Fund Your Tech Through Capacity Grants
Three upcoming 2026 grants in New York and New England to support systems like equipment, webinar tools, and a real CRM.
Nonprofits today operate inside complex digital systems. Fundraising, reporting, collaboration, and community engagement all depend on technology that works consistently and securely. This is not a trend. It is the operating environment.
Capacity building grants are one of the few funding categories that explicitly recognize this reality. They are designed to strengthen how an organization operates, not just what it delivers. That makes them a clear and appropriate place to invest in technology and digital tools when the case is made directly.
This is not about stretching definitions or hiding costs. It is about aligning funding with how nonprofit work actually happens.
Capacity Is an Operational Choice
When funders talk about capacity, they are talking about whether an organization can operate effectively and sustainably. That shows up in systems.
Do staff have reliable computers that support daily workflows?
Can the organization host professional virtual meetings, trainings, or webinars?
Is donor or participant data managed in a way that supports stewardship, reporting, and planning?
These are not secondary considerations. They shape how well the work is carried out.
Technology and digital tools belong in the capacity conversation because they directly affect efficiency, consistency, and accountability.
What Capacity Grants Can Support
Used intentionally, capacity funding can support focused infrastructure investments such as:
Updating staff computers and shared equipment to improve reliability and data security
Purchasing video and audio tools for virtual meetings, webinars, or hybrid community events
Implementing a donor or client management CRM to replace spreadsheets and disconnected systems
Covering setup, data migration, and staff training so new tools are fully integrated into daily work
These investments reduce friction, protect staff time, and make fundraising and reporting easier to manage over the long term.
This is not unrestricted funding by another name. It is targeted infrastructure support.
Three 2026 Grants to Watch
Several capacity focused grants in the region support investment in internal systems when the request is framed clearly. These three upcoming 2026 opportunities illustrate that approach.
The NH CDFA Community Economic Development Capacity Building Program supports nonprofits in strengthening organizational infrastructure tied to community and economic development goals. Eligible uses include internal systems, planning, and operational improvements that support effective and sustainable work.
The Maine Community Foundation Community Building Grants support organizations across the state working to strengthen communities. Capacity building is an eligible focus, and funding can support internal improvements that increase organizational effectiveness and long term stability.
The Capital Region Community Foundation Capacity Building Grants program, open for the 2026 cycle, explicitly includes organizational development activities such as technology planning, fundraising systems, and operational infrastructure.
Each of these programs reflects a practical understanding of capacity. Strong organizations rely on systems that work.
Make the Case With Precision
The strongest capacity proposals do not rely on vague language about building capacity. They explain exactly what will change.
Name the system being improved.
Explain how workflows will be more efficient or reliable.
Show how the investment supports sustainability, accountability, or long term planning.
Specificity builds confidence. It signals that the organization understands its operations and is making deliberate choices about how to strengthen them.
Capacity Funding Is a Strategic Tool
Capacity building grants are not a substitute for general operating support. They are a way to make focused investments in the infrastructure that supports everything else.
Technology and digital tools belong in this category when they are treated as systems, not perks.
Capacity is not about doing more.
It is about equipping the work with tools that match its level of responsibility.
About Harvey & Smith Impact
Harvey & Smith Impact works with nonprofit organizations and public sector partners to strengthen fundraising strategy, organizational infrastructure, and long term sustainability. The firm focuses on practical, mission aligned support that helps organizations secure funding and build systems that match the scale and complexity of their work. Learn more.