Search Through Grants for 501(c)(3) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the U.S.

Background

EIn 1955, Ted re-established what was then known as the Glenellen Foundation, renaming it the A. O. Smith Foundation. The Foundation's mission was to support qualifying charitable, educational, human services, scientific, literary, cultural, arts, and civic organizations located primarily in communities where A. O. Smith Corporation has facilities.

Throughout his life, Ted engaged in numerous civic and community activities in Milwaukee. He and his wife Lucy established a convalescent home for children suffering from tuberculosis. Ted also gave a lot of his time to the Medical College of Wisconsin, heading “Project Merit” to raise $17 million to construct a medical education and research complex.

Our Mission

The A. O. Smith Foundation is committed to making our communities a better place to live and work. We achieve this by partnering with and supporting education, arts and culture, health, and human services in the communities in which we operate. At the same time, the Foundation encourages A. O. Smith employees around the world to live the Company’s values through volunteerism and community involvement.

Mission

The DanPaul Foundation will use its resources to help train teachers and parents in early childhood development, protect children from abuse and neglect, stimulate children's personal social responsibilities, and offer them opportunities for enrichment and growth.

The Foundation will also encourage children to be concerned and informed about the environment and the underprivileged, particularly with regard to clean air and water, and adequate housing and nutrition for all.

Beliefs

The DanPaul Foundation believes that children should have ample opportunities for enrichment in their lives, and thus strives to provide many different ways to enrich and expand children's minds through direct programs and monetary support to organizations doing similar work.

We have provided or currently provide grants related to the following program areas:

• Workshops, Conferences, + Seminars: We strive to offer educational workshops, conferences, and seminars for parents and teachers on topics related to early childhood development.
• Student Scholarships: We aim to help students attending post-secondary education institutions by providing need-based and academic scholarships.
• Scientific Endeavors: We desire to advance scientific endeavors which seek to improve the quality of life for everyone in the world.
• Clean Air + Water: We hope to pass on knowledge and practical life skills to youth regarding their personal responsibility to the environment, teaching them about issues surrounding clean air and water.
• Child Advocacy: We believe in protecting children from abuse and neglect and particularly love to support programs that provide education and assistance to children as well as organizations advocating or caring for vulnerable children.
• Homelessness: We want to encourage young people to take a personal interest in seeing that adequate housing and proper nutrition, especially for the underprivileged and homeless, are available.
• Poverty + Neglect: We seek to help those in poverty as well as educate youth about their responsibility to consider the underprivileged and take care of those most in need of life's basic essentials like adequate housing and proper nutrition.
• Refugee Enrichment: We wish to help refugee youth by supporting programs that provide them enrichment and help them transition to life in a new country.

The DanPaul Foundation provides grants to 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit organizations as defined by the IRS. The Foundation is interested in providing funding to programs that directly serve the health, education, development, and welfare of the world's youth.

Grants range from a few hundred dollars up to $15,000 per calendar year.

Background

Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation seeks to dramatically improve the lives of underserved communities across the globe by supporting scalable, innovative, and impact-first solutions that leverage existing systems and stakeholders. Our goal is to find social entrepreneurs with dynamic products or services that have a proven ability to positively impact the lives of underserved people, and nurture those organizations at the early stages by providing capacity, capital, and community.

Our application process is designed to be open and accessible, and we accept applications year round from across our priority geographies and sectors. Borrowing from our venture capital legacy, we find exceptional entrepreneurs and provide them with: 

Capacity

• The core of DRK’s model is deep and extensive operational and technical support for each portfolio organization, both through dedicated hands-on Board service and specialist capacity-building resources for fundraising, board and organizational development, leadership, financial support, and scaling strategy,

Capital

• DRK provides up to $300,000 USD in either unrestricted grant funding or investment capital over a three-year period, and

Community

• DRK convenes our portfolio and alumni annually, facilitating connections and community. 

What We Fund

DRK Foundation funds early-stage social impact organizations solving the world’s biggest social and environmental problems using bold, scalable approaches.

What stage of growth does DRK Foundation typically fund?

