Triangle Capacity-Building Network Grant

Currently closed until 2026.

Para la versión en español de la solicitud de propuestas (RFP, por sus siglas en inglés) haga clic aquí.

Triangle Capacity-Building Network’s (TCBN) program and grantmaking strategy focuses on
shifting power and providing financial resources to organizations led by and serving people of color.
Our strategy is informed by both nonprofit data about access to capital and an acknowledgement of
how past injustices manifest in present-day disparities. Data has shown that nonprofit organizations led
by executive directors of color face additional challenges to accessing capital compared to peer
organizations with white leaders. (Building Movement Project: Race to Lead; Echoing Green; Nonprofit
Finance Fund).

Guiding Values

The nonprofit Advisory Committee will:

• Lead in identifying grantee selection and overall program investment strategies. TCBN will
  invite proposals and make grants to a variety of recipient organizations or networks based on
  specific guidelines that have emerged through the participatory grantmaking process; as well
  as make investments in resources that build the capacity of organizations led by people of
  color across the Triangle.
• Practice trust-based philanthropy, including flexible funding and minimizing reporting and
  information gathering burden on grantees.
• Put equity front and center. Inequities are often exacerbated in times of crisis, and we are
  committed to supporting communities most impacted by the pandemic, inflation, and
  potential economic recession.

Grantmaking

This year, the funding cycle will provide:

• Multi-year Funding: TCBN will award multi-year grants of $25,000 each year over three years (for
  a total of $75,000), to 15 organizations led by people of color.
• Professional Development Funds: TCBN will award each funded organization an additional
  $1,000 stipend annually to participate in professional development opportunities that align
  with their mission and specific organizational needs.
• Self-Care Funds: TCBN will award each funded organization an additional $1,000 stipend
  annually to participate in self-care activities that align with their specific organizational needs.

To read about additional examples of adaptive capacity and innovation areas of support, click here.

Eligibility | Applications | Scope |Information Sessions |Timeline | Evaluation Criteria |Reporting;

Eligibility

• Must be Triangle-based and serving Wake, Durham, Orange, and/or Chatham counties.
• Must be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, religious congregation, or work under fiscal
  sponsorship of 501c3. Government agencies and universities are ineligible for this opportunity.
• Must be an organization led by and serving people of color as defined as:
  • Executive Director identifies as a person of color
  • Over 50 percent of senior staff identify as people of color (even if your ED is not)
  • Over 50 percent of your Board of Directors identify as people of color
• In addition to one or more of the three criteria above, over 50 percent of your service recipients must identify as people of color
• Must abide by the Foundation’s non-discrimination policy 
• Priority will be given to organizations that include the perspectives of those with lived experience in the work

Note: A maximum of 15 percent of available funding will go to organizations that have a budget of over
$1 million; 85 percent will go to organizations with budgets up to $1 million.

Scope

We encourage organizations to focus on one capacity-building project per year of funding. TCBN
acknowledges that capacity building is continuous and may not fit cleanly into one year of funding. It is acceptable for the project period to be more than 12 months. Subsequent-year funding may be used to build upon the initial capacity-building project or use funding for additional capacity-building needs. To view scope of project examples please click here.

Applications

All application materials can be accessed by clicking the “Apply” button below, creating a profile (or logging in to your organization’s existing profile), and selecting the “Triangle Capacity-Building Network Grant” process on the application dashboard.

To view application materials before creating a profile, please click the links below.

Application Questions: English | Spanish

Evaluation Questions: English | Spanish

Information Session

To learn more about Triangle Capacity-Building Network, please click here. Please click here to view the recording from our information session held on January 18, 2023..

Timeline

• Grant Period: June 1, 2023 – May 31, 2026
• Applications Accepted: January 9, 2023 – February 19, 2023
• Finalist Decision Notification: Mid-April 2023
• Grantees Selected: Mid-May 2023
• Final Grantee Notification & Grants Disbursed: May 2023
• Grantee Cohort Convenings: TBD. Will be held quarterly or bi-monthly determined by feedback from grantees.

Evaluation Criteria

• Meets eligibility requirements.
• Sufficient information provided in application to make informed decision.
• Organization includes the perspectives of those with lived experience in the work.
• Strength of proposal in addressing capacity needs.
• Level of impact this funding will have on the community and the organization.

Reporting

Grantees will participate in an annual interim check-in with TCBN. Grantees will also be required to submit a final report at the end of the grant cycle (May 2026).