Capacity Building Initiative (CBI)
The Capacity Building Initiative funds organizations in the Chesapeake Bay watershed to strengthen their systems and collaborations for improved environmental and community health outcomes.
Funder: Chesapeake Bay Trust
Due Dates: July 15, 2026 (Full application submission deadline - Capacity Building Initiative)
Funding Amounts: Up to $40,000 (Organizational/Movement Building tracks); up to $150,000 (Local Government track); total program ~$1.4M.
Summary: Supports nonprofits and local governments in the Chesapeake Bay region to strengthen organizational effectiveness and advance environmental and community health.
Description
The Capacity Building Initiative (CBI), administered by the Chesapeake Bay Trust on behalf of the Chesapeake Bay Funders Network, is an annual grant program designed to enhance the long-term effectiveness and sustainability of nonprofit organizations and local governments working at the intersection of natural resource protection and community well-being within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The program funds projects that strengthen organizational systems, structures, and practices—such as governance, planning, operations, and collaboration—through three distinct tracks: Organizational Capacity Building, Local Government Capacity Building, and Movement Building. CBI also supports regional collaborations and provides resources like training, technical assistance, and infrastructure development to help organizations and networks achieve shared environmental and community health goals.
