Seeds of Sustainability- Capacity Building Grant Program

Seeds of Sustainability- Capacity Building Grant Program is sponsored by Western New York Foundation. This program aims to empower nonprofit organizations with the resources needed to enhance their operational capacity. This program supports initiatives that drive transformative change within local food systems, focusing on BIPOC communities and those disproportionately affected by poverty.

By fostering collaboration and providing tailored resources, the foundation seeks to build a thriving and equitable food system in Western New York.

Seeds of Sustainability — The Western New York Foundation Capacity Building Grant Program LOI Deadline: January 28, 2026 The Seeds of Sustainability Grant Program is designed to provide funding and support to nonprofit organizations that will improve their capacity to achieve their mission and do transformative work.

This program provides financial assistance to help the organization develop the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources to enhance their operations and achieve sustainable growth. We support a range of activities and support services tailored to the specific needs of the organization.

These may include: Support Strategic Leadership: to develop strong board and staff leadership and assist our grantees in implementing strategic priorities during critical periods of growth and revitalization. Foster Collaboration: to strengthen community engagement and support collaborative and strategic relationship efforts that will result in stronger and expanded services.

Strengthen Communications: to support communications efforts that raise awareness about an organization’s mission and attract attention and resources to the organization’s cause. Expand Resources and Stabilize Financials: to develop financial stability by increasing the ability of the nonprofit to develop necessary resources and plan for longer-term sustainability.

Promote Programming Excellence: to enhance the provision of services by strengthening the nonprofit’s ability to program and evaluate its work. Enhance Operational Effectiveness: to improve day-to-day operational productivity and enhance nonprofit functioning in areas such as administration, grant management, finance, human resources, technology, and facility management.

Applicant must be a non-profit organization who has obtained tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Code. Applicants must demonstrate a strong commitment to driving transformative change in the local or regional food system, with at least 90% of their organizational work dedicated to food systems efforts. Applicant must have three years of 990 filings.

Please note that postcard filings do not meet eligibility criteria. Applicant must be a small to mid-size organization. Small to mid-size being defined as organizations with budgets between $100,000 and $6,000,000.

Applicants can apply one of two ways: Submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) through our online grant portal: Complete a verbal LOI by scheduling a meeting with the foundation’s Program Officer. Meetings must be scheduled no later than January 14 to ensure availability ahead of the January 28 deadline. Seeds of Sustainability LOI Questions Demographic Data Spreadsheet