Best Grants for Community Centers in Wisconsin

Judd S. Alexander Foundation provides Wisconsin community services nonprofits with funding for economic development, arts and culture, education, recreation, human services, and enrichment programs. Marathon County 501(c)(3) organizations that are not private foundations can request US $1,000 - US $1,000,000 for local projects that directly benefit county residents and strengthen quality of life.

Nonprofit organizations and government agencies partnered with a 501(c)(3) can seek US $5,000 - US $50,000 to fund 50% of Historic Structure Reports for nationally or statewide significant sites in Wisconsin and other Heartland states. Jeffris Family Foundation requires a dollar-for-dollar cash match and prioritizes projects with strong preservation planning and organizational capacity, which may include historic community centers.

Community-based nonprofits in Wisconsin working on youth services, homelessness prevention, arts in education, or watershed and environmental stewardship may be eligible for support; funding is not available to individuals or for-profit entities. With a mission to reflect shared family values, Laird Norton Family Foundation provides long-term program and capacity support across its core focus areas.

Nonprofit organizations and government entities working on climate and clean energy initiatives in Wisconsin can seek operating or project support to cut greenhouse gas emissions and advance climate equity. The McKnight Foundation funds efforts such as clean energy transition, decarbonized transportation and buildings, resilient working lands, and democratic participation across Midwest communities, including Wisconsin.

Focused on education, health care, research, and human services, Oscar Rennebohm Foundation invites Wisconsin 501(c)(3) public charities in the Madison/Dane County area to seek support for programs or building projects. Community centers offering senior support services, K–12 mental health initiatives, or other qualifying local services may be especially competitive.

Nonprofits, schools, government entities, and churches in Wisconsin’s Parkview School District area can receive grants for education, youth programs, arts education, community development, health care, and more. The Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin provides funding from the Parkview Community Fund for organizations serving communities in and around Rock County.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) community organizations in Wisconsin’s Jefferson County can receive funding for basic needs, health care, education, and civic or environmental initiatives. Valero Energy Foundation provides support to charities whose missions match these priorities in areas where it operates, with all annual funding requests submitted together.

Public bodies, community-based nonprofits, and federally recognized Tribes in rural Wisconsin can use this program to purchase, construct, or improve essential community facilities and equipment. With a mission to strengthen rural communities, USDA Rural Development provides funding for projects such as community centers, public safety buildings, health facilities, and local food system infrastructure in eligible areas.

Behavioral health providers and eligible agencies in Wisconsin can apply for Wisconsin Department of Health Services grants of up to US $50,000 to expand tele-behavioral health services and reduce technology and location barriers. Grants can fund equipment, broadband, tech support, and space remodeling in partnership with non-traditional sites like community centers and other public access locations.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations running youth, technology, or arts-based community programs in Wisconsin can apply for support from the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region. With a mission to strengthen communities, it prioritizes projects in the Fox Valley counties and also considers broader initiatives that advance youth empowerment, technology advancement, and community progression.

Humane societies, animal welfare nonprofits, spay/neuter clinics, wildlife centers, and related 501(c)(3) organizations in Wisconsin can seek project funding for animal adoption, medical care, humane education, and population control. With a mission to prevent cruelty to animals, the Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust supports established groups whose programs may operate in or alongside community centers.

Nonprofit and fiscally sponsored organizations supporting Anishinabe knowledge and culture can seek US $5,000 - US $10,000 to advance community-focused projects in Wisconsin and northeast Minnesota. With a mission to honor Anishinabe knowledge, Boreal Waters Community Foundation provides funding for work serving specified counties and tribal communities, which may include community centers working respectfully with Anishinabe partners.

Wisconsin community centers, schools, museums, and other nonprofits can receive US $1,500 - US $6,000 to launch or expand collaborative arts education, folk/traditional arts, or local arts projects serving the public. Focused on creative community development, Wisconsin Arts Board supports new or newly expanded projects that are distinct from an organization’s ongoing programs.

The WAB Woodland Indian Arts Grant, managed by the Wisconsin Arts Board, aims to support Native American arts in Wisconsin. This initiative provides funding to Native-led organizations that benefit local communities through artistic activities. Grants focus on professional development, documentation of cultural knowledge, and promoting Native artists. Eligible applicants include tribal governments and organizations with a proven track record in arts-related work. The program emphasizes long-term support for both traditional and contemporary art forms.

The TruStage Foundation focuses on fostering economic mobility through education and housing initiatives. By supporting K-12 literacy, mentoring, and affordable housing projects, the foundation aims to uplift marginalized communities. With a commitment to addressing racial and socioeconomic disparities, TruStage seeks to empower individuals and families to build a brighter future. Their funding is directed towards impactful programs that align with their mission, while avoiding causes that do not meet their criteria for economic mobility.