Early stage: Organizations who are early stage, which we define as post-pilot and pre-scale. This typically means: 

• Your program, product or service is already being used in the market or in the field, 
• You have early indication that your model is having its intended impact on the beneficiary populations,
• Your organization is relatively young (ideally between two and five years old, although we will consider both younger and older organizations).

Venture funding: In the case of for profits, we typically support Seed to Series A organizations, and never lead rounds; we also generally but not exclusively refrain from participating in financings exceeding a $15M USD post-money valuation.  

Michael & Susan Dell Foundation Grants

The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation only accepts unsolicited proposals for specific areas within the education, family economic stability and childhood health sectors in select countries where we work, namely the United States, India and South Africa.

As a guideline, the foundation does not fund more than 25% of a project’s budget or more than 10% of an organization’s total annual operating expenses.

The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation has always recognized the power of providing grants to partner organizations that we knew were already working hard to improve the lives of urban children living in poverty. By aligning with organizations that are already making a difference, we continue to make an immediate impact on the lives of thousands of children.

Foundation priorities:

We fund social enterprises that directly serve or impact children or youth from urban low-income communities in the areas of education, health, and family economic stability (including livelihoods and financial inclusion). These social enterprises may be structured as for-profit or nonprofit entities.

Partnerships

We collaborate with a range of organizations focused on creating opportunities for children and families living in urban poverty, with a deep emphasis on measuring impact. Our funding advances projects already making an impact in education, health, and family economic stability. Through these enduring and long-standing partnerships, we create lasting change together.

Investing in nonprofits that are advancing a new, transformative system of justice with the core values of racial equity, economic well-being, and fundamental fairness for all.

Grants Overview

Public Welfare Foundation awards grants to nonprofits that honor the Foundation’s core values of racial equity, economic well-being, and fundamental fairness for all. The Foundation looks for strategic points where its funds can make a significant difference and improve lives through policy and system reform that results in transformative change.

Our Work

Public Welfare Foundation aims to catalyze a transformative approach to justice that is community-led, restorative, and racially just.

• Adult Criminal Justice
• Youth Justice
• Legacy Initiatives
• Jurisdictions

Working in Communities, With Communities

Public Welfare Foundation believes that the best ideas bubble up from communities so we work to engage deeply in and with the communities we fund.

We work with communities to drive transformation from multiple angles including policy advocacy, organizing, leadership development, and demonstration projects. Public Welfare Foundation is committed to funding innovative solutions and investing in the leadership of those most proximate to the issues facing this nation.

Focusing our efforts on criminal justice and youth justice reforms allows us to achieve greater impact in the overhaul of the systems that were created to marginalize and contain our nation’s most vulnerable populations.

Grants Process

The Public Welfare Foundation has a two-step application process that includes both a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) and a full proposal. We invite full proposals after reviewing letters of inquiry. We only consider full proposals we have invited that fit within the program guidelines and available resources.

Current focus areas include:

• Organizations and projects with a focus on structural and systemic changes in the U.S. criminal justice system.
  • The Foundation does not typically fund direct service work (ex. individual support services, case management).
  • However, the Foundation will consider initiatives that aim to further a demonstration project to make the case for non-carceral alternatives and transformative approaches to justice reform.
• Organizations, projects, or special initiatives with a focus on reducing harm and violence using community-centered interventions.
• Reframing the narrative and fostering greater transparency and urgency around the U.S. criminal justice system through storytelling, journalism and other targeted efforts.

Grant Types: How We Fund the Work

General Support Grants

• General support grants are for day-to-day operating costs or to further the work of your organization. These grants are not earmarked for a particular program or project.

Program or Project Support Grants

• Program or project support grants support a specific program or activity of the organization. These are restricted grants and must be used for that program or project.

Special Opportunities Grants

• The Special Opportunities Program supports projects reflecting the Foundation’s mission and underlying values. These are one-time only grants that are especially timely and compelling. At times, this kind of grant serves as a laboratory for new ideas.

