+ Boost Year-End Giving

Fundraising is a common pain-point for nonprofits, and year-end contributions account for close to 50% of many nonprofits’ revenue. The Tracy Family Foundation offers this capacity building program to assist nonprofits with developing (or strengthening) their year-end appeals. Selected nonprofit organizations will receive up to 20 hours of individual, targeted coaching from area experts to develop and implement a year-end fundraising initiative in addition to receiving funds to utilize for marketing, printing, and postage expenses. 2026 application coming soon! Read the 2025 RFP here.

+ Circle of Courage - 2026 Application Open! Due January 9

Nonprofit leaders often feel isolated, burdened by decision fatigue, and overwhelmed by the relentless pressures of their roles. The Circle of Courage is here to break that cycle, offering a supportive pathway to transformative growth and empowered leadership with renewed purpose and strength. By joining this 90-day group coaching program, you'll gain timely support and a strong community that empowers you to lead with greater purpose, clarity, and impact—amplifying your nonprofit's mission and effectiveness. 2026 application coming soon! Read the RFP here.

+ Fundraising 101

Many small organizations start up with the intention of bringing their unique passions, visions, talents, and skills together to make the world a better place. However, the most challenging aspect for those organizations is often developing sustainable fundraising systems to support their respective missions. The Tracy Family Foundation has partnered with local fundraising experts to offer a training and coaching series. The program will include individual coaching hours and two group workshops to assist with the development of a customized fundraising plan. 2026 application coming soon! Read the 2025 RFP here.

+ Grants Lab - 2026 Application Open! Due January 16

Develop winning grant strategies and systems through a series of training sessions, coaching calls, interactive writing exercises, and more with the Grants Lab. Tailored feedback and a built-in learning community set this program apart, ensuring participants leave with an understanding of grant readiness, grant prospect research, and the typical components of a grant application. Read the RFP here.

+ GoodmakerU - New!

Following the March 5 & 6 WCIL Gives workshops, TFF grantees will have the opportunity to apply for a capacity building grant to support a three-month goodmakerPro membership. This membership will provide access to a self-paced Giving Day Master Class curriculum, personalized coaching sessions with certified fundraising experts, a private chat channel for WCIL organizations, and a broader peer network of nonprofit leaders. Members will also benefit from weekly live group coaching calls to support their fundraising success. 2026 application coming soon!

+ Inclusive Leadership Workshop

Inclusive leadership begins with leading oneself effectively, extending that influence to others, and embedding those practices within the broader organization. This two-and-a-half-day workshop is designed to help nonprofit leaders develop the skills to lead inclusively at every level of their organizations. 2026 application coming soon! Read the 2025 RFP here.

+ Listen4Good - New!

Listening to community voices is essential for mission effectiveness, yet many nonprofits lack the tools, training, and resources needed to collect and use feedback meaningfully. Listen4Good directly addresses these capacity gaps by helping organizations establish strong, sustainable feedback practices. 2026 RFP and application coming soon!

+ Maximize Your Leadership Strengths

Every leader brings a unique set of skills and perspectives to their organization. By learning to embrace and leverage these individual strengths, leaders can inspire their teams, drive innovation, and foster a positive workplace culture. Through Maximize Your Leadership Strengths, leaders will complete a 360 Leadership Assessment and StrengthsFinder. They will then receive individualized coaching to dive deep into the results and create a custom development plan to leverage their strengths. 2026 RFP coming soon! Read the 2025 RFP here.

+ Mental Health Matters

Burnout affects productivity and can negatively impact retention, service quality, morale, and organizational culture. The nonprofit sector is no exception. In fact, a recent survey suggests that 45% of nonprofit employees are planning to leave their organizations in the next 2 years. Through TFF’s training and coaching program, leaders and staff will be encouraged to achieve a healthy balance in work and personal life, developing coping strategies to manage stress. As a result, participants will complete this program with an improved outlook, resulting in increased levels of productivity and enhanced organization performance. 2026 application coming soon! Read the 2025 RFP here .

