Best Milwaukee Grants for Nonprofits in Wisconsin

Milwaukee, Wisconsin nonprofits can access funding through A O Smith Foundation Inc for programs in education, arts and culture, health, human services, and civic affairs. Organizations serving the local community may be eligible for support, with applications reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the year.

Bring Back the Trades Tool Grant Program 

Across the country, vocational programs are often forced to teach with outdated, broken, or consumer-grade equipment. The Bring Back the Trades Grant Program changes the narrative by putting “Nothing But Heavy Duty” technology into the hands of students. By providing professional tools, we show students that their education—and their future career—is worth the highest standard of equipment.

Thanks to numerous schools and programs letting us know they need help supporting future tradespeople, we have made a commitment to grant $1,500 in tools monthly to a public school or nonprofit. Milwaukee Tool committed to supporting the program through 2026, so the awards in 2026 will be shipped directly to winning organization by Milwaukee Tool!

Objective: To equip public schools and community nonprofits with professional-grade Milwaukee Tool kits, fostering a culture of craftsmanship, safety, and respect for the tools of the trade.

Application Deadline: Rolling. A winner will be chosen each month from applications received over the previous six months. The winner will be notified via phone or email. The winner will receive the tools requested (based on availability and up to $1,500 in retail value). Tools and equipment/supplies will be shipped only to the address on the application. Applicants that have not been chosen as a winner of the grant may reapply after six months. Schools/organizations may win no more than once in a 3-year time period.

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.

Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc supports arts, education, health, and community development in Milwaukee, Wisconsin by providing grants to 501(c)(3) organizations. Eligible nonprofits may work in areas such as early childhood education, senior services, environmental conservation, and racial justice. Funding is available for project, operating, and capital support across Milwaukee County.

Grants from Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc help Milwaukee, Wisconsin nonprofits advance arts education, early childhood development, environmental initiatives, and community health. Eligible 501(c)(3) organizations serving Milwaukee County may apply for capital support up to $50,000 per year. Programs that promote racial equity and inclusion are especially encouraged to apply.

Grants from Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc help Milwaukee, Wisconsin nonprofits advance arts education, support older adults, and foster environmental conservation. Organizations serving the region with programs in early childhood education, business development, or health equity may benefit from multi-year general operating support. Eligible applicants must demonstrate board diversity and a commitment to racial equity.

With a mission to promote equity and vibrant communities, Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc provides Milwaukee, Wisconsin nonprofits with funding for arts education, aging, early childhood, environment, and community health projects. Eligible 501(c)(3) organizations serving the Milwaukee area may benefit from grants supporting a wide range of impactful local initiatives.

With a mission to advance justice, The Impact Fund provides Milwaukee, Wisconsin nonprofits with funding for impact litigation addressing social, economic, environmental, and racial injustice. Legal services organizations and small law firms working to confront systemic oppression in Milwaukee may be eligible for recoverable grants to cover litigation expenses in class action or multi-plaintiff cases.

With a mission to support youth development, Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors provides Milwaukee, Wisconsin nonprofits with funding for programs benefiting children and young adults up to age 25. Eligible organizations can apply for grants supporting education, social services, academic enrichment, and youth involvement in the arts within the Metro Milwaukee area.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin nonprofits focused on STEAM education, health, safety, or sustainability can access funding through Johnson Controls. Organizations serving neighborhoods like West Lawn, Thurston Woods, or Havenwoods are especially encouraged to apply. Nonprofits advancing smart, healthy, and sustainable communities may be eligible for support.

Grants from Weiss Family Foundation help Milwaukee, Wisconsin nonprofits address poverty by supporting children and families. Organizations focused on youth services, education, family support, and employment assistance may be eligible. These grants aim to help local residents overcome barriers and reach their full potential.

Focused on parks and recreation, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources invites Milwaukee, Wisconsin nonprofits to apply for grants supporting state parks, southern state forests, state trails, and recreation areas. Eligible Friends Groups with endowment funds may receive support for maintenance, interpretive programming, accessibility enhancements, and wellness-focused outdoor activities benefiting local public spaces.

Bader Philanthropies' Community Matters Grant Programs focus on enhancing community engagement and support in Milwaukee. They provide funding to tax-exempt organizations and government entities that address critical human needs through innovative strategies. The program emphasizes grassroots initiatives and metrics like individuals served and mindset changes to measure success. Preliminary applications are reviewed on a rolling basis with deadlines aligned to biannual board meetings, ensuring timely responses to applicants.

With a mission to foster vibrant communities, Bader Philanthropies provides Milwaukee, Wisconsin nonprofits with support for arts and cultural programming. Funding emphasizes inclusion, accessibility, and cross-cultural connections, especially for underserved audiences. Nonprofit organizations focused on increasing access to the arts in Milwaukee may be eligible for this opportunity.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin nonprofits can access funding through Impact 100 Greater Milwaukee Inc for projects in arts and culture, education, health, environment, and family services. Eligible 501(c)(3) organizations serving Milwaukee County with transformative, measurable programs may benefit, particularly those seeking to make a lasting impact on the local community.

Grants from Wisconsin Department of Health Services help Milwaukee, Wisconsin organizations provide reentry services to individuals transitioning from prison or jail. Nonprofits can support returning citizens with case management, referrals to housing, mental health and substance use counseling, employment assistance, and more. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, tribal nations, and counties in Wisconsin.