Philanthropy is our commitment to communities in which we operate and broader society. We focus our resources on a limited number of key projects that can deliver valuable benefits from our contributions and those of our partners. We give priority to innovative, high-quality projects that meet the following criteria:

• promote sustainable development
• offer an opportunity for Roche to use its expertise and logistics capabilities
• involve Roche actively at an early stage with local authorities and established partners
• engage Roche employees in cultural (focus on contemporary arts), educational and social activities
• managed by an accredited charity

Our four focus areas

Humanitarian and Social

We direct the majority of our philanthropic donations to humanitarian and social development projects.

Science and education

We are dedicated to programmes that promote scientific interest and provide educational opportunities for young people around the world.

Community and Environment

We are committed to building stronger communities and responding to natural disasters sustainably.

Arts and Culture

We support groundbreaking contemporary art, cultural projects and activities that explore the parallels between innovation in art and in science. 

Mission

Driven by a philanthropic calling to support marginalized communities throughout the world, the Semnani Family Foundation partners with on-the-ground organizations and leverages its resources in a cost-effective and efficient manner that delivers the maximum benefit.

History

Guided by his grandmother Maliheh’s example and teachings, Khosrow Semnani and his wife Ghazaleh established the Semnani Family Foundation in 1993. The foundation’s first grant was issued through CARE International to an orphanage in Romania that cared for newborns affected by HIV. Over the last few decades, the foundation has continued to build upon its mission to empower the disaffected, partnering with a variety of organizations in different countries who can make the greatest impact.

In addition to its global influence, the Semnani Family Foundation established roots within the state of Utah with the founding of Maliheh Free Clinic in 2005 to provide free healthcare to thousands of uninsured people in the Salt Lake City area.

Where We Work

The Semnani Family Foundation focuses primarily on promoting health, education, and disaster relief for marginalized communities all around the world. Driven by a clear mission to adapt and serve at the global level, we have leveraged our resources to make a meaningful impact in the following countries so far:

• Afghanistan
• Bosnia
• Colombia
• England
• Ethiopia
• Ghana
• Guatemala
• India
• Iran
• Kenya
• Madagascar
• Mali
• Mexico
• Pakistan
• Philippines
• Romania
• Somalia
• South Africa
• Tanzania
• Tonga
• Uganda
• United States
• Yemen

At the heart of the Foundation lies a fervent commitment to human welfare, always prioritizing health and the needs of society’s most vulnerable.

Our Mission

The Tony Robbins Foundation is a nonprofit organization created to empower individuals and organizations to make a significant difference in the quality of life of people often forgotten.

We’re dedicated to creating positive changes in the lives of youth, seniors, the hungry, homeless and the imprisoned population, all who need a boost envisioning a happier and deeply satisfying way of life. Our passionate staff, generous donors and caring group of international volunteers provide the vision, inspiration, and resources needed to empower these important members of our society.

Grants

Dedicated to meeting challenges within the global community, creating solutions and taking action, The Tony Robbins Foundation provides monetary donations to various organizations around the world. Funding requests are evaluated on an ongoing basis. We look for organizations that align with our mission to empower individuals and organizations to make a significant difference in the quality of life of those often forgotten.

About the DNR

In keeping with our mission, the DNR is dedicated to working with Wisconsinites while preserving and enhancing the natural resources of Wisconsin. In partnership with individuals and organizations, DNR staff manage fish, wildlife, forests, parks, air and water resources while promoting a healthy, sustainable environment and a full range of outdoor opportunities.

State Park and Forest Heritage Trust Fund

The Wisconsin Legislature created the State Park and Forest Heritage Trust Fund to provide grants to Friends Groups for the maintenance and operations of state parks, southern state forests, state trails or state recreation areas. A Friends Group must have established an endowment fund for the benefit of the property. Only interest generated by the endowment fund can be used as the applicant’s match.

Centene Charitable Foundation

Successful corporate citizenship happens when companies invest in the local organizations that know their communities best. The Centene Foundation works with our local partners on initiatives that focus on inclusion, the whole person and community development.

Vision

Centene’s purpose is transforming the health of the community, one person at a time. The Centene Foundation is an essential part of how we pursue this purpose. We achieve measurable impact for the communities we serve through partnerships and philanthropy efforts that invest in initiatives with holistic approaches to dismantling barriers to health.