+ Nonprofit Marketing - New!

Many nonprofits start up with the intention of bringing their unique passions, visions, talents, and skills together to make the world a better place. However, they often don’t have the funds or expertise to market their nonprofit. This training series will help nonprofits develop an overall strategy and create a marketing plan that fits their organization’s unique circumstances. 2026 application and RFP coming soon!

+ Planned Giving Made Simple - New!

Many small and mid-sized organizations know planned giving matters but feel overwhelmed about where to start. This training focuses on practical essentials: understanding what planned giving really is, developing your organization’s unique case for legacy support, and learning how to weave these conversations and opportunities into what you're already doing. 2026 application and RFP coming soon!

+ Volunteer Value

Volunteers are the backbone of nonprofit work, often acting as an organization’s representative in the community and contributing to the success of the organization’s mission. A well-designed volunteer program should include clear and concise communication channels, effective training and orientation, meaningful recognition and rewards, and opportunities for personal and professional growth. The Tracy Family Foundation has developed a volunteer recruitment and engagement program to assist nonprofits as they attract, retain, and support individuals who are willing to offer their time, skills and resources. The training will provide tips and strategies for creating a volunteer program that is both effective and sustainable. 2026 application coming soon! Read the 2025 RFP here .

+ WCIL Gives

WCIL Gives is a regional giving event that launched in June 2025 and will return in 2026! The event is open to all nonprofits, schools, and churches in TFF's 10-county region and serves as both a celebration of generosity and a strategic opportunity to launch compelling marketing campaigns that enhance visibility and reach. By leveraging peer-to-peer fundraising, our communities are empowered to champion causes they're passionate about, amplifying the impact of West Central Illinois organizations. Incentives and prizes only add to the fun! Visit wcilgives.org to learn more! Save the date for a two-day training March 5 & 6. TFF, in partnership with goodmakerU, will deliver a Giving Day Intensive Workshop. Sessions will equip grantee organizations with practical fundraising frameworks, donor engagement tools, and actionable campaign strategies to maximize Giving Day participation and outcomes.

+ AI for Grant Writing - New! 2026 Application Open!

Grant writing is essential to the financial health and sustainability of nonprofit organizations, yet it often stretches limited staff capacity. The AI for Grant Writing Program helps organizations integrate AI into their grant development process responsibly and effectively. The goal is not to replace the grant writer but to enhance efficiency, creativity, and consistency, freeing time to focus on strategy and relationships. Read the full RFP here .

+ AI Training & Coaching for Nonprofits - 2026 Application Open!

In an era where technology often favors large organizations and urban centers, AI provides a unique opportunity for small non-profits to thrive. Participants will start by attending a class to grasp the fundamentals of AI. With the knowledge acquired from the Essential AI course, leaders will pinpoint a specific area and engage a coach to enhance AI integration into their organization. Read the full RFP here .

+ Board Development Coaching & Training - 2026 Application Open!

Executive Directors often express concern around board recruitment, orientation, development, and engagement. Board leadership has a dramatic impact on a nonprofit's overall success and sustainability. As a result, the Tracy Family Foundation has worked with regional consultants and seasoned Board officers to become Board Development Trainers/Coaches for a customized program in our 10-county region. The identified coaches have attended the BoardSource Consultant Certification program and will offer selected organizations 40 hours of coaching, consulting, and training. Read the full RFP here .

+ Building a Thriving Culture: DE&I Training & Coaching - 2026 Application Open!

DEI is the presence of differences that may include race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, nationality, socioeconomic status, language, (dis)ability, age, religious commitment, or political perspective. While nonprofits and schools wish to honor diversity and provide equity and inclusion, it may require consultant assistance to look deeply into practices, policies, and cultural attitudes. The Tracy Family Foundation has partnered with a regional DEI expert and consultant who helps organizations assess current practices and develop plans to improve their efforts. Read the full RFP here .

+ Nonprofit Strategic Planning - 2026 Application Open!

