$140,000 in capacity building grants goes to 12 nonprofits

From keeping critical technology and equipment up to date to training staff to work even more effectively, investing in internal infrastructure is an essential strategy for ensuring a nonprofit’s ability to meet its mission. Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants, which the Quad Cities Community Foundation makes twice a year, represent just such investments. Helping organizations address specific operational needs and opportunities through time-limited projects, these grants help nonprofits advance in areas like collaboration, data management, equity, financial management, and many others.

This fall, the Community Foundation is awarding capacity building grants totaling nearly $140,000 to 12 local nonprofits. Ranging from $1,500 to $15,000 and funding capacity building projects for one to three years, this cycle’s grants will go to organizations providing a broad variety of services in the bi-state region.

The grants are made possible thanks to donors who gift to the Quad Cities Community Impact Fund at the Community Foundation, which provides annual grant support for the most pressing needs and promising opportunities in the Quad Cities region. You can give to that fund here.

“The work that these nonprofits do is invaluable to so many members of our community, and we’re proud to be able to help them further it,” said Kelly Thompson, vice president of grantmaking and community initiatives. “When organizations build their capacity, they don’t just strengthen their ability to deliver existing programs and services—they also lay a foundation for risk-taking and innovation, expanding what’s possible.”

The Youth Service Bureau of Rock Island County will use its $11,200 Nonprofit Capacity Building Grant to invest in upgrading technology that’s central to its program delivery, providing counselors with new laptops they can use to run effective telehealth sessions with clients from home.

Other recipients will focus on training. The Midwest Animal Assisted Therapy and Education Organization, for example, will receive $14,594 over two years to provide training for two staff members who are veterans to become certified dog trainers. Expanding the organization’s ability to reach a veteran population in need of these services to help alleviate the disabilities they acquired while serving their country, the training will allow those two staff members to help other veterans train their own service dogs in turn. 

Spring Forward Learning Center will use its $15,000 grant over the course of three years to ensure the organization’s long-term sustainability by establishing a succession plan for key leadership roles, documenting policies and procedures, and upskilling current staff to position them to become future leaders.

The following nonprofits received fall 2021 Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants:

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley, for a MatchForce/SalesForce integration project—$13,000

  • Child Abuse Council, for a branding study to improve CAC's mission, strategy, and program delivery—$15,000

  • Christian Family Care Center & Rock Island Rescue Mission, for technology and planning upgrades to improve agency efficiency and service delivery—$7,753

  • Cornbelt Running Club dba Bix 7, for critical equipment needs and technology upgrades to improve Bix 7's safety and event delivery—$1,500

  • Figge Art Museum, for digitalization and microsite of the Figge’s approximately 5,000-piece permanent collection—$13,860

  • Hand in Hand, for critical equipment and technology for Pre-K expansion—$15,000

  • Midwest Animal Assisted Therapy and Education Organization, for staff training for veterans to train service dogs—$14,594

  • NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley, for board training and technology upgrades to improve NAMI GMV's partnership development and fundraising—$14,300

  • Quad Cities Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees, for technology and software upgrade to support services expansion—$8,863

  • Spring Forward Learning Center, for succession planning to assure Spring Forward’s long-term sustainability—$15,000

  • Tapestry Farms, for strategic and fundraising planning to help Tapestry Farms serve more refugees—$9,500

  • Youth Service Bureau of Rock Island County, for critical equipment and technology upgrades to improve YSB's communication capacity and program delivery—$11,199.92

Eric McDowellNonprofit Capacity Building Grant