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Civil Society - Enhancing Community Philanthropy
Support for community foundations bridging local divides
Overview
Common Ground equips community foundations and related organizations to bridge divides and solve local issues, with a focus on the United States, Africa, and Latin America. It supports capacity-building tools, measurement frameworks, seed funding, technical assistance, and efforts to strengthen common-ground initiatives.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Improve governance or administrative structure
- Develop strategic partnerships
Eligible Funding
- Varies by project
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- All industries
Target groups
- All the groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- All dimensions
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 1
Activities funded
- The development and dissemination of capacity-building tools and measurement frameworks.
- Efforts to bolster the capacity of providers that help design, implement and assess common-ground initiatives.
- Intermediaries that provide seed funding to community foundations to support common ground work and convene community foundations to learn from one another.
- Capacity-development efforts of national-level organizations that provide technical assistance and other resources to help establish new community foundations and strengthen existing ones.
- Efforts to bolster the capacity of national-level support organizations to help community foundations build common ground.
Documents Needed
- Letter of inquiry
- Project purpose and objectives
- General methodology
- Total project cost
Sources and recorded changes
- Source change captured
- Change recorded
- Record updated
A captured source change or record update does not confirm eligibility. Check the funder’s current rules before applying.
Common Ground grants updated
New authoritative grant pages now show two Common Ground awards, including a $400,000 grant in Kenya and a $1,000,000 grant in the United States.
New grant pages now show Community Foundation Development in Kenya at $400,000 with a grant period of July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2028, and Seeds of Connection at $1,000,000 with a grant period of January 1, 2024 to June 30, 2028. The newly published details also clarify the project focus and geography: one grant supports community foundation development across Kenya, while the other supports equity, accountability, inclusion, and community-foundation collaboration for Native American communities in the United States.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Community foundations
- Community foundation support organizations
- National-level organizations supporting community philanthropy
Who is not eligible
- Applicants not involved in community philanthropy
- Organizations unable to submit materials in English
Eligible geographic areas
- U.S.
- Africa
- Latin America
How to apply
- Step 1: Prepare a letter of inquiry
- Describe the project purpose and objectives.
- Outline the general methodology.
- Include the total cost of the project.
- Step 2: Submit online
- Use the online letter of inquiry form on the foundation website.
- Submit all materials in English.
Processing and Agreement
- Non-U.S. applicants are asked to submit a letter of inquiry first.
- The foundation reviews the inquiry and may advise whether a full proposal is needed.
- Review turnaround for a letter of inquiry is 90 days.
- Applications are submitted through the foundation’s online form.
Additional information
- The program has two strategies to achieve its goals.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Civil Society - Enhancing Community Philanthropy Program
What is the Civil Society - Enhancing Community Philanthropy?
Common Ground equips community foundations and related organizations to bridge divides and solve local issues, with a focus on the United States, Africa, and Latin America. It supports capacity-building tools, measurement frameworks, seed funding, technical assistance, and efforts to strengthen common-ground initiatives.
What is the deadline to apply?
The program is accepting continuous intake
Who is eligible for the Civil Society - Enhancing Community Philanthropy program?
To be eligible for the Civil Society - Enhancing Community Philanthropy program, you must:
Community foundation or support organization
Project supporting community philanthropy
Who can I contact for more information about the Civil Society - Enhancing Community Philanthropy?
You can contact Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.
Where is the Civil Society - Enhancing Community Philanthropy available?
The Civil Society - Enhancing Community Philanthropy program is available across Canada.
Is the Civil Society - Enhancing Community Philanthropy a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Civil Society - Enhancing Community Philanthropy is a Grant and Funding
Who are the financial supporters of the Civil Society - Enhancing Community Philanthropy?
Civil Society - Enhancing Community Philanthropy is funded by Charles Stewart Mott Foundation