Cape Cod Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $6.5+ million
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: 3 months from deadline
• Grant Range: $500 - $40,000 (typical grants $1,000 - $30,000)
• Geographic Focus: Barnstable County, Massachusetts

Contact Details

Website: www.capecodfoundation.org
Phone: 508-790-3040
Email: info@capecodfoundation.org
Address: 261 Whites Path, Unit 2, South Yarmouth, MA 02664

Overview

The Cape Cod Foundation is a community foundation established in 1989 that has grown from a single $10,000 scholarship fund to managing over 330 charitable funds with approximately $100 million in assets. Under the leadership of President and CEO Kristin O'Malley since 2017, the Foundation has more than doubled both its annual grantmaking and its endowment for the community. In 2024, the Foundation distributed $6,567,067 in grants to 440 community organizations, marking its 35th anniversary year. The Foundation has invested more than $106 million in grants and scholarships in the Cape Cod community since its inception, demonstrating its commitment to building permanent charitable resources for community betterment through informed grantmaking and civic leadership.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Open Door Grants: For first-time applicants or organizations not funded in past 5 years (applications typically open March-May)
• Town Fund Grants: Community-specific grants (applications open annually)
• Flexible Funding Grants: New program for 2025
• Capacity Building Grants: $10,000-$30,000 (multi-year comprehensive support)
• Targeted Capacity Building: $15,000-$25,000 (one-year program)
• Anniversary Grants: $35,000 multi-year grants for unrestricted/operational support
• Young Professionals Giving Circle Fund: $500-$2,500

Priority Areas

• Educational Scholarships
• Environmental Conservation and Preservation
• Health and Human Services (including mental health)
• Housing (safe and affordable)
• Workforce and Career Development
• Youth Development
• Arts and Culture
• Meeting needs of children and families
• Promoting thriving local economy with engaged citizens

What They Don't Fund

• Government organizations
• Public, private and post-secondary schools (depending on grant program)
• Organizations less than 3 years old (for certain programs)
• Religious programming at religious institutions
• Projects outside Barnstable County
• International programs (scholarships restricted to US institutions)

Governance and Leadership

President and CEO: Kristin O'Malley (joined 2004, CEO since 2017) - Under her leadership, the Foundation has more than doubled both annual grantmaking and endowment. She was instrumental in establishing an emergency fund during COVID-19 that raised and distributed nearly $6 million. Recognized as one of "40 Under 40" leaders by Cape & Plymouth Business Magazine and among 19 women nationally on Nonprofit HR's "Social Impact Women to Watch" list in 2022.

Board Leadership: The Board includes volunteers representing diverse community interests, with leadership including a Chair with CPA background from Ernst & Young and Vice Chair formerly of Wellington Management's fixed income practice.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Foundation uses Foundant, an online grant management system, for all competitive grant activities. Organizations should register and establish an organizational profile ahead of time (only one profile needed per organization). Applications vary by program with specific deadlines:

• Open Door Grants: Applications typically open March 31 and close May 5
• Town Fund Grants: Applications open in 2026 (closed for 2025)
• Flexible Funding Grants: New for 2025 (timeline TBD)

Decision Timeline

Grant applicants are typically notified within 3 months of the application deadline. Grant notification letters are sent by email. For scholarships, students are notified by early June after selection committees meet in April and May.

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly available. In 2024, the Foundation made 440 grants to community organizations from its various programs.

Reapplication Policy

Open Door Grants are specifically for organizations that have never received funding or haven't received a discretionary grant in the last 5 years (2020-2024). For other programs, specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not explicitly stated. Contact the Foundation directly for clarification.

Application Success Factors

The Foundation encourages brief, focused responses in applications - while generous character counts are provided, applicants should not feel obligated to meet the limit. Key recommendations include:

• Carefully review Grant Guidelines for specific criteria and limitations for each opportunity
• Use the Philanthropy Massachusetts Common Proposal Budget Template as required
• Register early as the registration process cannot save partial information
• Be aware the system logs out after 90 minutes of inactivity (working on forms doesn't count as activity)
• Review the Foundation's grant writing tips and best practices resources available under "Resources for Applicants"
• Align your request with the Foundation's six key impact areas
• Focus on projects that serve Barnstable County specifically

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The Foundation prioritizes organizations serving Barnstable County exclusively - geographic alignment is critical
• First-time applicants have a dedicated funding stream through Open Door Grants
• Multi-year capacity building support is available for organizational development ($10,000-$30,000)
• The Foundation values brief, focused applications over lengthy narratives
• Strong alignment with one of six strategic priority areas increases competitiveness
• Organizations must be at least 3 years old for most grant programs
• Technical preparation is important - register in Foundant early and gather all required information before starting

References

• Cape Cod Foundation Official Website (www.capecodfoundation.org) - Accessed February 2026
• "The Cape Cod Foundation Awards Over $6.5 Million in Grants and Scholarships During 2024" - Cape Cod Foundation Press Release, 2024
• Cape Cod Foundation Competitive Grant Programs Overview - www.capecodfoundation.org/competitive-grant-programs-overview/
• Cape Cod Foundation Financial Assistance FAQs - www.capecodfoundation.org/financial-assistance-faqs/
• Cape Cod Foundation Team Profile: Kristin O'Malley - www.capecodfoundation.org/team-kristin-omalley/
• Cape Cod Foundation Annual Report - www.capecodfoundation.org/annual-report/
• GuideStar Profile for Cape Cod Foundation (EIN 51-0140462) - www.guidestar.org/profile/51-0140462
• Inside Philanthropy: Cape Cod Foundation - www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/massachusetts-grants/cape-cod-foundation