The Foundation’s Capacity-Building Initiative builds on our regular grantmaking, which already has provided support for capacity building to a number of grantees. The Initiative’s objective is to increase the Foundation’s commitment to strengthening youth-serving nonprofits in Los Angeles County – helping them achieve their missions by offering grant support for such purposes as staff training, creation of new staff positions such as development director, board training, facilities development and technology purchases. This Initiative’s initial period of operation will be 2007-2009, and it may be renewed or modified after that point.

We're also providing regularly-updated information resources on capacity building on our website, along with a self-assessment instrument for youth-serving agencies (see new Capacity Building section by clicking on Resources).

Beginning this year, the Foundation will convene nonprofits and funders in Southern California on a regular basis, so we can explore together the challenges of capacity building for youth-serving agencies in our region (we had several convenings in 2006, and acknowledge the help we received from our colleagues in shaping this Initiative). An annual evaluation of the Capacity-Building Initiative will be conducted, and results shared with our peers through future convenings.

Youth-serving nonprofits can apply for grant funds to support capacity-building activities of their own choosing; these requests will be considered independent of any program requests, and you may ask for both program and capacity building support at the same time.  If you are seeking capacity-building support, we ask that you use the Quick Assessment Tool in our Resources section to help define your needs, and include brief responses to its five questions in your Letter of Inquiry. The maximum grant amount that can be requested for capacity building is $25,000.  Please submit your capacity building request separately from any program requests, and include a copy of your 501(c)(3) tax determination letter with each request.

In addition, our Capacity-Building Initiative includes a Cornerstone Grants Program, which is by invitation only – you cannot apply for a Cornerstone grant and only current or past DSYF grantees are eligible to be invited. The purpose of these special grants is to provide up to three years of operating support (support for specific capacity-building activities also can be included) to a select group of youth-serving nonprofits in Southern California, based upon their demonstrated excellence and growth potential. Those invited to apply will be contacted by the Foundation.

     

---