Areas of Focus

Reflecting Centene’s commitment to the needs of those who rely on government-sponsored health care and to addressing social determinants of health and health equity, preference will be given to initiatives in three distinct areas of focus.

• Healthcare Access
• Social Services
• Education

Our Mission

Our mission is to continue and further the philanthropic legacy of Gardner Cowles, Jr. and the Cowles family, which includes promotion of education, social justice, health, and the arts.

The Founder

The Cowles Charitable Trust was first established in 1948 by Gardner “Mike” Cowles, Jr. (1903-1985). Born into the Cowles publishing family of Des Moines, Iowa, Mike was the youngest of Gardner Cowles and Florence Call Cowles’ six children. A newspaper editor and publisher by trade, he was committed to his family’s traditions of responsible, public-spirited, and innovative journalism as well as philanthropy. 

The Cowles Charitable Trust supports the arts, education, the advancement of ethical journalism, medical and climate research.

Our Mission

Impact100 Greater Milwaukee is an organization of women who collectively award transformative grants that make a lasting impact on the community.

Grants

Impact100 Greater Milwaukee challenges your established nonprofit organization to think creatively about the needs of your community. Dream big, know your plan and how you’ll measure the outcomes, and you could earn a grant to make a transformative, impactful and sustained change in the greater Milwaukee area.

Focus Areas

All programs or projects must fall within one of the following Focus Areas:

• Arts & Culture
  • Projects or programs that cultivate, develop, educate or enhance the artistic and/or cultural climate in the Greater Milwaukee area.
• Education
  • Projects or programs that improve or advance educational opportunities for children and/or adults in the Greater Milwaukee area.
• Environment & Revitalization
  • Projects or programs in the Greater Milwaukee area that:
    • preserve, enhance, revitalize or restore facilities, spaces or surroundings;
    • promote the protection and welfare of animals; or
    • encourage conservation.
• Health & Wellness
  • Projects or programs that positively impact the mental or physical health of people living in the Greater Milwaukee area.
• Family
  • Projects or programs that strengthen or enhance the lives of children, adults and families living in the Greater Milwaukee area.

Making philanthropy easy—and effective

Since 2001, The Catholic Community Foundation has supported effective philanthropy in Southeastern Wisconsin through two primary roles:

• For donors: Establish permanent charitable funds to create long-lasting support for the causes individuals and families care about.For parishes, schools and other Catholic organizations: Provide cost-effective, socially responsible investment management to keep endowment assets growing.
• As a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, the Foundation is independent of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.  The Foundation focuses on four priority areas: education; leadership development; health care for the under-served in Milwaukee; and community-building to strengthen families, parishes and those suffering from poverty, discrimination, and violence.

The Catholic Community Foundation awards grants for limited-term projects and programs

Health care in Milwaukee

Awarding grants from a fund established by the St. Anthony Foundation for organizations providing health care services in Milwaukee, especially in central city areas formerly served by St. Anthony Hospital.

Youth Foundation

The Youth Foundation promotes the welfare and betterment of children and young people up to 25 years of age in a variety of ways contributing to their physical and intellectual development and formation of character.

History

The Youth Foundation is managed by the Greater Milwaukee Association of REALTORS® and has a history that is deeply immersed in the real estate industry here in the Metro Milwaukee area. The Youth Foundation roots begin in 1951 when REALTOR® and local builder Arthur Richards developed the Wisconsin and Maryland Hotels, the Marshall Hall Apartments, and the Empire Building. As his success grew in the construction and development business, so did passion for youth and the challenges that they face. Arthur’s commitment to youth became a continual benefit when upon his death he willed a portion of his assets to be given to the Greater Milwaukee Association of REALTORS®. Arthur’s instructions for his gift was that it be used only to help children and young adults through age twenty-five in the areas of Education, Social Services, and the Arts.

Grant Guidelines

Thank you for the work you do and for your interest in the Youth Foundation. The Youth Foundation Mission is to assist and promote the welfare and betterment of children and young people up to 25 years of age that contribute to their physical and intellectual development and formation of character. All grants made by the Foundation must meet these criteria.

