The 2024-2025 Capacity Building Grant, offered by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, aims to enhance organizational capacity in specific focus areas that can lead to significant impact in the Kansas City region. The grant is designed to address explicit organizational needs that, if met, would strengthen, deepen, or scale the impact of the recipient organizations. The funding range for this grant is between $100,000 and $250,000, and it is intended for one-time or short-term expenses that contribute to building capacity.

The primary purpose of the Capacity Building Grant is to support initiatives that align with the Kauffman Foundation's strategic priorities, which include college access and completion, workforce and career development, and entrepreneurship. The foundation emphasizes the importance of making college affordable and accessible, creating innovative pathways for workforce entry, and ensuring equitable access to resources for minority and women business owners. Organizations applying for the grant must indicate how their work aligns with these strategic priorities.

Funding from the Capacity Building Grant can be used for various purposes, including enhancing essential competencies and skills, strengthening connections between education and employers, fostering participation and belonging, and ensuring equitable access to learning pathways and capital. However, the grant does not cover expenses related to physical infrastructure, endowments, lobbying, medical activities, or funding for individuals.

Eligible applicants for the grant include county governments, private institutions of higher education, and public and state-controlled institutions of higher education located within the six-county region of Cass, Clay, Jackson, Johnson, Platte, and Wyandotte counties in Missouri. The Kauffman Foundation prioritizes organizations that can demonstrate a clear alignment with its strategic priorities and a commitment to addressing economic mobility challenges in the region.

Submission requirements for the grant include a detailed application that outlines the organization's capacity needs and how the funding will be utilized. Applicants should be prepared to answer specific questions regarding their alignment with the foundation's focus areas and strategic priorities. The evaluation criteria will consider the clarity of the proposal, the potential impact of the project, and the organization's capacity to execute the proposed activities.

The application deadline for the 2024-2025 Capacity Building Grant is October 8, 2024. It is important for potential applicants to be aware of this timeline and to prepare their submissions accordingly. Additional information about the grant and the application process can be found on the Kauffman Foundation's website.