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March 14, 2019Berkshire Bank Foundation Announces its Annual Capacity-Building Call for Grant Proposals
The Berkshire Bank Foundation announced its annual Capacity Building Grant request for proposals (RFPs), a unique grant opportunity to help meet the evolving needs of non-profit organizations in communities served by Berkshire Bank. Berkshire is inviting grant proposals that seek to build the capacity of non-profit organizations by providing funds for a variety of activities that will improve the organization’s performance and impact. The selected organizations will be eligible for one of nine, $5,000 grants.
The Foundation views capacity building as that which is needed to bring a non-profit to the next level of operational, programmatic, financial or organizational maturity. Capacity building is not just about the capacity of a non-profit today, but about the organization’s ability to deliver on its mission in the months and years ahead. Examples of projects that will be considered through the grant opportunity include the development of a communications strategy, improving program design, enhancing volunteer recruitment, strengthening corporate partnerships, upgrading technology, offering professional development and more.
“Many of the non-profit organizations that we support are working hard in fulfilling their mission that they have limited resources available for initiatives that will serve their long-term sustainability. This program is designed to help address that challenge,” said Lori Gazzillo Kiely, Senior Vice President and Director of Berkshire Bank Foundation. “We have seen a huge response from the non-profit community, so we are pleased to continue it again this year.”
To be eligible for support, organizations must be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) under the IRS Revenue Code and located in, or directly providing, services in communities served by Berkshire Bank. Organizations must submit an application through the online process. Applications for the grant opportunity are now available at www.berkshirebank.com/rfp . The deadline to submit requests is April 30, 2019.
All submissions will be reviewed by a group of Berkshire Bank employee volunteers as part of their Xtraordinary Day of Service on June 5, 2019. Employee volunteers will evaluate each submission using an electronic scoring system. Each submission will be reviewed a minimum of three times, with the average of the scores tallied as the final score. The organizations with the highest scores in each Berkshire Bank region will each receive grant funding in the amount of $5,000 to assist with their initiative.
Questions about this grant opportunity should be directed to foundation@berkshirebank.com
