Search Through Ozaukee County Grants for Nonprofits in Wisconsin

Charitable Contributions

Costco Wholesale’s primary charitable efforts specifically focus on programs supporting children, education, and health and human services in the communities where we do business. Throughout the year we receive a large number of requests from nonprofit organizations striving to make a positive impact, and we are thankful to be able to provide support to a variety of organizations and causes. While we would like to respond favorably to all requests, understandably, the needs are far greater than our allocated resources and we are unable to accommodate them all.

Warehouse Donations:

Warehouse donations are handled at the warehouse level - please consult your local warehouse for up-to-date information regarding their donations contacts and review process.

Grant Applications

If the request is under consideration, you may be contacted by staff for any additional information needed. Applications are reviewed within 4-6 weeks, and decisions are made based on several factors, including: type of program; identified community need not otherwise available; indication that evidenced based data will establish measurable results of intended outcomes; community collaboration; broad base of financial support; project budget and operating expenses.

Mission

The DanPaul Foundation will use its resources to help train teachers and parents in early childhood development, protect children from abuse and neglect, stimulate children's personal social responsibilities, and offer them opportunities for enrichment and growth.

The Foundation will also encourage children to be concerned and informed about the environment and the underprivileged, particularly with regard to clean air and water, and adequate housing and nutrition for all.

Beliefs

The DanPaul Foundation believes that children should have ample opportunities for enrichment in their lives, and thus strives to provide many different ways to enrich and expand children's minds through direct programs and monetary support to organizations doing similar work.

We have provided or currently provide grants related to the following program areas:

• Workshops, Conferences, + Seminars: We strive to offer educational workshops, conferences, and seminars for parents and teachers on topics related to early childhood development.
• Student Scholarships: We aim to help students attending post-secondary education institutions by providing need-based and academic scholarships.
• Scientific Endeavors: We desire to advance scientific endeavors which seek to improve the quality of life for everyone in the world.
• Clean Air + Water: We hope to pass on knowledge and practical life skills to youth regarding their personal responsibility to the environment, teaching them about issues surrounding clean air and water.
• Child Advocacy: We believe in protecting children from abuse and neglect and particularly love to support programs that provide education and assistance to children as well as organizations advocating or caring for vulnerable children.
• Homelessness: We want to encourage young people to take a personal interest in seeing that adequate housing and proper nutrition, especially for the underprivileged and homeless, are available.
• Poverty + Neglect: We seek to help those in poverty as well as educate youth about their responsibility to consider the underprivileged and take care of those most in need of life's basic essentials like adequate housing and proper nutrition.
• Refugee Enrichment: We wish to help refugee youth by supporting programs that provide them enrichment and help them transition to life in a new country.

The DanPaul Foundation provides grants to 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit organizations as defined by the IRS. The Foundation is interested in providing funding to programs that directly serve the health, education, development, and welfare of the world's youth.

Grants range from a few hundred dollars up to $15,000 per calendar year.

Global Impact Cash Grants

Identifying and incubating innovative early-stage solutions. We identify, incubate, and develop innovative early-stage solutions with the highest potential for impact. Global Impact Cash Grants go to nonprofit organizations (NPOs) and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that address a significant social problem. We're looking for programs that fit within our investment sectors, focus on the underserved, and use technology to improve the reach and efficiency of services.

We accept applications year-round from eligible organizations. A brief Letter of Inquiry (LOI) is used to determine whether your organization will be invited to complete a full application. Please expand and carefully review each of the three sections below to learn more

Our priority social impact sectors

We focus on investing in innovative, tech-enabled solutions to the challenges and opportunities that matter most to communities in need, prioritizing four social impact sectors:

Cisco Crisis Response

Mobilizing to provide essentials to communities in need and those in crisis, including food, housing, secure connectivity, and disaster relief

By leveraging Cisco’s people, technology, financial resources, and strategic partnerships, we help strengthen community resilience and drive long-term recovery from crises.

Education

Supporting students, teachers, and schools by increasing engagement, building skills, promoting subject mastery, and expanding their capacity to thrive

Cisco is committed to inclusive access to digital skills training and supporting those who use technology to educate. Through programs like Cisco Networking Academy and social investments in education, we create new opportunities for individuals to thrive.

Economic Empowerment

Transforming communities through skill development, long-term career opportunities, entrepreneurship, and access to financial products and services

Strategic grants that unlock economic prosperity and growth for individuals and communities.

Climate Regeneration

Building an inclusive, regenerative, and resilient climate future through education, regenerative agriculture, conservation, protection, and clean energy solutions

Our efforts began in 2021, when the Cisco Foundation committed US$100 million over 10 years to fund nonprofit grants and impact investing in climate solutions. 

Community Grants

State Farm is committed to helping build safer, stronger and better-educated communities.

• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​We are committed to auto and home safety programs and activities that help people manage the risks of everyday life.
• We invest in education, economic empowerment and community development projects, programs and services that help people realize their dreams.
• We help maintain the vibrancy of our communities by assisting nonprofits that support community revitalization.

Good Neighbor Citizenship company grants focus on safety, community development and education.

Focus Areas

Safety Grants

We strive to keep our customers and communities safe. That's why our funding is directed toward:

• Auto safety — improving driver, passenger, vehicle or roadway safety
• Home safety — shielding homes from fires, crime or natural disasters
• Disaster preparedness and mitigation
• Disaster recovery

Community Development

We support nonprofits that invest and develop stronger neighborhoods. That's why our funding is directed toward:

• Affordable housing — home construction and repair
• Commercial/small business development
• Job training
• Neighborhood revitalization
• Financial literacy
• Sustainable housing and transportation
• Food insecurity

Education

Our education funding is directed toward initiatives that support the following programs:

• Higher education
• K-12 academic performance
• K-12 STEM
• Pathways for college and career success

PNC Foundation

Strengthening and enriching the lives of our neighbors in communities where we live and work.

