Best Kenosha County Grants for Nonprofits in Wisconsin

Catholic schools, parishes, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits offering K–12 religious education, leadership development, or community-building programs in Kenosha County, Wisconsin can seek project support through the Archdiocese of Milwaukee Catholic Community Foundation. Grants from Catholic Community Foundation help organizations in the archdiocese strengthen families, parishes, and services for those facing poverty, discrimination, and violence.

The Steve Stricker American Family Insurance Foundation Grant supports nonprofit organizations in south-central and southeastern Wisconsin that promote strong families and healthy children. Each August, eligible organizations can apply for funding to help empower youth to achieve their dreams. This initiative not only strengthens community ties but also fosters a healthier future for generations to come, with award notifications sent out in November.

The Cultivate: Leadership Grant Program empowers women and nonbinary leaders of color in Chicago by enhancing their skills in social, economic, and racial justice. Since 2013, it has fostered collaboration among diverse leaders, promoting gender and racial equity through intentional developmental support. Participants receive mentorship and coaching to strengthen their professional capabilities while building a connected community. This initiative is a partnership among significant local foundations, focusing on sustainability and growth within organizations led by women of color.

The Richard L. Reetz Engineering Scholarship offers four non-renewable awards of $2,500 each for students majoring in engineering at UW institutions. Eligible applicants must be enrolling as sophomores, juniors, or seniors, and must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. This scholarship aims to support engineering students in their educational journey, ensuring they have the necessary resources to succeed during their academic careers.

The Farmers Market Grant Program by Compeer Financial aims to support organizations enhancing services at farmers markets. Grants of up to $1,000 are available for marketing efforts, technology upgrades, and vendor education. Eligible applicants must be bona fide farmers markets with at least three vendors of locally-produced products and must operate in the designated 144-county area. Priority is given to markets that have not previously received funding.

The Emergency Response Equipment Grant Program by Compeer Financial aims to bolster rural communities by providing funding for essential emergency response equipment for volunteer fire, rescue, and ambulance departments. With grants up to $4,000, this initiative ensures that first responders have the necessary tools to protect and serve their communities effectively. Eligibility is limited to rural departments in the 144-county territory, ensuring that help reaches those who need it most.

Compeer Financial's Emergency Response Equipment Grant Program aims to enhance collaboration among rural fire, rescue, and ambulance departments by providing funding for specialized equipment. Grants of up to $10,000 support projects that improve emergency response capabilities, encouraging teamwork among departments serving adjacent jurisdictions. Eligible applicants must operate within Compeer's 144-county territory and demonstrate a clear plan for equipment use. This initiative underscores the importance of community cooperation in ensuring effective emergency services in rural areas.

The Farmers Market Grant Program by Compeer Financial supports farmers by enhancing their marketing and technology capabilities. Grants can be utilized for branding, website creation, and payment technologies, as well as essential equipment like scales and tents. This initiative aims to promote direct consumer engagement and strengthen local food systems, ensuring fresh produce accessibility while fostering economic growth in rural communities. Eligible applicants must be Compeer clients actively participating in verified farmers markets.

The Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust Grants focus on enhancing the quality of life for companion animals and native wildlife. This private foundation supports innovative projects that go beyond basic care, ensuring the well-being of homeless and abused animals. Eligible organizations must have a 501(c)(3) status and be located in specific states, including Ohio and parts of Indiana and Michigan. The Trust emphasizes humane treatment and sustainable funding for animal welfare initiatives.

The Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust offers grants aimed at enhancing the lives of animals in the Ohio/Great Lakes region. It prioritizes projects that foster animal adoption, behavior training, and humane education. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) certified and demonstrate a commitment to animal welfare. The Trust seeks innovative, collaborative initiatives that significantly improve the well-being of animals, particularly in underserved communities, ensuring a high quality of life for both individual animals and larger populations.

The Lumpkin Family Foundation has launched the Wellness Grants for Leaders and Frontline Workers to combat burnout in nonprofit organizations. This program offers up to $2,500 for mental wellness initiatives and up to $10,000 for sabbatical leave for senior leaders. Eligible organizations must have received LFF funding within the last three years and adhere to specific guidelines. The foundation prioritizes the mental health of frontline workers to ensure sustainable community service.

Students pursuing academic studies through UW institutions in Kenosha County, Wisconsin and other eligible counties can receive a one-time US $900 scholarship for college costs. Grants from Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region honor Professor John D. Silha and support academic scholarship and college persistence for qualified recipients.

The Agriculture Education Grant, funded by Compeer Financial, aims to enhance high school agriculture programs by providing up to $4,000 for classroom equipment and educational initiatives. This grant promotes hands-on learning and modern technologies, ensuring students are well-equipped to explore the evolving agricultural landscape. Eligible applicants include high school agriculture departments within a specified 144-county territory, with a focus on schools that have not received funding in the past two years.

The Alliant Energy Foundation offers community grants to support local organizations within its service areas. With a focus on strategic areas such as hunger, housing, workforce readiness, environmental stewardship, and community safety, the foundation has invested over $76 million since 1998. Applications are accepted year-round, and funding is available for specific programs aimed at enhancing community well-being and innovation. Organizations may receive one grant per year, emphasizing the foundation's commitment to diverse community support.

The Brinson Foundation Grant supports organizations in the greater Chicago area and focuses on education and scientific research. It encourages personal initiative and individual freedoms, aiming to enhance self-worth and dignity. The Foundation prioritizes programs that provide quality education and basic scientific research, particularly in underfunded areas. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) public charities, while inquiries from those that discriminate or focus on religious activities are not accepted.