Many times, nonprofits either do not have a strategic plan or are not utilizing their existing plan. As a result, the Tracy Family Foundation has partnered with several local strategic planning facilitators to provide nonprofit strategic planning and coaching. This offering seeks to teach nonprofit leaders the strategic planning process and establish a 36-month strategic framework. Each organization will assess and work to identify both areas of strength and potential growth. Participating organizations will have the tools to develop a working strategic plan that has SMART goals and deadlines with everyone working together to accomplish the mission. Read the full RFP here .

+ Video Storytelling & Social Media Training - 2026 Application Open!

Many nonprofits in our region struggle to effectively market themselves and engage in social media platforms, which often hinders their ability to raise public awareness and garner grants and donations. The Tracy Family Foundation recognizes that nonprofits often do not have the capacity to effectively share their impact. As a result, we provide grant funding to assist organizations in creating a customized marketing video. In addition to funding videography, our foundation has partnered with John Wood Community College to offer three free workshops: Using the Power of Story, DIY Video Marketing, and Digital Marketing Essentials for Nonprofits. Granted organizations also have the option to use remaining funds toward training and consulting for marketing. Read the full RFP here .

+ What types of projects will be considered?

Projects TFF would consider funding with Capacity Building grants include, but are not limited to: professional development, strategic planning, fundraising training, financial management training, communication and marketing systems, collaboration, software pilot, outcome evaluation and learning, board governance and engagement, and other professional consultation. Eligible expenses for these projects could include, but are not limited to registration fees, consultant fees, travel, lodging, meals, and training costs.

+ What organizations are eligible to apply?

Nonprofit organizations, schools, and public entities that 1) are in TFF’s funding Region in Illinois or 2) have received a TFF Annual grant in the past 5 years.

+ Do organizations who receive an Annual Grant through a Family Invitation qualify for Capacity Building funds?

Yes. Organizations that receive an Annual Grant through a Family Invitation are eligible for up to $5,000 per year for three years following their annual grant. These funds can be used for either create-your-own capacity building projects or TFF-curated programs.

+ Is the TFF Nonprofit Roadmap Assessment Required?

Yes. TFF requires all 501c3 Capacity Building applicants (not schools or public entities) to complete the TFF Nonprofit Roadmap Assessment before submitting a capacity building grant application. Each assessment is valid for up to 12 months.

Organizations may take the iCAT organizational assessment instead of the TFF Nonprofit Roadmap Assessment, but should talk with TFF Staff to learn more about this tool. Contact Sara Reuschel to arrange to take this assessment.

+ What is the maximum amount per year organizations can request?

Organizations can request up to $5,000 annually for any capacity building projects they create. In addition, organizations can be approved for up to $10,000 in TFF-curated programs (e.g., Video Storytelling, Board Development, et al.) per calendar year. The grant amount may vary based upon the program but will not exceed $10,000 for the programs selected. Grants awarded through TFF-curated capacity building programs do NOT count against an organization’s $5,000 annual maximum for “create your own” capacity building projects.

+ What is the maximum number of capacity building requests an organization can submit in a year?

There is no maximum. Organizations can submit as many "create your own" requests as they’d like, as long as the total of the requests does not exceed $5,000. In addition, organizations can participate in up to $10,000 in TFF-curated Capacity Building programs per calendar year. Courses sponsored by TFF and offered at no cost to nonprofit organizations will not count toward the two TFF-curated program maximum.

+ Does an organization have to contribute any money toward requests?

Yes. Organizations are responsible for 10% of the requested amount in cash, not in-kind.

+ Will a Final Impact Report be required?

Yes. A Final Impact Report is due within 12 months of the grant award.

+ Are there any exclusions?

Capacity Building grants do not cover wages or salaries of an individual employed by your organization. Other exclusions include equipment, supplies, renovations, building upgrades, and other construction costs. Funding for certain software, marketing, and continuing education is limited. Contact Sara Reuschel with any questions regarding project eligibility.