The Youth Foundation welcomes applications from the Metro Milwaukee Area that can demonstrate how they are making a significant contribution towards the area’s youth. 

UNICO Foundation

The UNICO Foundation Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) Corporation. This classification by the IRS allows various contributions to the Foundation to be tax-deductible. The Foundation was incorporated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1962. The purpose of the Foundation shall be to receive, accept and make gifts, donations, grants, awards, scholarships, fellowships, and the like, for charitable, scientific, educational, literary and religious purposes. Every member of UNICO National is also a member of the Foundation. Scholarships are our number one project. Each year the Foundation grants over 40 scholarships.

The UNICO Foundation makes substantial grants to:

• Cooley’s Anemia
• Mental Health Organizations
• Italian Studies

The Foundation Also Offers Specific Grants For Cancer Research & Prevention And Food Bank/Shelter. 

Cancer Research & Prevention Grant

With cancer touching so many lives, cancer research and prevention continues to be one of UNICO’s major charitable endeavors. Over the years a number of research projects have been supported for varying types of cancer, such as Hodgkin’s Disease, Colon Cancer, Breast Cancer, Prostate Cancer and more. 

UNICO Foundation

The UNICO Foundation Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) Corporation. This classification by the IRS allows various contributions to the Foundation to be tax-deductible. The Foundation was incorporated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1962. The purpose of the Foundation shall be to receive, accept and make gifts, donations, grants, awards, scholarships, fellowships, and the like, for charitable, scientific, educational, literary and religious purposes.  Every member of UNICO National is also a member of the Foundation. The Foundation also offers specific grants for cancer research & prevention and food bank/shelter. 

The UNICO Foundation makes substantial grants to:

• Cooley's Anemia
• Mental Health Organizations
• Italian Studies

Ralph J. Torraco Food Bank/Shelter Fund Grant

Mission: To feed the hungry and provide shelter for those homeless or the indigent.

Funding Criteria: To provide funds through community established food/shelter programs that provide food and shelter to those in need.

The program should not be located in a private home, and must meet all local and State health department regulations. The food/shelter program should have an established track record of providing food and or shelter to low-income clientele. Food Pantries, Soup Kitchens or Shelters should use 100% of the grant to purchase food or provide shelter. The program must be located in the United States and serve people in the United States.

Wisconsin Art Board

Mission Statement

The Wisconsin Arts Board is the state agency which nurtures creativity, cultivates expression, promotes the arts, supports the arts in education, stimulates community and economic development and serves as a resource for people of every culture and heritage. 

Values

The Wisconsin Arts Board values:

• ​imagination
• creativity
• curiosity
• freedom of expression
• respect and appreciation for all cultures and people
• artistic quality
• a broad definition of the arts
• audience and patron development
• community engagement

Woodland Indian Arts Initiative

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Woodland Indian Arts Initiative (WIAI) is designed to promote and develop a foundation of cultural and economic support for traditional and contemporary Native American arts in Wisconsin. As part of this work, the Arts Board annually distributes funds from Gaming Compact monies to support artistic activities among Wisconsin's tribes, bands and urban Indian communities, including:

• Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
• Brothertown Indian Nation
• Forest County Potawatomi Community
• Ho-Chunk Nation
• Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
• Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
• Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin
• Oneida Nation of Wisconsin
• Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
• Sokaogon Chippewa Community
• St. Croix Chippewa Community
• Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians
• Urban Indian populations in Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, La Crosse and other urban centers

Types of Activities Funded​​​

Funding priority goes to activities that work to build a long-term structure of support for Native arts in Wisconsin. These include but are not limited to:

• Professional arts administration positions in support of Native arts,
• Documentation of arts activities and cultural knowledge in Wisconsin’s Native communities,
• Technical assistance and professional development to Native artists and arts organizations,
• Presentation and promotion of Wisconsin’s Native artists through festivals, markets, exhibitions, various media and other forms of presentation, and
• Planning grants in preparation for any of the above.
• New, expanded or existing projects are eligible. 

Traditional and contemporary art forms are welcome.

