This is the first of two reports documenting the implementation of the Community Capacity Fund (CCF), a project of Washington Grantmakers. The CCF was created after September 11, 2001 to strengthen the Washington, DC region's capacity to not only advocate for and reemploy dislocated workers, but also to strengthen cross-jurisdictional efforts to prepare for and respond to any future disasters. Based on an analysis of interviews of key steering committee members and staff of the CCF, as well as a review of various CCF documents, including meeting notes, staff reports, and grant proposals, this report examines the design of and lessons learned from the grantmaking process.