Community Capital Grants is sponsored by Richard And Susan Smith Family Foundation. Supports transformative capital projects such as renovation, construction, or purchase of large physical assets.

Community Giving - Smith Family Foundation Access our online portal to begin an application or check one's status. Online Application Portal Access our online portal to begin an application or check one's status. Online Application Portal Having deep roots in the Boston area, we are committed to responding to a wide range of community needs.

In this giving area, we aim to: Increase access to food, shelter, and other community-identified needs; Support people in crisis and communities facing emergencies; Enrich the lives of Greater Boston’s youth and families; and Make Greater Boston a more vibrant place to live. We do this, in part, by supporting capital projects which are selected through an open application process. Since 2004, more than $13.

2 million has been awarded to over 285 organizations in Greater Boston and Gateway Cities. Our Small Capital Grants program provides $25,000 to $100,000 grants for one-time capital expenses that strengthen a nonprofit’s ability to serve its clients and achieve its mission. This support is particularly valuable because nonprofits can find it difficult to make these investments through their operating budgets.

Frequently Asked Questions Who is eligible to apply? 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organizations. Fiscal sponsors are acceptable.

Agencies or programs within agencies that serve people in the Greater Boston area (roughly defined as within Route 128) or in the Eastern Massachusetts Gateway Cities of Brockton, Chelsea, Fall River, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, or New Bedford. Preference is given to agencies working in lower-income communities. Agencies with annual operating budgets from $250,000 to $5 million .

Preference is given to agencies with operating budgets under $3 million. Agencies working in most mission areas may apply. Organizations focused on human services, youth development, or economic mobility have historically had higher funding rates.

Please note: we do not fund public or private schools, or daycares/early childhood centers under this program. Ineligible applicants include : individuals; endowments or private foundations; religious organizations, where the grant is to be used for sectarian purposes; or political campaigns. Please note: funding is not retroactive, so projects that have already been started or completed are not eligible for consideration.

What is considered capital? Requested items may include vehicles, furniture/equipment, technology, facility improvements, and other long-term durable assets. Ineligible projects and expenses include, but are not limited to : undesignated contributions to larger capital campaigns; program support; website or mobile application development; database implementations; annual software licenses; or contingency fees.

When are the next deadline and decision dates? The next deadline is 5:00 p. m.

ET on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 . Final grant award decisions for the 2026 deadline are expected in April 2026. First-time applicants must register before starting an application.

You will be asked to take a brief quiz to assess your eligibility before you begin. If you have applied in the past and no longer have your login information, please submit the Contact Us form to receive a new login and password. What are the application questions?

A Word document version of the application questions is available here . What makes a strong proposal? Your organization and the project address a well-defined need for a specific group of people that aligns with our mission.

The project, when completed, will deepen your impact or grow the number of clients you can serve. The project is innovative, well-thought-out and ready to implement so it can be completed in a reasonable period of time (generally within one year). Your organization has strong and creative leadership and can point to significant accomplishments.

It includes an explanation of any external context in your community or field that is impacting your organization or your need for this project. Your organization is in a position to manage, maintain, staff or otherwise well-use the asset(s), if funded. Please note: single, coherent, high-impact projects tend to compete more favorably than requests for a variety of unrelated items.

Also, the requested grant must cover the entire cost of the proposed capital project. How many applicants receive funding? Historically, the Small Capital Grants program received 100-200 applications per year.

On average, 10-15% of projects were selected for funding. We are moving to one deadline per year and project between 100-150 applications per year with 8-12 projects receiving funding. What is the waiting period if funded/declined?

If your organization is funded, you will not be eligible to apply for another Small Capital Grant for two years from the date of the previous application. You are then eligible to apply for a subsequent Small Capital Grant if the project for which you were previously funded has been successfully completed and a final report received by the Foundation. There is no waiting period for organizations whose applications are not funded.

Please review our For Grant Seekers page for additional information about our processes. We occasionally support transformative capital projects in the $250,000 to $3 million range from nonprofits that are well-led, can point to significant accomplishments, and have a mission that is clearly aligned with ours.

Our intention is to provide support for projects that will result in a game-changing physical asset for an organization and the community. Our Community Capital Grants Frequently Asked Questions Who is eligible to apply? 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organizations.

Fiscal sponsors are acceptable. Agencies or programs within agencies that serve people in the Greater Boston area (roughly defined as within Route 128) or in the Eastern Massachusetts Gateway Cities of Brockton, Chelsea, Fall River, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, or New Bedford. Agencies with an annual operating budget of over $1 million that have been in operation for five years or more .

Agencies working in many mission areas may apply. Organizations focused on human services, youth development, or cultural vitality/recreation have historically had higher funding rates. Please note : we do not fund public or private schools, daycares/early childhood centers, or hospitals/health centers under this program.

In general, projects that could fall within other Foundation portfolios (Education, Health, Jewish Giving, Medical Research) should not come in through this program. Please use the Contact Us form to discuss your project with the appropriate staff member to determine if there is interest in learning more.

Ineligible projects and expenses include but are not limited to : land/building acquisition or conservation; feasibility studies/planning/design; affordable housing; technology infrastructure; furniture/equipment; elevators, HVAC, security or fire systems (when a standalone request that is not part of a larger renovation/construction project); solar panels; moving fees; or deferred maintenance.

Ineligible applicants include: individuals; endowments or private foundations; religious organizations, where the grant is to be used for sectarian purposes; or political campaigns. When is the next deadline? The next deadline to submit a brief letter of inquiry for the Community Capital Grants program will be in fall 2026 .

A more specific date will be posted by the end of June 2026. Organizations that submitted letters of inquiry for the September 17, 2025 deadline have been notified whether a full proposal was invited. You may check the application portal to see the status of your request.

It is a two-stage process. You must first submit a brief letter of inquiry (LOI). If there is interest in learning more, we will invite a full proposal and conduct a site visit before making a final decision.

First-time applicants must register before starting a LOI. You will be asked to take a brief quiz to assess your eligibility before you begin. If you have applied in the past and no longer have your login information, please submit the Contact Us form to receive a new login and password.

How many applicants receive funding? Our Community Capital Grants are highly competitive, with few organizations invited to submit full proposals. At most, two to three grants are typically awarded annually from among 40+ inquiries.

Please review our For Grant Seekers page for additional information about our processes. Then contact Foundation staff to discuss your organization and project before submitting a letter of inquiry through our online system . Grants in this area are by invitation only.

Twenty Years of Small Capital Grants Schedule a Call with Program Staff