For additional information on the grant program and reports on needs articulated by Wisconsin Native artists, can be found on this page.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications to the WIAI grant program will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• The degree to which the proposed activity will serve a need or interest in one or more of the identified Native American communities in Wisconsin.
• Quality of the proposed art form,
• The feasibility of the proposed activity,
• The feasibility of the proposed budget,
• And the degree to which the proposed activity will develop a foundation of cultural and economic support for Native arts in Wisconsin.

Dr. Harry J. Heeb Foundation Grant

Dr. Harry J. Heeb was born in Milwaukee in 1882, and attended the Marquette University Medical School graduating with an M.D. degree in 1904. He did his graduate Medical School work in Vienna, becoming a specialist in eye, ear, nose and throat medicine returning to the US in 1907. Dr Heeb was on the faculty at Marquette Medical School for more than 25 years, he served as a Chief of Staff at St. Joseph Hospital, a President of the Board of Trustees of the old Johnston Emergency Hospital, and was also the first examiner for the blind in the State of Wisconsin. He has been noted as one of the first to use the X-ray in Milwaukee medical practice. He also volunteered his time on several boards and was the member of several charitable organizations.

Funding Priorities

Assisting children, especially those who are underprivileged or abused.

Providing medical attention directly to persons afflicted with illnesses, diseases, or other disabilities related to eyes, ears, noses, and throats; or carrying on medical research in fields related to such illnesses, diseases, or disabilities.

Providing education and training (and equipment and materials to assist in such education and training) for any of the following: 

• Children, especially those who are underprivileged or abused.
• Those persons who provide education or training or social services for children as referred above.
• Those persons who themselves are afflicted with illnesses, diseases or other disabilities related to eyes, ears, noses and throats.
• Those persons who provide medical services or training to the afflicted persons referred to above. Providing education and training for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses.

Geographic Focus

Florida and Wisconsin

Types of Support

• General Operating
• Program Support
• Project Support

Grant Range:

The average grant size is between $2,500 – $20,000.

The Frank L. Weyenberg Charitable Trust awards grants to organizations supporting charitable, religious, scientific, literary, or educational purposes.

Frank L. Weyenberg was born in Appleton, Wisconsin on March 26, 1882. In 1892, the Weyenberg family entered into a partnership to sell shoes. Frank L. Weyenberg entered his family’s shoe business in 1897 at age 15. By 1906, he was president of the Weyenberg Shoe Manufacturing Co., based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Mr. Weyenberg was president of the company until 1962, when he became Chairman of the Board, a position he held until he retired in 1968. During his time as president and chairman, company sales grew dramatically. Mr. Weyenberg remained on the Board of Directors of the company, now called the Weyco Group, until his death in 1976. Mr. Weyenberg had a second home in Palm Beach, Florida for many, many years and was a Florida resident at his death. Mr. Weyenberg’s generosity will continue to benefit people for many years to come.

Program areas

• Arts, culture, and humanities 
• Education 
• Environment, animals 
• Health 
• Human services 
• Public/society benefit 
• Religion

History

It was the wish of Richard and Ethel Herzfeld that, upon their deaths, their assets would be added to their Foundation dedicated to Wisconsin but with emphasis on the greater Milwaukee area. Since Ethel's death in 1997, the Foundation translated that wish into an investment of many millions of dollars in the community with more to come in the future.

Richard and Ethel lived in Milwaukee and on Pine Lake for most of their lives. Richard’s father was the founder of a company that bought and managed the Boston Store from 1906 to 1948. There, after serving in World War I and graduating from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, Richard worked his way up from stock boy in 1920 to president in 1940. Boston Store was sold to Federated Department Stores, Inc. in 1948. Ethel Ann Davis Herzfeld was born in Chicago and attended Milwaukee-Downer College. She received her B.A. degree from Wellesley College in 1920. Her mother, Emma J. Davis, resided on Marietta Avenue in Milwaukee.

Richard and Ethel were active in the Milwaukee community and contributed significant time and resources to enriching cultural life in the city. Sparked by a spirit of innovation and recognizing the need to adapt to an ever-changing world, both took a lively interest in all aspects of the greater Milwaukee area and ways to enhance the quality of life of its institutions and citizens.

