Best Grants for Nonprofit Healthcare Programs in Wisconsin

Nonprofit organizations in Wisconsin offering healthcare services or improvements can apply for the M3 Insurance Foundation Grant to support medical care, community health, and related initiatives. Programs that also advance financial literacy, promote insurance careers, or improve safety and disaster relief may be eligible under this funding opportunity.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations improving health care access, community health education, or health equity in Wisconsin can receive support through CommonSpirit Health’s Community Health Improvement Grants. Grants up to US $150,000 fund defined projects that address significant needs identified in community health needs assessments through participating CommonSpirit hospitals outside the Mountain Region.

Wisconsin municipal governments seeking help securing federal funding for health care access and delivery can receive free support through the Great Lakes Federal Grant Navigation Program. National League of Cities provides one-on-one assistance and peer cohorts to help eligible cities navigate ARPA and IIJA grant applications across health, housing, transportation, workforce, and related community needs.

Health care and health sciences employers and partners in Wisconsin can receive US $5,000 - US $400,000 to provide customized worker training and upskilling. Grants from Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development help healthcare-focused collaborations fund short- and medium-term training that fills critical skill gaps, supports long-term employment, and advances the state’s health workforce capacity.

Hospitals, FQHCs, Rural Health Clinics, and other maternal health care teams in Wisconsin can seek funding to support care delivery transformation and infrastructure under this maternal health model. Focused on maternal and perinatal health, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services invites organizations to participate in administering and overseeing provider infrastructure payments, with awards up to US $100,003.

Nonprofit organizations in Wisconsin working on health care access, basic human needs, youth development, education, or arts programs may be eligible for this funding. Grants from Little Rapids Corporation Egan Family Foundation help communities near its Northeast Wisconsin facilities, with preference for projects that benefit many people over an extended period.

Wisconsin 501(c)(3) nonprofits and governmental units providing health care access, basic human needs, or community services can access funding through Frankenmuth Insurance Foundation. Grants support community betterment, health and wellness programs, and related services in states where the insurer operates, so eligible healthcare-focused organizations in Wisconsin may benefit.

Nonprofit and community organizations in Wisconsin running physician-led, evidence-based health programs can seek funding for education, outreach, and pilot initiatives. Grants from Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation help Wisconsin healthcare providers address health disparities, expand mental and behavioral health access, improve health literacy, and promote disease prevention and early intervention in community and clinical settings.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations providing health care access and delivery in Wisconsin can apply for the James M Cox Foundation Grant to support capital projects or special program expansions. Eligible U.S. organizations must operate in a Cox business service area, and those outside metropolitan Atlanta need a local Cox management endorsement letter.

Interdisciplinary research teams led by eligible UW School of Medicine and Public Health faculty in Wisconsin can apply for University of Wisconsin Madison’s Collaborative Health Sciences Program, with awards up to US $600,000 over three years. Funding supports innovative projects improving health, health care delivery, or health equity, including community-engaged work with Wisconsin-based nonprofit healthcare and community organizations.

Wisconsin nonprofit healthcare and education organizations can access funding through L B Research and Education Foundation to expand proven programs improving health access, mental health, and educational outcomes for underserved populations; awards range from US $10,000 - US $75,000. Eligible 501(c)(3)s are typically small to mid-sized, with established staff, budgets, and at least two years of operating history.

Wisconsin nonprofits and small to medium-sized organizations addressing health care access, delivery, and social determinants of health can access funding through the University of Wisconsin - Madison for community-led health equity initiatives. Grants up to US $250,000 over three years support project-related costs, including personnel, evaluation, and partnership development within Wisconsin communities.

Community Health Workers Grants: Strengthening the Rural Health Workforce in Wisconsin

Funding opportunity summary

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) seeks to strengthen the Wisconsin rural health workforce by developing and expanding high-quality and impactful community health worker (CHW) programs in clinical and community settings. There are three main components to this funding opportunity:

• Hiring and supporting CHWs to carry out services in rural communities
• Training CHWs on core competencies and standards
• Building organizational capacity to sustain quality CHW service provision

Applicants may apply to multiple Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding opportunities for which their organizations are eligible.

Investing in Dental Care Technology: Grants to Improve Rural Dental Efficiency and Access

Funding opportunity summary

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is seeking applications for competitive grants to support dental clinics in adopting technologies that improve efficiency and increase access to care in rural and semi-rural communities. Dental practices, particularly in more rural areas of the state, face challenges that result in reduced access to care. These challenges include high rates of uninsured patients, low and unpredictable patient volumes, dental workforce shortages, and limited capital resources to adopt innovative technologies. This funding opportunity seeks to address these challenges through increased access to dental technological innovations, which improve dental services in rural Wisconsin by increasing the speed of appointments while maintaining quality of care. This funding will allow dental practices to purchase technologies to deliver high-quality and efficient services. Applicants may apply to multiple Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding opportunities for which their organizations are eligible.

