Capacity strengthening funding
McConnell has a long history of supporting capacity strengthening initiatives for the charitable and non-profit sector. We currently support capacity strengthening in two ways:
1) As part of our focus area funding:
Most of our charitable funding is distributed through our Communities, Reconciliation and Climate focus areas. We also recognize that strengthening the capacity of organizations working in those areas is crucial to maintaining the overall health of the organization as well the success of their proposed projects. That is why we encourage applicants to include funding for capacity strengthening activities as a portion of their project application.
How can I apply for capacity strengthening funding as part of my focus area contribution?
Organizations that are invited to submit a stage 2 detailed proposal may include capacity strengthening activities within their overall budget. We encourage you to discuss this opportunity with your program staff contact as you undergo the due diligence process. Some examples of capacity strengthening activities include, but are not limited to, funds to support leadership and staff professional development, to advance equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility (EDIA) and reconciliation within their organization, develop or implement an emissions reduction plan, or project-specific training.
For more guidance on integrating capacity strengthening elements into focus area proposals please refer to our Funding and Partnerships Guide.
2) Initiatives that benefit the sector:
Note: Funding for initiatives benefiting the sector is limited to approximately two contributions per year. As a result, we currently work closely with partners to collaborate on funding opportunities. We are not accepting applications for this funding area at this time
We also fund initiatives and organizations that provide services for the non-profit and charitable sectors as a whole. These initiatives are not typically aligned with our focus areas. Examples include funding for the development of public policy that strengthens the sector, or support for field-building and market development in social finance or impact investing.