What We Support

• Arts & Culture
• Education
• Civic Improvement (On a limited basis and by invitation only)

Arts Awareness Grant

Grants are intended to promote awareness of the visual and performing arts in metro Milwaukee – including the value of such arts, the challenges facing artists and arts organizations, and potential solutions to those challenges – through newspaper, news website, radio, or television reporting. They will be awarded to organizations that propose strategies to expand their existing coverage of the arts or initiate new or different forms of coverage. Such coverage can be achieved through reviews or previews of performing or visual arts offerings; journalistic reporting on issues facing artists and the arts communities in metro Milwaukee; or ideally both.

Funding

Maximum grant is $100,000. One- and two-year grant proposals will be considered.

History

It was the wish of Richard and Ethel Herzfeld that, upon their deaths, their assets would be added to their Foundation dedicated to Wisconsin but with emphasis on the greater Milwaukee area. Since Ethel's death in 1997, the Foundation translated that wish into an investment of many millions of dollars in the community with more to come in the future.

Richard and Ethel lived in Milwaukee and on Pine Lake for most of their lives. Richard’s father was the founder of a company that bought and managed the Boston Store from 1906 to 1948. There, after serving in World War I and graduating from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, Richard worked his way up from stock boy in 1920 to president in 1940. Boston Store was sold to Federated Department Stores, Inc. in 1948. Ethel Ann Davis Herzfeld was born in Chicago and attended Milwaukee-Downer College. She received her B.A. degree from Wellesley College in 1920. Her mother, Emma J. Davis, resided on Marietta Avenue in Milwaukee.

Richard and Ethel were active in the Milwaukee community and contributed significant time and resources to enriching cultural life in the city. Sparked by a spirit of innovation and recognizing the need to adapt to an ever-changing world, both took a lively interest in all aspects of the greater Milwaukee area and ways to enhance the quality of life of its institutions and citizens.

What We Support

• Arts & Culture
• Education
• Civic Improvement (On a limited basis and by invitation only)

Arts Education Grant

Grants are intended to help strengthen the capacity and build the sustainability of organizations that demonstrate dedication and past success in providing arts education to youth up to age 18 in the city of Milwaukee and to support innovative arts education projects and programs in Milwaukee. Priority will be given to applications that propose use of grant monies in ways that enhance capacity and long-term organizational fiscal stability for the applicant(s); demonstrate or promote collaboration among two or more arts education organizations or between arts education organizations and general education or community-based organizations; or demonstrate innovation in educational strategies or efforts to reach underserved youth.

Examples of arts education programs that may be looked upon favorably include artist residencies in Milwaukee K-12 or early childhood education settings, artist visits or short-term programs in such settings, afterschool or summer school arts programs, and efforts to improve and enhance arts curricula or programming in early childhood education settings or K-12 schools in Milwaukee. We also welcome proposals that are designed to enhance the capacity of arts education organizations or improve their fiscal stability for the purpose of ensuring that they can continue to provide high-quality arts education in Milwaukee; and proposals to support new programs or projects that provide arts education in Milwaukee neighborhoods. Proposals for activities designed to improve access to arts education programs – such as transportation assistance – will be considered.

Funding

Maximum grant is $40,000, minimum grant is $5,000.

History

It was the wish of Richard and Ethel Herzfeld that, upon their deaths, their assets would be added to their Foundation dedicated to Wisconsin but with emphasis on the greater Milwaukee area. Since Ethel's death in 1997, the Foundation translated that wish into an investment of many millions of dollars in the community with more to come in the future.

Richard and Ethel lived in Milwaukee and on Pine Lake for most of their lives. Richard’s father was the founder of a company that bought and managed the Boston Store from 1906 to 1948. There, after serving in World War I and graduating from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, Richard worked his way up from stock boy in 1920 to president in 1940. Boston Store was sold to Federated Department Stores, Inc. in 1948. Ethel Ann Davis Herzfeld was born in Chicago and attended Milwaukee-Downer College. She received her B.A. degree from Wellesley College in 1920. Her mother, Emma J. Davis, resided on Marietta Avenue in Milwaukee.