Who We Are

Advancing Wisconsin to be the healthiest state in the nation

AHW provides funding and resources to researchers, organizations, and communities devoted to improving the health of the people of Wisconsin.

Call for Applications:

Community-Led Seed Grants

AHW’s Call for Applications: Community-Led Seed Grants supports community-driven efforts to design new strategies, test innovative ideas, and foster greater collaboration to build a foundation for future endeavors to address Wisconsin’s leading health challenges and produce deeper impact on health and health equity in Wisconsin’s communities. Eligible community-based organizations may request up to $50,000 for projects completed within a 12-month period, beginning Jan. 1, 2027.

To foster a collaborative approach to award selection, applicants will participate in a peer review process to assess proposals submitted to this funding opportunity by their fellow applicants. For the submitted application to be considered for funding, completion of all assigned reviews is required.

Following funding determinations, successful community-led applicant teams will be matched with an eligible MCW faculty member from a pre-formed pool developed through the Call for MCW Academic Partner for Community-Led Grants to serve as an additional resource to the funded community-led projects. 

Small to medium Wisconsin-based nonprofits, schools, and government entities addressing health inequities and social determinants of health can apply for University of Wisconsin Madison’s Community Impact Level One: Engage awards, up to US $250,000 for three years. Funding supports project-related personnel, evaluation, and partnership initiatives to advance community health and health equity.

Focused on innovative health and medical research, this program invites Wisconsin-based faculty at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health to seek up to US $200,000 in one-time start-up funding. Projects must rapidly advance high-impact education or research that improves health or health equity, with a clear plan for long-term sustainability.

Allocations to Improve Health Services in Rural Wisconsin

The Rural Health Transformation Program will award an estimated $209 million over five years in technology grants. Grants will be rolled out in two rounds to different types of healthcare organizations. Through these grants, Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) seeks to bolster the state’s capacity to provide high-quality care to rural residents via technological innovations. Applicants may apply to multiple Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding opportunities for which their organizations are eligible. 

Purpose

These funds are intended to invest in technology that:

• Removes barriers to care for rural residents.
• Maximizes provider productivity.
• Ensures improved patient or community health outcomes.

Postdoctoral trainees, fellows, clinical fellows, and research associates at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health in Wisconsin can apply for University of Wisconsin - Madison’s Postdoctoral Grant Program; awards Up to US $20,000 for one-year research, education, or professional development projects improving health, health care, or health equity.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations providing healthcare, mental health, dental care, or related human services in Wisconsin can seek support for program costs. Patrick and Anna M Cudahy Fund also considers projects in social services, education, environment, and arts that benefit under-resourced communities in metropolitan Chicago and across Wisconsin.

First- and second-year medical students at schools with active Alpha Omega Alpha chapters, including Wisconsin institutions, can receive US $7,000 for mentored medical research projects. Focus areas include clinical investigation, basic science, epidemiology, health services, leadership, or professionalism, with additional travel reimbursement to present results at a national conference.

2026-2027 Overdose Prevention Supplies Program

The Overdose Prevention Supplies Program provides overdose prevention supplies at no cost to eligible agencies for free distribution to people at risk of experiencing a drug overdose. This program provides three formulations of naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal medication, and drug checking technologies.

The Division of Care and Treatment Services is allocating funding from SAMHSA's State Opioid Response Grant and state government's share of opioid settlement funds to supporting the Overdose Prevention Supplies Program.

The Overdose Prevention Supplies Program is open to eligible agencies interested in distributing naloxone and/or drug checking technologies throughout their community. Participating agencies will be expected to train individuals on how to effectively use naloxone and drug checking technologies and are encouraged to strategically partner with other community agencies to expand supply distribution.

NAFC Open Grant/Product Donation Applications

The National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC) is the only nonprofit 501c(3) organization whose mission is solely focused on the issues and needs of the medically underserved throughout the nation and the more than 1,400 Free and Charitable Clinics that serve them. The NAFC has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar and a 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator. Founded in 2001 and headquartered near Washington, D.C., the NAFC is working to ensure that the medically underserved have access to affordable quality healthcare and strives to be a national voice promoting quality healthcare for all. For more information about the NAFC, including how to become a member, please visit https://www.nafcclinics.org.

Breast Cancer Screening & Prevention Initiative

The Breast Cancer Screening & Prevention Initiative, supported by the McKesson Foundation and administered by the NAFC, aims to expand access to lifesaving breast cancer screening and prevention services for uninsured and medically underserved. Through this initiative, the NAFC will provide $30,000 grants to members to establish or strengthen breast cancer screening programs in alignment with evidence-based guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the American Cancer Society. Funding will support activities such as improving patient identification and referral systems, increasing access to mammography services through partnerships or mobile units, strengthening staffing and technology capacity, and providing patient education and case management to ensure follow-through with recommended screenings. By enhancing early detection and preventive care, the initiative seeks to reduce barriers to care and improve health outcomes for women who might otherwise go without critical cancer screening services.