With a mission to nurture creativity and cultural expression, Wisconsin Arts Board provides Milwaukee, Wisconsin Native-led organizations and nonprofits with support for traditional and contemporary Native American arts. Organizations serving Milwaukee’s Indian communities may benefit from funding for arts administration, documentation, professional development, and cultural events.

Greater Milwaukee Foundation

Guided by our North Star of racial equity and inclusion, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation connects our community and invests in transformational change to reshape Milwaukee as a region where everyone thrives. 

As a community foundation, we leverage our diverse philanthropic toolkit to bring people together, marshal resources and expand community knowledge to achieve the greatest possible impact for our many community stakeholders. 

GOTV Open Grant Opportunity

The Foundation seeks to provide general operating and programmatic support for organizations that do year-round civic engagement, nurturing & promotion of democracy and voter registration, education, and mobilization (collectively referred to as “GOTV”) in Milwaukee. 

Reliable and trustworthy information, exercising democratic practices, and continuous civic engagement are vital to the civic action of voting and nurturing democracy in Milwaukee.

The Foundation is committed to supporting partnerships that seek to advance voter registration, education, mobilization AND the exercise of other democratic practices and civic participation (such as civic education, engagement with elected and appointed officials, mock elections, policy analysis, policy dialogue, and more) with traditionally hard to engage eligible voters and ineligible parties (e.g. by age, immigration status, or other demographic characteristics) who seek to engage in democracy through activities other than or in addition to voting.

These partnerships are invited to apply for small- to medium-sized grants  (ranging between $5,000 – 20,000)  to foster democratic activities with these populations. Applications should explicitly delineate all the partnering organizations involved and what their roles & responsibilities are. One organization (required to be a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation) must serve as the grantee (which also makes that organization responsible for grant reporting). 

About Us

The Greater Milwaukee Foundation is Wisconsin’s largest community foundation and was among the first established in the world. Since 1915, we have been at the heart of the civic community, helping donors achieve the greatest philanthropic impact, elevating the work of changemakers across neighborhoods, and bringing people and organizations together to help our region thrive.  

West Bend Community Foundation - Early Childhood Education

West Bend civic leaders Cliff Nelson and R. Douglas Ziegler believed that people ought to give back to the community in which they live. In 1999, the two men put their words into action by launching the West Bend Community Foundation, a Greater Milwaukee Foundation supporting organization that is a permanent charitable endowment serving the greater West Bend area.

Area served

Greater West Bend area 

Grantmaking focus

The West Bend Community Foundation has a separate grant application to support the Early Childhood Education (ECE) sector. Nonprofits working to support high quality ECE facilities, expand the ECE workforce, advocate for increased ECE access, and/or work to promote healthy physical, cognitive, language, and social-emotional development for children 0 – 8 years of age may apply for grants up to $5,000.

Grant amount

• Multi-year grants will be considered, but generally not for more than three years
• Organizations may only apply for one grant of any type per year
• Grants cover operating support, special projects or capital projects

Evaluation criteria

• Significance of the problem(s) addressed to the people of the greater West Bend area
• Capacity of the agency (governing body, staff, financing) to respond to the problem(s)
• Number of greater West Bend area residents expected to benefit
• Urgency of need for support 

Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc supports civic engagement and leadership development in Milwaukee, Wisconsin by funding community-based projects that foster social connections, peace, and neighborhood cohesion. Nonprofits serving Milwaukee neighborhoods, especially those advancing healing, restorative justice, or youth support, may be eligible for grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to strengthen local communities.

Focused on arts and media, Richard & Ethel Herzfeld Foundation Inc. invites Milwaukee, Wisconsin nonprofits and media organizations to apply for funding that expands journalistic coverage of the visual and performing arts. Organizations enhancing arts awareness through news, radio, or television reporting may be eligible for grants up to $100,000.

Grants from Richard & Ethel Herzfeld Foundation help Milwaukee, Wisconsin arts and cultural nonprofits strengthen organizational capacity and sustainability. Small and medium-sized 501(c)(3) organizations can apply for project or operating support, with priority for collaborative and innovative initiatives that expand public access to the arts, especially in underserved communities.

With a mission to support education, Richard & Ethel Herzfeld Foundation Inc. provides Milwaukee, Wisconsin early childhood organizations with grants to enhance preschool and childcare services. Licensed nonprofit childcare providers can apply for funding to improve educational quality, expand capacity, or strengthen organizational sustainability through collaborative or innovative initiatives.

Grants from Greater Milwaukee Foundation help Milwaukee, Wisconsin nonprofits expand access to mental health services and support community-led workforce development initiatives. Eligible 501(c)(3) organizations can apply for capital support to improve mental health outcomes or boost economic mobility through job creation and training. Funding requests up to $50,000 per year are considered.

Grants from Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc help Milwaukee, Wisconsin organizations focused on early childhood education, mental health, and workforce development. Nonprofits serving Milwaukee County can apply for general operating support to expand access to quality early learning, community-led mental health initiatives, or economic mobility programs. Eligible 501(c)(3)s must meet board diversity requirements.

Focused on early childhood education, mental health, and workforce development, Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc invites Milwaukee, Wisconsin nonprofits to apply for project support grants. Organizations serving the area can request up to $50,000 per year for initiatives that increase access to quality child care, improve mental health outcomes, or advance economic mobility.

With a mission to improve quality of life, Wispact Inc provides Milwaukee, Wisconsin nonprofits serving people with disabilities with funding for housing, assistive devices, education, recreation, and transportation. Eligible 501(c)(3) organizations in the area may apply for support to enhance services and accessibility for individuals with disabilities.