Capacity Building Initiative (CBI)
The Capacity Building Initiative from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation funds projects that strengthen the scientific, operational, and collaborative capacity of organizations protecting the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Funder: Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): July 2027 (Full application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: Up to $40,000 (Organizational & Movement Building Tracks); up to $150,000 (Local Government Track); up to $1.4 million total available per round; 12-month project period typical.
Summary: Supports nonprofit organizations and local governments in the Chesapeake Bay watershed to strengthen internal systems, collaboration, and effectiveness for long-term environmental and community impact.
Key Information: This is a forecasted opportunity; all dates are projected and subject to change.
Description
The Capacity Building Initiative (CBI) is an annual grant program administered by the Chesapeake Bay Trust on behalf of the Chesapeake Bay Funders Network. Its goal is to strengthen the capacity of nonprofit organizations and local/tribal governments working at the intersection of natural resource protection and community well-being throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Funding supports projects that improve internal systems, structures, and practices—such as governance, planning, operations, and coordination—or that build collaborative capacity among organizations. The initiative is designed to foster organizational sustainability, effective governance, and greater collective impact on environmental and community health outcomes.
CBI offers three funding tracks:
- Organizational Capacity Building: For nonprofits seeking to improve their own internal capacity.
- Local Government Capacity Building: For local or tribal governments (or nonprofits working to build governmental capacity) to strengthen their systems or provide targeted support.
- Movement Building: For nonprofits serving as capacity-building providers to other organizations, particularly smaller or lower-capacity groups.
Eligible projects might include strategic planning, governance or board development, fundraising and revenue strategies, technology or data systems improvements, staff training, shared technical assistance, and collaboration or merger-related efforts.
