Small Capacity Building Grant Program
The Small Capacity Building Grant Program funds Santa Barbara County nonprofits to strengthen organizational capacity, leadership, and effectiveness through targeted development and infrastructure projects.
Funder: Santa Barbara Foundation (https://sbfoundation.org)
Due Dates: February 10, 2026 | May 12, 2026 | July 14, 2026 | September 8, 2026
Funding Amounts: Up to $6,000 per grant; project period up to one year.
Summary: Supports Santa Barbara County nonprofits in building organizational capacity, leadership, and effectiveness through targeted development projects and small capital needs.
Key Information: Only one application per organization per calendar year; highly competitive.
Description
The Small Capacity Building Grant Program is designed to help nonprofits serving Santa Barbara County strengthen their organizational capacity, leadership, and effectiveness. This program supports projects that enhance strategy, operations, communications, and leadership, as well as small capital expenditures directly supporting an organization’s mission. Grants are intended for organizational development, readiness planning, staff and volunteer training, collaborative learning opportunities, small equipment purchases, and well-defined projects such as program design or strategic communications. The focus is on building or expanding organizational capacity, not funding existing program expenses or staff salaries.