The Cudahy Fund offers general community grants focusing on social services, health, education, environment, and arts for under-resourced populations in Metropolitan Chicago and Wisconsin. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. The fund aims to support initiatives that enhance community well-being, providing safety nets for marginalized groups and promoting access to quality education and cultural experiences. This fund does not support individual grants or projects outside its geographic focus.

The Iris Krieg Fund for Fairness, Access, Inclusion, and Resiliency Initiative, established by the Bright Promises Foundation, aims to empower youth leadership and promote civic engagement. This initiative emphasizes fairness, access, inclusion, and resiliency, allowing young people to actively participate in shaping policies and decisions that affect their lives. By addressing barriers and fostering an environment of equity, the initiative seeks to amplify the voices of youth as change agents in their communities.

Students pursuing part-time or full-time study at 2- or 4-year UW institutions can receive academic scholarship support through the Legacy UW-Fox Cities Foundation General Scholarship in Kenosha County, Wisconsin. With a mission to support education, Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region offers four $500 non-renewable awards, payable for the fall semester.

Potawatomi Hotel & Casino is committed to community support through philanthropy, providing jobs and financial assistance. Their Heart of Canal Street program has donated over $13.6 million since 1994, helping local children. They recycle used playing cards for nonprofit organizations and donate auction items for fundraising events within a 125-mile radius. However, they do not support K-12 schools or for-profit entities, ensuring their contributions are directed to those in need.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) charities serving children in Kenosha County, Wisconsin and nearby counties can seek Heart of Canal Street support for direct services such as food security, safety, arts, and other youth programs. Focused on children’s health, welfare, and development, Potawatomi Hotel & Casino will select 30 charities to share over $500,000 total.

About National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) works with partners to foster sustainable and impactful conservation solutions so that people and nature thrive together. Chartered by Congress in 1984, NFWF has grown to become the nation’s largest conservation foundation. Since its founding, NFWF has funded more than 23,900 projects that have generated a total conservation impact of more than $12 billion.About Sustain Our Great Lakes Program

Sustain Our Great Lakes is a public–private partnership designed to sustain, restore and protect fish, wildlife and habitat in the basin by leveraging funding, building conservation capacity, and focusing partners and resources toward key ecological issues. The program achieves this mission, in part, by awarding grants for on-the-ground habitat restoration and enhancement.Funding priorities for this program include:

• Habitat Restoration to Conserve Species and Improve Water Quality
• Expand and Maintain Nature-Based Solutions in Great Lakes Communities
• Invasive Species Control to Protect and Enhance Restored Habitat
• Activate Restored Habitats and Natural Areas

Students from eligible Wisconsin counties, including Kenosha County, Wisconsin, seeking academic scholarships for four-year University of Wisconsin institutions can apply for the Lynn and Roger Van Vreede Scholarship from Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region. One scholarship is awarded, with the amount varying and split between the fall and spring semesters for full-time students maintaining a 2.5 GPA.

The PLTW Engineering Program Expansion by Burns and McDonnell aims to enhance STEM education in eligible communities. This initiative supports schools in expanding their existing PLTW Engineering programs, providing students with hands-on experiences and essential skills. The program focuses on empowering students through new courses and teacher training, ensuring access for underrepresented populations. By fostering excitement around STEM, Burns and McDonnell is committed to shaping the future workforce and enhancing educational opportunities in critical areas.

The Fanchon B. Smith Scholarship, established in 2013 by the Carla and Todd Rabe Family and the James and Fanchon Smith Family, supports non-traditional students pursuing higher education. With a non-renewable award of $600, this scholarship is aimed at adult learners aged 22 and older attending 2-year or 4-year UW institutions. Eligibility includes a minimum 2.75 GPA and consideration of financial need, fostering educational opportunities in the Fox Valley Region.

The Esther Kliefoth Stutzman Excellence Scholarship, established in 1998 by Charlie Kliefoth, honors his sister's memory. It offers a $1,800 award for high-achieving students from the Fox Valley area attending any 2-year or 4-year UW institution full-time. Eligible applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 and demonstrate academic excellence. Preference is given to students attending UW-Oshkosh. This scholarship aims to support educational pursuits and foster community growth.

Service Club of Chicago

The Service Club of Chicago is a charitable organization of women that has continually served the charitable needs of Chicago and its surrounding communities since 1890. Our mission is to award grants to Chicagoland’s 501(c)(3) organizations that will expand their facilities, improve their equipment and initiate new programs, thereby uplifting the community as a whole.

The Service Club of Chicago Grant Awards 

• Applications for grant awards shall be limited to non-recurring expenses not otherwise covered in the agency’s normal operating budget.

• All applicants must provide written evidence of financial stability, documentation of their own non-profit status issued by the State of Illinois, and the latest, most current 990 filing with the IRS. All applicants must provide 501(C)(3) tax-exempt status, have been in operation no less than three years, and provide financial statements as required by the Internal Revenue Service.

• The application package must include at least two bids for each item requested (exceptions may apply). The Service Club of Chicago will disburse grant awards directly to the vendor and not to the agency; no cash awards are given.

• Grant Recipients from the preceding year are not eligible to apply for the following 3 consecutive calendar years. For example, for the upcoming 2026 grant cycle, only agencies granted in 2023 and earlier can be considered. However, if you were denied in the preceding three-year period, you may apply in the current year.

The Chicago Artistic Vitality Grant supports over 175 small, professional arts organizations across various disciplines. It provides essential unrestricted operational funding that allows these organizations to thrive while encouraging artistic innovation. Grantees must be 501(c)(3) public charities or have fiscal sponsors, with expenses under $1 million per year. The grant aims to foster a vibrant arts ecosystem in Chicago, ensuring diverse artistic expressions in every neighborhood, and promotes the sustainability of emerging talent.