About the Navigation Fund

 The Kempner Fund’s Navigation Fund is a pilot providing timely, focused capacity-building support to nonprofits navigating strategic organizational growth. Priority is given to nonprofit organizations that are current recipients of a Kempner Fund Core Grant.

Please review the Eligibility section below for full criteria.

Competitive applicants will have identified the consultant, training, professional development, or other assistance necessary to address their organizational needs. 

The Kempner Fund is currently prioritizing grant proposals that focus on the following areas: 

  • Strengthening organizational resilience and compliance

  • Governance improvement 

  • Expanding equity throughout the organization 

  • Supporting data and impact measurement 

  • Advocacy training 

  • Capacity building for climate resilience and disaster response 

Applicants must align with the Kempner Fund's priorities, including maintaining a current nondiscrimination statement.  

To learn more about each of these priorities, please view our draft Navigation Fund application.

Eligibility

To qualify for funding via the Navigation Fund, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • A USA-based 501(c)(3) organization & current HEKF nonprofit partner, meaning the applicant organization has received a Core Grant from the Kempner Fund in the past year 

  • The requested funding primarily supports or benefits the Galveston, TX community 

  • The organization’s mission or work aligns with one or more of the Kempner Fund’s program areas

  • Priority is given to requests that are in key areas of capacity building support described above 

  • Priority given to nonprofits that are current Core Grant recipients and demonstrate strong values alignment with the Fund

  • Must have identified source of support (i.e., consultant, product, conference, etc.) *

  • The Fund office can provide support in identifying sources if desired

  • Submit a request for up to $7,500 

    * To help ensure capacity-building investments are effective and reduce risk for nonprofits, HEKF funds engagements with consultants or firms that have a demonstrated track record of relevant nonprofit work. We are not able to support engagements with providers that are still in an early or start-up phase of their practice.

Complete the Eligibility Screen Here

Starting in January 2025, if your organization passes the eligibility screening, you will be invited to complete the short application.

Navigation Fund Deadlines

Navigation Fund grant applications are accepted year-round but are considered for funding three (3) times per year:

  • Application Opens: January 1*

    Application Due: January 19

    Approve & Fund By January 29

  • Application Open: Rolling

    Application Due: June 15

    Approve & Fund By June 26

  • Application Open: Rolling 

    Application Due: October 1

    Approve & Fund By October 16 

Navigation Fund Application

To apply, potential applicants must:

What you’ll need to complete the eligibility and application if eligible:

  • Your organization’s EIN number or the EIN of your fiscal agent*

  • Your organization’s nondiscrimination statement

  • Mission statement and contact information

  • Amount of organization’s annual professional development budget, if applicable

  • Name of identified source of support

  • Brief description (3-5 sentences) of how the funding will support your organization’s growth and development 

 FAQs

  • For the Navigation Fund, requests for up to $7,500 per organization per year will be considered. 

  • Currently, qualifying nonprofit organizations are eligible for this grant once per year. 

  • Yes, please contact the Kempner Fund office if you intend to do so. 

  • No.

  • We prefer applicants to have a nondiscrimination statement, but if your organization does not yet have one, we encourage you to apply with a plan or commitment to establish one in the near future.

    The HEKF will not fund activities or organizations that discriminate based on race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, natural origin, immigration status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. 

  • Applications are open year round. 

    Requests will be considered three (3) times per year on the following dates listed on the Navigation Fund page for the current year.

  • For Navigation Fund Grants, the timeline for funding is twelve (12) days from application deadline to funding disbursement. 

  • Yes, we did know that.  This is intentional.  Thanks for noticing.