Best Milwaukee Grants for Nonprofits in Wisconsin

The Great Lakes Fisheries Trust offers grants for ecological and biological research aimed at enhancing ecosystem health and sustainable fish populations. These grants support competitive fisheries research, focusing on resilience, sustainability, and stakeholder value. The next funding cycle will open with a request for proposals in late 2026 for the 2027 program year, promoting innovative research and capacity-building efforts within the fisheries sector.

The Habitat Protection and Restoration grant by the Great Lakes Fisheries Trust aims to fund projects that protect and restore vital fish habitats in the Great Lakes region. Priorities include enhancing fish passage, supporting sustainable reproduction, and utilizing decision-support tools for project identification. Eligible applicants include non-profits and governmental organizations, focusing on projects within the Lake Michigan basin. This grant emphasizes community support and long-term management, ensuring impactful conservation efforts.

The JetBlue Foundation is dedicated to enhancing aviation-related education and STEM initiatives, aiming to inspire future aviation leaders. Offering grants up to $50,000, it supports educational organizations that focus on aviation technology, engineering, operations, and maintenance. The foundation prioritizes programs benefiting under-represented communities in aviation, including veterans, women, and diverse groups, ensuring a broader range of voices in the industry.

The NFL Foundation Grassroots Program, in partnership with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), aims to enhance the quality, safety, and accessibility of community football fields. With grants up to $250,000, this initiative addresses the critical lack of safe recreation spaces in low-income neighborhoods, ensuring children and adults have access to well-maintained facilities for gathering and exercise, ultimately fostering community health and well-being.

Spectrum Digital Education Grants support nonprofit organizations in educating communities about broadband benefits and usage. These grants aim to bridge the digital divide, particularly for seniors and those with disabilities or ethnically diverse backgrounds. Applicants must demonstrate community partnership, address specific needs, and provide measurable impact metrics. With a focus on financial feasibility and meaningful outcomes, this initiative ensures that underrepresented urban and rural communities gain access to essential digital resources, fostering long-term improvement in their lives.

The Herzfeld Foundation's Arts Awareness Grant aims to enhance awareness of visual and performing arts in metro Milwaukee. Grants, up to $100,000, support strategies that expand or innovate coverage of the arts through various media. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations focused on sustaining journalistic endeavors that address challenges faced by artists. The foundation prioritizes collaborative efforts and innovative reporting, continuing Richard and Ethel Herzfeld's legacy of enriching the cultural landscape of the greater Milwaukee area.

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.

Employ Milwaukee Inc. is offering funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) for youth workforce development services targeting young people aged 14 to 24 in Milwaukee County. The initiative aims to connect youth with employment opportunities and education, fostering a skilled workforce. Organizations are invited to submit innovative proposals for two service models: Out-of-School Youth Services and In-School Youth Services, focusing on comprehensive service delivery and collaboration with local partners.

The Herzfeld Foundation: Arts Education Grant aims to strengthen organizations dedicated to arts education for youth up to age 18 in Milwaukee. It supports innovative projects that enhance capacity and sustainability, encouraging collaboration among organizations. Grants range from $5,000 to $40,000, prioritizing proposals that improve fiscal stability and access to arts education for underserved communities. The Foundation honors Richard and Ethel Herzfeld's legacy by investing in cultural life and educational opportunities in the Greater Milwaukee area.

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.

The PLTW Computer Science grant, in partnership with Pentair, supports schools in implementing the PLTW Computer Science program for the 2026-2027 academic year. Schools must offer at least one PLTW Computer Science course and report on their progress for one year. The total award amount is $20,000, aimed at covering fees for participation, training, and necessary equipment, ensuring that students gain essential skills in the field of computer science.

The PLTW Engineering program, in collaboration with Pentair, offers grants to schools for the 2026-2027 academic year, providing $30,000 to implement at least one engineering course. Eligible schools include public and charter institutions in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Minneapolis. Funds may cover participation fees, training, and necessary equipment. However, expenses such as salaries, infrastructure, and optional supplies are not allowed. This initiative aims to enhance engineering education in targeted regions.

The F26AS00084 Aquatic Invasive Species Grants to Great Lakes Tribes, funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, aim to support the development and implementation of Tribal Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plans. Eligible Great Lakes tribes can apply for competitive grants to address invasive species issues within the Great Lakes Basin, including outreach and prevention efforts. This initiative focuses on early detection and control, significantly contributing to the health of the Great Lakes ecosystem.

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.

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.

Purpose

The purpose of this request for applications is to seek local partner organizations that want to develop the infrastructure and build organizational capacity to become a provider of in-home asthma education services as part of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ (WI-DHS) Asthma-Safe Homes Program.

This program is available through a Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) health services initiative (HSI) funded through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS). The Asthma-Safe Homes Program’s target service area for capacity building during 2026–2027 is Brown and Milwaukee counties. 

Background

Through the HSI, WI-DHS has funding available to improve asthma outcomes and reduce disparities in asthma control for children ages 2-18 years old and pregnant individuals who are diagnosed with asthma and enrolled in Wisconsin BadgerCare Plus (Medicaid or CHIP). 

Asthma disproportionately affects communities of color, with Black and Native American populations having 1.5-2 times the current prevalence as the White population (13% and 15%, respectively, versus 9%). These same populations also experience disparities in asthma control, with only 30% of non-White populations reporting well-controlled asthma compared to 64% of the White population.

High rates of uncontrolled asthma result in even more disparate poor health care outcomes among communities of color. In Wisconsin, health care utilization for emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations among the Black population are 8 and 5 times higher, respectively, than among the White population; Native Americans have rates over twice that of the White population. Annual household income is another factor that contributes to asthma disparities, with the lowest income group (earning less than $15,000) having over twice the asthma prevalence of those in the highest income group (greater than $75,000).

Social determinants of health such as poor-quality housing, poverty, and other historical and structural factors are known contributors to the disparity in asthma outcomes. This HSI funding opportunity aims to reduce disparities in asthma control and improve asthma outcomes in Wisconsin by promoting access to guideline-based medical management of asthma and healthy living environments.

Grant funds will reimburse organizations for the following:

• Staff time to participate in capacity building activities at billable rate equal to staff salary and fringe
• Mileage reimbursement for travel related expenses
• Supplies and materials
• Training stipend up to $500 per staff member
• 10% indirect administrative cost
• Client services including:
  • Minimum of two and maximum of six home visits for asthma self-management education and 2-week and 3-month post-intervention follow-ups provided by asthma educator, averaging $1,500 per client that completes the program (includes mileage reimbursement at the federal mileage rate)
  • Purchase and distribution of durables to reduce asthma triggers up to $1,000 per household, including asthma-friendly cleaning kits, HEPA vacuums, air purifiers, and other supplies

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 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.

Employ Milwaukee's WIOA In School Youth program aims to connect youth aged 16-24, who are not currently enrolled in school, to employment and educational opportunities. This initiative focuses on providing essential services such as academic tutoring, career planning, and financial literacy to facilitate successful transitions into the workforce. By leveraging community partnerships, the program seeks to create a skilled workforce that meets the needs of local businesses and promotes economic growth in Milwaukee County.

The F26AS00083 Aquatic Invasive Species Grants are part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative for Fiscal Year 2026. These grants, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, aim to support state-level management plans to combat aquatic invasive species in the Great Lakes region. Eligible applicants include Great Lakes states and their designees, with funding awarded through a competitive selection process.

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