Nonprofit and fiscally sponsored 501(c)(3) organizations working on habitat preservation, restoration, climate resilience, or environmental education in the Duluth-Superior region of Wisconsin and northeast Minnesota can seek US $5,000 - US $50,000. Boreal Waters Community Foundation’s Biodiversity Fund supports one-year projects, including pilot efforts, planning, research, and community-led ecosystem initiatives.

Nonprofits, government entities, tribal governments, churches, and fiscally sponsored groups in Wisconsin counties served by this fund can seek up to US $300,000 for transformational community projects. Boreal Waters Community Foundation supports initiatives that advance opportunity, resilience, and belonging through systems change, community-led solutions, and long-term, equity-centered impact, which may benefit community centers and similar hubs.

Mission

The Biodiversity Fund supports efforts to maintain and strengthen biodiversity in the Duluth-Superior region through preservation and restoration of habitat, help for particular species and ecosystems, planning for changing conditions, research and education. The purpose is to consider now the value to future generations of the species and ecosystem diversity that will remain when/if human population stabilizes.

Biodiversity Fund

The Biodiversity Fund supports projects that preserve and restore habitats, assist vulnerable species and ecosystems, plan for environmental change, and promote research and education in the Duluth-Superior region.

The fund aims to protect the region's biodiversity through conservation, preservation, and restoration of natural resources for the benefit of future generations.

Biodiversity Fund- Large & Multi-Year Grants

The Fund may also support larger initiatives of up to $50,000 per year for up to three years, for projects that require sustained investment to achieve meaningful, long-term impact. ‍

Multi-year requests should demonstrate:

• A clear long-term vision with defined milestones that allow progress to be assessed prior to subsequent years of funding each year
• How the work will scale, adapt, or deepen impact over time
• Strong partnerships, stewardship plans, or systems-level outcomes
• A plan for sustainability beyond the grant period

What We Mean by Biodiversity

‍Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth, encompassing the diversity of genes, species, and ecosystems and the complex relationships that sustain them. Biodiversity underpins ecosystem stability, climate resilience, and human well-being by providing essential services such as clean air and water, natural food systems, nature-derived medicines, and climate adaptation and regulation.

This grant recognizes that healthy natural ecosystems and sustainable native plant and animal communities are deeply interconnected — environmental degradation often exacerbates social inequities and instability of communities of habitats and ecosystems. Community-led solutions strengthen ecological outcomes.

Biodiversity Fund Priorities

Funded projects should demonstrate strength in several of the following areas. Not every project must address all principles, but competitive proposals will show clear alignment across multiple dimensions.

• Upstream & Preventative Focus
  • Projects address root causes rather than symptoms.
  • Prioritize prevention, restoration, and long-term solutions
  • Reduce risk and vulnerability for people, species, and ecosystems
  • Anticipate environmental and social change rather than reacting after harm occurs
• Collaboration & Community Voice
  • Projects are grounded in authentic partnership.
  • Build cross-sector collaboration (e.g., nonprofits, Tribal Nations, schools, governments, researchers, community groups)
  • Center the expertise and leadership of people with lived experience, including Indigenous knowledge and local ecological expertise
  • Share power in design, decision-making, and implementation
• Equity-Centered Impact
  • Projects advance equity for both people and place.
  • Prioritize historically marginalized communities and/or vulnerable species and ecosystems
  • Focus resources, decision-making power, or stewardship closer to impacted communities
  • Recognize how environmental harm and social inequity intersect
• Systems, Policy & Practice Change
  • Projects have transferability and relevance beyond a single site or program.
  • Improve institutional practices, policies, land-use decisions, or resource flows
  • Strengthen community-level systems related to housing, food security, climate adaptation, education, or conservation
  • Demonstrate potential for replication, scaling, or broader adoption
• Sustainability & Capacity Building
  • Projects plan for impact that lasts beyond the grant period.
  • Strengthen organizational, community, or ecosystem capacity
  • Build skills, infrastructure, stewardship, or long-term management plans
  • Promote ongoing care, monitoring, or adaptive management of natural systems
• Evidence of Change & Learning
  • Projects contribute to shared learning and understanding.
  • Use data, research, community knowledge, or storytelling to demonstrate impact
  • Measure ecological, social, or systems-level outcomes
  • Share lessons learned to inform future equity-, resilience-, and biodiversity-focused work

Nonprofits, public entities, tribal governments, churches, and fiscally sponsored groups in Wisconsin counties of Ashland, Bayfield, and Douglas can seek funding for transformational belonging-focused projects. Focused on equity and community connection, Boreal Waters Community Foundation invites community-led initiatives that elevate diverse voices, strengthen inclusive spaces, and build long-term systems change; awards up to US $300,000.

