Mervin and Annette Peters Family Foundation

The Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton is accepting proposals for its 2024 Capacity Building Grant Program. The Foundation is dedicated to supporting nonprofit organizations that serve the counties of Stark, Carroll, Holmes, Tuscarawas, and Wayne in Ohio. Its mission is centered on serving those experiencing poverty and supporting health, education, and social service initiatives. This grant program is specifically designed to strengthen the organizational infrastructure of nonprofits whose missions align with the Foundation’s goals. The program aims to support projects that improve strategic vision and impact, governance and leadership, existing program delivery, resource generation, internal operations and management, evaluation and learning, and strategic relationships. The grants offer a maximum of $15,000 per proposal and can fund projects spanning one or more years. Eligible expenses include assessment of management systems, board development, evaluation systems, fiscal and human resource management, leadership development, succession planning, and technological upgrades like CRM systems. Proposals cannot include new program development, staffing costs, capital projects, or computer hardware. Eligibility is restricted to nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations with annual operating budgets under $10 million. Eligible applicants must directly serve the five aforementioned counties, target underserved or impoverished populations, and operate within the domains of health, education, or social services. Proposals from churches are acceptable only if they support specific program areas rather than general operations. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with grant decisions made quarterly. The application process begins with submitting a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) through the Foundation’s online portal. If selected, applicants are invited to submit a full proposal. The LOI requires details on mission alignment, project type, description, and budget. The full application includes a project outline, need justification, detailed budget, information on project personnel, and documentation about the organization including governance, leadership, and financial statements. Reporting obligations include submitting a final financial report via the online portal and participating in an in-person presentation. This presentation provides an opportunity to share project outcomes, benefits, and lessons learned, fostering peer learning and collaboration.