Capital Improvement Grants
Capital Improvement Grants support time-limited projects for nonprofits in Forsyth County, North Carolina to acquire, upgrade, and maintain physical assets (such as property, buildings, technology, or equipment). This program provides grants of up to $25,000.
Due to available funding pools, we are considering only requests related to capital projects supporting (1) people with disabilities, (2) beautification initiatives. We also have limited funding available for capital projects in the areas of (3) Arts & Culture.
Does your organization serve animals?
The Foundation now has a separate application process for Animal Welfare Grants.
KEY DATES: 2025 grant cycle
- July 31: application opens in the Grants Portal
- September 15: application closes at 5:00 PM
- Mid-December: notification of funding decisions
WHAT WE FUND
- New and existing facilities (renovations, upgrades, repairs, and ADA accessibility)
- Major material goods (equipment, vehicles, and furniture)
- Technology and software
- Beautification (green spaces, landscaping, gardens, lighting, fencing, etc.)
- Equipment, furniture, and supplies (lower priority)
Due to available funding pools, we are considering only requests related to capital projects supporting (1) people with disabilities, (2) beautification initiatives. We also have limited funding available for capital projects in the areas of (3) Arts & Culture.
A strong application will demonstrate:
- Two years of organizational operation
- Proven track record of service in Forsyth County
- Diverse leadership representative of the community it serves
- How the organization gains insights from people with lived experience in the area(s) of service(s) provided
- Financial statements demonstrating revenue and expenses over two years (current year and previous year) – an audit is helpful, but not required
- Clear project plans
- Description of project need
- Organizational capacity to manage the scale of the project
- Ability to sustain any ongoing maintenance costs
capital improvement grant FAQs
What expenses are not eligible for Capital Grant funding?
Expenses that are not eligible for funding:
- Operations (utilities/rent, legal/financial services)
- Programming/services
- New or existing staff
Can my organization receive more than one Capital Improvement Grant at a time?
Organizations may have only one funded Capital Improvement Grant open at a time. (However, they may have concurrent funding open for Capacity-Building Grants, Small Grants, Focus Area Investments, and/or Strategic Initiative Grants.)
Organizations that have received Capital funding are asked to wait three years before submitting an additional request.
Does the Capital Campaign Calendar still exist?
The Capital Campaign Calendar does not exist and the committee dissolved in March 2021. Read more here >
Can I discuss my proposal idea with you before applying?
Yes, if you have a proposal idea you’d like to discuss, we’d like to hear from you! You're not required to meet with our staff before applying, but many nonprofits find it helpful to discuss their idea with our team. To schedule a conversation, contact us (below) at least one week before the application deadline. Note: we cannot guarantee a meeting close to the deadline due to increased call volume.
If we’re a faith-based organization can we apply for a grant?
We fund faith-based organizations (churches, synagogues, mosques) when the organization is providing a social service, as long as it doesn’t serve only the members of a single congregation or promote a particular religious doctrine. Read more in the document below.
Can we apply for a grant if we’re based outside of Forsyth County?
If your organization is based outside of Forsyth County but serves a wide geographic area that includes Forsyth County, the Foundation will consider a grant for the portion of the project that impacts Forsyth County. If you are based outside of Forsyth County and you also don't serve Forsyth County, you are not eligible to apply for funding.
Who makes the final grant funding decisions?
While final grant decisions rest with our volunteer governing boards, our staff serve as dedicated liaisons for each funding opportunity.