Wisconsin 501(c)(3) nonprofits, government entities, Tribal governments, churches, and fiscally sponsored groups can seek flexible funding for transformational resilience projects that build long-term community stability and equity. Boreal Waters Community Foundation supports community-led initiatives, systems change, and cross-sector collaborations serving residents in Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas, and other eligible northwestern Wisconsin counties; awards up to US $300,000.

Wisconsin community centers and other organizations offering health education or information services can apply for the Health Information Outreach Award to expand access to reliable health and biomedical information. Focused on health literacy and equity, National Library of Medicine funding supports projects using NLM and NNLM resources, especially for underrepresented populations facing health disparities.

Nonprofit organizations serving Wisconsin residents with youth, family, education, financial stability, or basic-needs programs can apply for Herb Kohl Philanthropies Homegrown Grants, awarding US $1,000 - US $5,000 in general support. Community centers and similar groups may fund projects that invest in people, engage participants, and strengthen local connections and resources.

About Us

The Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation was established in 1983 by visionary community leaders. We are a collection of hundreds of endowed funds established by individuals, families, private foundations, and businesses to enhance the quality of life in our region. Since our inception, we have distributed more than $40 million in grants and scholarships and currently administer over 360 different funds, each with its own charitable purpose. The Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation promotes private giving for the public good.

Community Opportunity Fund

The Community Opportunity Fund is at the heart of our work at Boreal Waters Community Foundation. It’s how we connect generosity with possibility to support bold ideas, local leadership, and long-term solutions across northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin.

Each year, this fund helps nonprofits tackle critical challenges, strengthen communities, and ensure that everyone in our region can thrive.

A Grant Program Rooted in Community and Collective Generosity

As our region’s permanent civic endowment, the Community Opportunity Fund helps nonprofits and community groups respond to challenges, create solutions, and build a better future. In 2023, we restructured the fund to offer larger, more flexible grants—supporting not just programs, but long-term vision and systems change.

We focus on these interconnected areas:

Community Opportunity Fund: Resilience Grant Focus

Projects must enhance the ability of organizations, families, or communities to anticipate, adapt to, and recover from challenges, creating sustainable, long-term solutions that reduce risk and promote resilience.

Examples include:

• Leveraging partnerships and resources to implement scalable, lasting solutions that strengthen community resilience.
• Expanding access to knowledge, training, and tools that improve economic, social, or environmental stability for individuals and families.
• Developing community-driven solutions that address housing stability, food security, workforce resilience, or climate adaptation.
• Applying innovative or proven strategies that increase a community’s ability to prepare for and respond to systemic challenges (e.g., disaster preparedness, economic shifts, public health crises).

Community Opportunity Fund: Belonging Grant Focus 

Community Opportunity Fund: Opportunity Grant Focus

What We Fund

We support a wide range of community-driven, equity-centered work. Funding can be used for:

• Program or Project Support: To launch, expand, or sustain work in Opportunity, Resilience, or Belonging
• General Operating Support: To build strength and stability
• Capacity Building: To grow organizational effectiveness or leadership
• Community-Led Solutions: Especially those involving lived experience and cross-sector collaboration
• Systems Change and Upstream Impact: Projects that address root causes—not just symptoms

Community centers and other eligible nonprofits in Wisconsin can receive US $25,000 - US $50,000 to advance belonging-focused projects that elevate diverse voices, strengthen community bonds, and promote equity. Grants from Boreal Waters Community Foundation may support programs, general operations, capacity building, or community-led solutions in eligible northwestern Wisconsin counties.

Nonprofits, tribal governments, government entities, churches, and fiscally sponsored community groups in northern Wisconsin can seek US $25,000 - US $50,000 to advance economic stability and independence. Boreal Waters Community Foundation funds community-driven projects such as affordable housing, job creation, education access, and essential support services, including general operating, program, capacity-building, and systems-change work.

Community-based organizations in Northeast Wisconsin exploring or building collaborative systems-change initiatives can seek planning or capacity-building grants up to US $75,000 to advance equity and economic well-being. Wisconsin community centers working on early care and education, housing access, mental health, or substance use may be eligible for support from Basic Needs Giving Partnership.

Boreal Waters Community Foundation provides Wisconsin community organizations and other eligible entities with funding for projects that build global awareness, mutual understanding, and civil society. 501(c)(3) nonprofits, governments, public schools, tribal governments, churches, and fiscally sponsored groups serving specified counties may be eligible, including community centers working on peace, justice, economic well-being, or environmental sustainability.