Richard and Ethel were active in the Milwaukee community and contributed significant time and resources to enriching cultural life in the city. Sparked by a spirit of innovation and recognizing the need to adapt to an ever-changing world, both took a lively interest in all aspects of the greater Milwaukee area and ways to enhance the quality of life of its institutions and citizens.

What We Support

• Arts & Culture
• Education
• Civic Improvement (On a limited basis and by invitation only)

Small Arts Organization Project Grant

Grants are intended to help strengthen the capacity and build the sustainability of small- and medium-sized arts and cultural organizations; and support programs or projects that create opportunities for individuals to have meaningful arts-related experiences, particularly in underserved communities. While we will consider grants to support general operations, priority will be given to applications that propose use of grant monies in ways that enhance capacity-building and long-term organizational fiscal stability for the applicant(s) and that demonstrate innovation in audience-building, revenue enhancement, or financial/organizational management. For applications to support specific programs or projects, priority will be given to proposals that demonstrate or promote collaboration among two or more arts or community-based organizations and expand public access to and awareness of the arts.

Funding

Maximum grant is $25,000, minimum grant is $5,000

The Lawrence Foundation is a private family foundation focused on making grants to support environmental, human services and other causes.

The Lawrence Foundation was established in mid-2000. We make both program and operating grants and do not have any geographical restrictions on our grants. Nonprofit organizations that qualify for public charity status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or other similar organizations are eligible for grants from The Lawrence Foundation.  

Grant Amount and Types

Grants typically range between $5,000 - $10,000. In some limited cases we may make larger grants, but that is typically after we have gotten to know your organization over a period of time. We also generally don’t make multi-year grants, although we may fund the same organization on a year by year basis over a period of years.

General operating or program/project grant requests within our areas of interests are accepted. In general, regardless of whether a grant request is for general operating or program/project expenses, all of our grants will be issued as unrestricted grants.

Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Grant

The Foundation will consider requests to support museums, cultural and performing arts programs; schools and hospitals; educational, skills-training and other programs for youth, seniors, and persons with disabilities; environmental and wildlife protection activities; and other community-based organizations and programs.

About Wispact Foundation

The Wispact Inc. Foundation was established in 2021 in recognition of its dedication to provide a broader scope of service and create more opportunities for improving the lives of persons with disabilities across Wisconsin.

As an agency endowment fund established by Wispact Inc. and managed by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, the organization endeavors to make lasting community impacts through grants to organizations that serve persons with disabilities.

Grants

The Wispact Inc. Foundation provides charitable grants to non-profit organizations providing services to persons with disabilities.

Consideration will be given to, but not limited to, proposals addressing needs in the following areas:

• Housing:
  • programs designed to improve the day-to-day living conditions, for persons with disabilities, through the provision of safe living environments and enhancing the accessibility to such environment
• Assistive Devices:
  • devices designed, made, or adapted to assist a person to perform a particular task; examples include: canes, crutches, walkers, wheel chairs, and shower chairs are all assistive devices
• Education/Recreation:
  • inclusive educational programming including, but not limited to, workshops, summer camps, art classes; educational equipment such as computers, software, projection equipment, art supplies, etc. that promote fulfillment and edification for persons with disabilities
• Expansion of current services in place
• Transportation

Corporate Contributions

Community involvement and corporate citizenship are an example of Insperity’s mission in action. We are committed to helping the communities where we live and work because together, we know we can make great things happen.

Grants

Philanthropic grants are a strong part of our community outreach and aid institutions needing financial support to meet important service goals.

Event Sponsorship

Fundraising events are an important part of nonprofit support. Insperity provides event sponsorships to approved charities to assist them in meeting their financial and community goals.

Heart of Canal Street

At the Heart of it All

Giving has always been at the heart of who we are, and that heart is in our name: Heart of Canal Street. Since 1994, Potawatomi Hotel & Casino’s signature community program has partnered with local children’s charities to help improve the lives of children by putting food on tables, helping kids stay safe and encouraging an appreciation of the arts.

In partnership with the Heart of Canal Street charities, Potawatomi is truly helping give the gift of a promising future to area children.

The 2024 Heart of Canal Street will have 30 children’s charity winners and giving away over $500,000 total!