Community Capacity Initiative – Washington State Department of Commerce
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    • The Community Capacity Initiative (CCI) helps Washington organizations strengthen their capacity to plan, prepare and carry out work that benefits their communities.

    CCI provides funding, training, technical assistance, tools and other resources to help organizations strengthen their internal capacity and move community priorities forward. A major focus of our current work is helping nonprofits, local governments and tribal governments prepare for community capital projects

    For organizations considering a capital project — such as building, renovating, expanding or acquiring a facility or infrastructure — CCI provides early-stage support to strengthen organizational readiness, project planning and preparation before pursuing larger capital funding.

    In general, a capital project may include construction, renovation, rehabilitation or acquisition of public facilities such as housing, community facilities or infrastructure.

    How we support communities

    CCI combines funding with learning, technical assistance and practical resources. Our goal is to help organizations build lasting capacity — not simply complete one grant-funded activity.

    Our support may include:

    • Capacity-building grants: Funding to strengthen organizational capacity, address readiness barriers and support important planning or project-development work.
    • Capital project readiness: Support for early-stage activities such as planning, feasibility, community engagement, pre-design and predevelopment.
    • Training: Free learning opportunities on organizational readiness, capital project planning, financial management, governance and contracting with Commerce.
    • Technical assistance: Specialized guidance to help organizations address barriers, strengthen capacity and determine appropriate next steps.
    • Peer learning and connections: Opportunities for organizations to learn from one another and from subject matter experts.
    • Tools and resources: Practical materials organizations can use to assess readiness, plan work and navigate funding and contracting processes.

    Who we serve

    CCI works with community-based organizations, nonprofits, local governments, Tribal governments and other community partners across Washington. Specific eligibility requirements vary by funding opportunity.

    Our work particularly seeks to strengthen access to resources for communities and organizations that may face barriers to capital funding and project development, including rural and overburdened communities and organizations with limited financial or organizational capacity.

    Funding opportunities

    Capital Project Capacity-Building Grants (FY2027)- OPEN NOW

    The Washington State Department of Commerce’s Community Capacity Initiative is accepting applications for FY2027 Capital Project Capacity-Building Grant Program. These grants will help eligible organizations strengthen their capacity and advance viable capital projects that directly benefit overburdened communities in Washington. Funding may support a critical next step in an early-stage capital project, including targeted technical assistance and predevelopment activities. Priority will be given to projects in overburdened communities that address housing, energy or infrastructure needs and to applicants and communities with limited financial capacity.

    Deadline: Applications are due at 3 p.m. Pacific time Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. Commerce will not accept late or incomplete applications.

    Use the Project Location Checker as a tool for an initial determination if your project is location in a priority area- designated Overburdened Community, Hardship Area, Distressed Area. See official RFA documents for more information.

    Pre-application conferences were held on September 23rd. Staff provided an overview of the funding opportunity, application process, and track-specific requirements. Attendance was not required. While the tribal government conference was not recorded, the local-government and nonprofit conferences recordings will be included below and posted in the official RFA documents box folder.

    Recording link: Pre-application conference for local governments 9/23/2026

    Recording: Pre-application conference for nonprofits 9/23/2026

    Official RFA Documents Folder Link

    Question Submission Form Link

    The Capital Project Capacity Grants for nonprofit organizations (winter–spring 2026)

    This source of funding is for small, early-stage funding to help nonprofit organizations plan, prepare and strengthen capacity for future capital construction funding. The 2026 winter–spring cycle of funding is currently closed, but more opportunities will be posted soon. We’ve included materials for the closed cycle for your reference and planning purposes for future funding opportunities.

    • This two-phase application process is currently closed.
    • Ten grantees received awards of up to $50,000.

    Training and resources

    This four-part webinar series covers important teachings and offers tools for a broad-range of entities to consider at early-stage planning of a capital project. It is recommended to start with the training overview recording covering all the materials listed in the series: Overview Recording Training Series and Tools Recording (Vimeo). All supporting materials can be accessed on Commerce’s public Box folder.

    Recorded trainings to support contracting with Commerce

    Learn what to expect when your organization receives a grant contract from Commerce. This workshop was designed for nonprofits that are new to contracting with Commerce, but the information may also be useful to other organizations. 

    Commerce Applicant Academy Workshop:  Watch previously recorded workshops. You may be interested in watching both as we respond to valuable questions from participants in each session. 

    The Community Capacity Initiative builds on several years of Commerce investments, partnerships and learning about the barriers communities face when seeking funding and developing community projects.

    Commerce has heard consistently that funding alone is not always enough. Organizations may also need time, knowledge, systems, technical expertise, planning support and connections to successfully move an idea toward implementation.

    CCI brings these forms of support together. Through grants, training, technical assistance, peer learning, tools and resources, the initiative seeks to strengthen organizational capacity and help communities become better prepared to pursue and manage future opportunities.

    CCI’s current work includes a significant focus on early-stage capital project readiness, particularly for organizations and communities that have historically faced barriers to accessing capital resources.

    The initiative is informed by previous Commerce capacity-building grants, the “Equity in Capital Funding Review” report, the Planning and Pre-Design Capital Equity Program (PPCEP), Child Care Partnership Grants (CCPG), engagement with community partners, and lessons from other Commerce programs supporting community and capital development.

    The Community Capacity Building program at Commerce is currently housed in the Community Engagement and Outreach Division at the Washington State Department of Commerce.

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    Contact

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

    Project Location Checker

    Use this tool to determine whether your project address is located in a priority area. Priority areas include Overburdened Communities, Public Works Hardship Areas, and Distressed Areas. More information is in the official RFA document.

    Project Location Checker