NAFC Open Grant/Product Donation Applications

The National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC) is the only nonprofit 501c(3) organization whose mission is solely focused on the issues and needs of the medically underserved throughout the nation and the more than 1,400 Free and Charitable Clinics that serve them. The NAFC has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar and a 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator. Founded in 2001 and headquartered near Washington, D.C., the NAFC is working to ensure that the medically underserved have access to affordable quality healthcare and strives to be a national voice promoting quality healthcare for all. For more information about the NAFC, including how to become a member, please visit https://www.nafcclinics.org.

Food as Medicine Initiative

The Food as Medicine Initiative, supported by the McKesson Foundation and administered by the NAFC, aims to address food insecurity as a critical driver of health outcomes for uninsured and medically underserved patients. Research continues to demonstrate the strong connection between food insecurity and poor health, including increased risk of chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and certain cancers. Through this initiative, NAFC will provide $20,000 grants to member free and charitable clinics to implement or expand food insecurity screening and patient-centered interventions that improve access to healthy food and nutrition education as measured by the US Household Food Security Module or Hunger Vital Signs and patient education focused on food as medicine for eligible patients in order to increase the percentage of patients with improved food security scores within one year of project implementation.

NAFC Open Grant/Product Donation Applications

The National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC) is the only nonprofit 501c(3) organization whose mission is solely focused on the issues and needs of the medically underserved throughout the nation and the more than 1,400 Free and Charitable Clinics that serve them. The NAFC has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar and a 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator. Founded in 2001 and headquartered near Washington, D.C., the NAFC is working to ensure that the medically underserved have access to affordable quality healthcare and strives to be a national voice promoting quality healthcare for all. For more information about the NAFC, including how to become a member, please visit https://www.nafcclinics.org.

Medication Therapy Management (MTM) Initiative

The Medication Therapy Management (MTM) Initiative, supported by the McKesson Foundation and administered by the NAFC, aims to improve medication access, adherence, and patient understanding among uninsured and medically underserved populations. Individuals without health insurance often face significant barriers to obtaining prescription medications and receiving the counseling necessary to manage chronic conditions effectively. Through this initiative, NAFC will provide $30,000 grants to member free and charitable clinics and pharmacies to establish or expand Medication Therapy Management programs aligned with recommendations from the American Pharmacists Association. Funding will support activities such as staff certification in MTM, development of standardized protocols, and patient education to help individuals better understand their medications, manage side effects, and support overall treatment plans. By strengthening pharmacist-led care and improving communication between providers and patients, this initiative seeks to enhance medication adherence, improve chronic disease management, and advance better health outcomes for vulnerable patient populations.

NAFC Open Grant/Product Donation Applications

The National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC) is the only nonprofit 501c(3) organization whose mission is solely focused on the issues and needs of the medically underserved throughout the nation and the more than 1,400 Free and Charitable Clinics that serve them. The NAFC has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar and a 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator. Founded in 2001 and headquartered near Washington, D.C., the NAFC is working to ensure that the medically underserved have access to affordable quality healthcare and strives to be a national voice promoting quality healthcare for all. For more information about the NAFC, including how to become a member, please visit https://www.nafcclinics.org.

NAFC Patient Care Fund

The NAFC Patient Care Fund supports direct patient services that expand immediate access to care. This funding is designed to help NAFC members meet urgent patient needs by supporting clinical supplies, expanded services, contracted providers, transportation assistance, medication access, and other direct care resources.

NAFC Open Grant/Product Donation Applications

The National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC) is the only nonprofit 501c(3) organization whose mission is solely focused on the issues and needs of the medically underserved throughout the nation and the more than 1,400 Free and Charitable Clinics that serve them. The NAFC has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar and a 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator. Founded in 2001 and headquartered near Washington, D.C., the NAFC is working to ensure that the medically underserved have access to affordable quality healthcare and strives to be a national voice promoting quality healthcare for all. For more information about the NAFC, including how to become a member, please visit https://www.nafcclinics.org.

Healthcare Access Initiative

The Healthcare Access Initiative, supported by the McKesson Foundation and administered by the NAFC, aims to expand access to essential healthcare services for uninsured and medically underserved individuals. Free and charitable clinics and pharmacies play a critical role in ensuring that patients who fall outside traditional healthcare systems can receive timely, high-quality care. However, many clinics face barriers related to staffing, care coordination, technology, and patient outreach that limit their ability to meet growing community needs. Through this initiative, NAFC will provide $20,000 grants to member clinics and pharmacies to strengthen programs that increase access to primary care, specialty services, and preventive care. Funding will support innovative and practical approaches that reduce barriers to care, improve patient engagement, and expand the capacity of clinics to serve vulnerable populations.