Capacity Building for Organizations and Communities

PLEASE NOTE: This program is not currently reviewing any more applications for this fiscal year. Please speak with your program coordinator about applying after June 1, 2008 for funding in our next fiscal year, which starts July 1.

• What the Program Supports
• Examples of Eligible Activities
• Who May Apply
• Grant Range
• Additional Information
• How to Apply
• Support Materials
• Evaluation/Scoring Process

View a list of Application Questions for Capacity Building for Organizations & Communities.
OAC reserves the right to alter application narrative questions at any time. Please refer to the OnLine Grants Application system for the most up-to-date questions, as well as definitions, formatting details and character limits.

Why the OAC Supports Capacity Building

To survive and thrive, arts and cultural organizations must develop and adapt their internal operations to meet external demands. They must be resilient in connecting their work with community needs and desires and in determining the most effective methods of program delivery. The OAC believes that state tax dollars invested in building the capacity of Ohio’s arts and cultural organizations enables those organizations to better communicate the value of the arts in everyday life. This funding category is important to the OAC to ensure that the public funds granted to arts and cultural organizations are a sound investment that result in a high value of return for the citizens of Ohio. Organizations that possess strong leadership, sound managerial practices and diverse financial resources contribute to the overall health of the nonprofit arts and cultural sector of the state.

Deadline: Monthly through April

Applications must be received in OLGA no later than 5 p.m. on the second Friday of any given month. Because effective capacity building activities require careful planning, applications will be accepted only through the second Friday of April (for activities occurring May 15-June 30), except in rare circumstances. Please check with your program coordinator. Project activity start dates must be no sooner than four weeks after the date of submission in the OAC's Online Grant Applications (OLGA) system. Beginning June 1 of each year, applications will be accepted for the next fiscal year.

Applicants should contact their OAC program coordinator or field representative to discuss their organization's capacity building needs prior to submitting an application for funding. Applying for funding is a two-step process:

• Preliminary discussion of capacity building needs with your OAC program coordinator or field representative.


• Submission of an electronic application and required support materials.

What the Program Supports

• Organizational Governance and Leadership
  • Strategic/Long-range Planning
  • Leadership Development
  • Board Development
• Strategic Community Linkages
  • Participation Strategies
  • Research and Development
  • Program Development
  • Partnership Development
  • Marketing or Branding
• Assets and Resources Development
  • Financial Resources
  • Information Technology Strategies; Web site Development
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Evaluation and Assessment Strategies

The OAC supports organizations that do this work by staying current on the latest information and knowledge available, remaining flexible with our assistance and maintaining a searchable database of screened, preferred consultants at http://oac.state.oh.us/search/CapacityBuilding/SearchCapacityBuilding.asp). Applicants are strongly encouraged to interview two or three consultants in order to find the best fit for their organization. OAC staff members coach grant applicants through the process to help ensure that the capacity building funds are used to achieve the desired results of the organization. Grant recipients are required to document their work so their new knowledge can be used to further strengthen the nonprofit arts and cultural sector. This process includes ongoing, periodic conversations among the grantee, the OAC and any third-party service providers that may be involved.

Funding through this grant category requires the organization to engage in continuous reflection to assess the effectiveness and challenges of their work. Capacity building funds are used most effectively to develop individual and organizational skills that will result in benefits not only for the applicant but also for the larger community.

Examples of Eligible Activities

Who May Apply

All nonprofit arts, cultural and community-based organizations that demonstrate a strong commitment to using the arts effectively and authentically in their programming may apply to this program. However, due to limited funding, small, emerging, and midsized arts and cultural organizations generally are given priority. Call the OAC before submitting an application. Funds for attending professional development opportunities will be awarded to organizations that are committed to sending a team (minimum of two, but no more than five) of administrators and/or board members to the event. The OAC understands that many of our applicants operate with only one administrator and that information will be considered in the funding. In the application and final report, applicants will be asked to define strategies for transferring their new knowledge to other staff and the organization as a whole.

Grant Range

Additional Information

How to Apply

Prior to applying for funding through this category, the applicant must contact the OAC to initiate the application process. That conversation will serve to determine the best course of action for effective capacity building. Although applications may be submitted any time during the year, funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis beginning with the start of the OAC’s fiscal year (July 1). Applications are reviewed on a monthly basis by a staff committee and must be approved by the OAC Executive Director or Deputy Director. Discuss with your OAC Program Coordinator when your application will be received and when to expect notification.

Support Materials

Evaluation/Scoring Process

Organizations awarded funds for capacity building are expected to make a long-term
commitment to continuous improvement of the organization. Board leadership and
staff should support this work.

In general, Capacity Building applications should address the following criteria:

• Applicant outlines a logical sequence of proposed capacity building activities
appropriate for the organization’s current and long-term circumstances.

• Applicant demonstrates a genuine desire to affect the philosophy, attitudes and beliefs of staff and/or board members as a result of the capacity building activities.
• Applicant demonstrates a longer-term commitment to acquiring new knowledge and/or skills that will advance or change organizational practice.
• Capacity building activities strengthen the relationship between the organization and the community, ultimately building the community educationally, economically and culturally.