services, Inc.: Staff training and technology upgrades—$20,000

  • Lead(h)er: Strategic planning—$5,000

  • Love Girls Magazine: Strategic planning and technology upgrades—$5,000

  • Narratives QC: Board development and strategic planning—$12,000

Nonprofit Capacity Building grants are made from the Quad Cities Community Impact Fund, a permanent endowment fund supported by donors from across the region to address high-priority needs and opportunities in the Quad Cities as they arise.

Community Impact Fund grants are also supported by the following charitable funds: the Duncan J. and Dianne R. Cameron Community Impact Fund Endowment, the Elise A. Brett Fund, the Henry and Linda Neuman Community Impact Fund, the Hofmann Family Community Impact Endowment, the Irma L. Jepsen Community Impact Fund, the John & Pat Lujack Community Impact Endowment, the Louise Gerbers Community Impact Fund, the Marsha and Don Pedersen Community Impact Fund, the Mary Hubbell Waterman Community Impact Endowment, the Paul and Beverly Eckert Community Impact Endowment, the Ray and Jill McLaughlin Community Impact Endowment, the Richard and Sally Muller Endowment Fund, the Robert Cowles Community Impact Fund, the Susan S. Skora Community Impact Endowment, and the Wilbert Schaff Community Impact Fund.

To support the fund, you can give online or contact Anne Calder, vice president of development.

Another round of Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants will be awarded in the spring. Letter of interest forms open March 1, 2025. To learn more, visit https://www.qccommunityfoundation.org/nonprofitcapacitybuilding.

Will Van Camp