Capital Project Capacity Grants for Non-profit Organizations

Capital Project Capacity Grants for Non-profit Organizations is sponsored by Washington State Department of Commerce. This program supports planning and readiness activities for capital projects expected to be completed or shovel-ready within the next five years. This includes funding for pre-development and pre-construction work, such as feasibility studies, design, permitting, and stakeholder engagement.

Community Capacity Initiative (CCI) – Washington State Department of Commerce 简体中文 ( Chinese (Simplified) ) 繁體中文 ( Chinese (Traditional) ) Tiếng Việt ( Vietnamese ) Community Capacity Initiative (CCI) The Capacity-Building Program helps Washington organizations prepare for capital projects .

If you are planning to build, renovate, expand, or purchase a facility, we provide early-stage support to strengthen your planning, systems, and readiness before you pursue major state or federal capital funding. A capital project may include construction, renovation, rehabilitation, or acquisition of public facilities such as housing, community facilities, or infrastructure.

Examples include construction, renovation, rehabilitation, and acquisition projects related to public facilities such as housing, community facilities, infrastructure, and other capital investments. Small Capacity-Building Grants : Funding for early work such as planning, community engagement, feasibility, pre-design, or strengthening internal systems.

Training : Free live and recorded webinars on project planning, budgeting, readiness, and state contracting. Technical Assistance : Guidance to help you understand requirements, assess readiness, and identify next steps. Tools and Templates : Practical resources to support project development and organizational readiness.

Our goal is long-term readiness — not just a one-time grant.

Organizations based in Washington state, including: Community-based organizations and nonprofits Local governments (cities, towns, counties, and special districts) Federally recognized Tribes and Tribal organizations Other community partners planning a capital project This program is especially helpful for organizations serving rural or overburdened communities, or those new to capital projects.

Current offerings (FY2026-2027) Free webinar series beginning April 29 help prepare organizations for capital projects The Washington State Department of Commerce is hosting a free, four-part webinar series to help prepare organizations to start capital projects, such as buildings, facilities, […] Capital Project Capacity Grants for Nonprofit Organizations (Winter–Spring 2026) Small, early-stage funding to help nonprofit organizations plan, prepare, and strengthen capacity for future capital construction funding.

This two-phase application process is underway. Phase 1 received an overwhelming response and is closed at this time. Phase 2 applications are invitation only with the deadline of Feb 27, 2026.

Capital Project Capacity Grants RFA documents (closed to new applications, for reference only) Capital Project Capacity Grants for Local Governments and Tribal Organizations (anticipated 2026) Early-stage funding to help public entities and Tribal organizations plan, prepare, and strengthen readiness for future capital project funding.

Commerce offers online webinars, workshops, and recorded sessions on topics related to: Planning and early project development Budgeting and financial planning Commerce and training partner Atromitos LLC are proud to offer a free four-part webinar series to help organizations build the knowledge, systems, and confidence needed to move from early ideas to projects that are ready to move forward.

What it is like to contract with Commerce (on Zoom) – Commerce hosted an Applicant Academy workshop for nonprofit organizations. This workshop was designed for nonprofits that are not familiar with contracting with Commerce. The Community Capacity Building program at Commerce is currently housed in the Community Engagement and Outreach Division at the Washington State Department of Commerce.

Community Capacity Building at Commerce is guided by the 2022 Department of Commerce “Equity in Capital Funding Review” report , which found that “Commerce must advance equity and anti-racism through internal culture change, intentional allocation of resources, and targeted distribution of funds to systemically oppressed communities—with humility, transparency, and community partnership.

” The Capacity-Building Program builds on several years of Commerce investment in capacity-building efforts across Washington state. This initiative is informed by lessons learned from three rounds of capacity-building grants , ongoing technical assistance, and direct engagement with community partners.

The program is also informed by findings and recommendations from the Planning and Pre-Design Capital Equity Program (PPCEP) , the Child Care Partnership Grants (CCPG) , and similar statewide planning and equity efforts.

These efforts identified the need for earlier, more sustained support to help organizations—particularly those serving overburdened and rural communities—successfully navigate capital project planning and funding processes. Together, these experiences shaped the current Capacity-Building Program to focus not only on funding, but also on training, tools, and connections that support long-term readiness for capital projects.

For questions or support, please contact our team at CapacityBuilding@Commerce. wa. gov .