Vision & Mission

For decades, we have provided resources to seed ideas, foster development initiatives and encourage leadership in nonprofit organizations where imagination and determination are at work enhancing people's lives everyday.

The PNC Foundation's priority is to form partnerships with community-based nonprofit organizations in order to enhance educational opportunities, with an emphasis on early childhood education, and to promote the growth of communities through economic development initiatives.

Foundation Grant

The PNC Foundation supports a variety of nonprofit organizations with a special emphasis on those that work to achieve sustainability and touch a diverse population, in particular, those that support early childhood education and/or economic development.

Education

The PNC Foundation supports educational programs for children and youth, particularly early childhood education initiatives that meet the criteria established through PNC Grow Up Great. Specifically, PNC Grow Up Great grants must:

• Support early education initiatives that benefit children from birth to age five; and
• Serve a majority of children (>50%) from low- to moderate-income families; and
• Adhere to all other standard PNC Foundation guidelines, as outlined on the PNC Foundation website, applicant eligibility quiz, as well as the Foundation policies and procedures; and
• Include one or a combination of the following:
  • direct services/programs for children in their classroom or community;
  • professional development/workforce development for early childhood educators;
  • family and/or community engagement in children’s early learning
• Additional considerations:
  • The grant focus should include math, science, reading, vocabulary development, the arts, financial education, or social/emotional development.
  • The grant recipient, or collaborative partner, should have early childhood education as an area of focus. If the organization’s focus is beyond birth to age five, the specific grant must be earmarked for birth to age five.
  • Incorporate opportunities for PNC volunteers in classroom or non-classroom-based activities.

Economic Development

Economic development organizations, including those which enhance the quality of life through neighborhood revitalization, cultural enrichment and human services are given support. Priority is given to community development initiatives that strategically promote the growth of low-and moderate-income communities and/or provide services to these communities.

• Affordable Housing
  • The PNC Foundation understands the critical need for affordable housing for low-and moderate-income individuals.
  • We are committed to providing support to nonprofit organizations that:
    • give counseling and services to help these individuals maintain their housing stock;
    • offer transitional housing units and programs; and/or
    • offer credit counseling assistance to individuals, helping them to prepare for homeownership.
• Community Development
  • Because small businesses are often critical components of community growth and help foster business development, the PNC Foundation provides support to nonprofit organizations that
    • offer technical assistance to, or loan programs for, small businesses located in low-and moderate-income areas or
    • support small businesses that employ low-and moderate-income individuals.
• Community Services
  • Support is given to social services organizations that benefit the health, education, quality of life or provide essential services for low-and moderate-income individuals and families.
  • The PNC Foundation supports job training programs and organizations that provide essential services for their families.
• Arts & Culture
  • Support is given for cultural enrichment programs benefitting the community.
• Revitalization & Stabilization of Low-and Moderate-Income Areas
  • The PNC Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that serve low-and moderate-income neighborhoods by improving living and working conditions.
  • Support is given to organizations that help stabilize communities, eliminate blight and attract and retain businesses and residents to the community.

Philanthropy is our commitment to communities in which we operate and broader society. We focus our resources on a limited number of key projects that can deliver valuable benefits from our contributions and those of our partners. We give priority to innovative, high-quality projects that meet the following criteria:

• promote sustainable development
• offer an opportunity for Roche to use its expertise and logistics capabilities
• involve Roche actively at an early stage with local authorities and established partners
• engage Roche employees in cultural (focus on contemporary arts), educational and social activities
• managed by an accredited charity

Our four focus areas

Humanitarian and Social

We direct the majority of our philanthropic donations to humanitarian and social development projects.

Science and education

We are dedicated to programmes that promote scientific interest and provide educational opportunities for young people around the world.

Community and Environment

We are committed to building stronger communities and responding to natural disasters sustainably.

Arts and Culture

We support groundbreaking contemporary art, cultural projects and activities that explore the parallels between innovation in art and in science. 

Mission

Driven by a philanthropic calling to support marginalized communities throughout the world, the Semnani Family Foundation partners with on-the-ground organizations and leverages its resources in a cost-effective and efficient manner that delivers the maximum benefit.

History

Guided by his grandmother Maliheh’s example and teachings, Khosrow Semnani and his wife Ghazaleh established the Semnani Family Foundation in 1993. The foundation’s first grant was issued through CARE International to an orphanage in Romania that cared for newborns affected by HIV. Over the last few decades, the foundation has continued to build upon its mission to empower the disaffected, partnering with a variety of organizations in different countries who can make the greatest impact.

In addition to its global influence, the Semnani Family Foundation established roots within the state of Utah with the founding of Maliheh Free Clinic in 2005 to provide free healthcare to thousands of uninsured people in the Salt Lake City area.

Where We Work

The Semnani Family Foundation focuses primarily on promoting health, education, and disaster relief for marginalized communities all around the world. Driven by a clear mission to adapt and serve at the global level, we have leveraged our resources to make a meaningful impact in the following countries so far:

• Afghanistan
• Bosnia
• Colombia
• England
• Ethiopia
• Ghana
• Guatemala
• India
• Iran
• Kenya
• Madagascar
• Mali
• Mexico
• Pakistan
• Philippines
• Romania
• Somalia
• South Africa
• Tanzania
• Tonga
• Uganda
• United States
• Yemen

At the heart of the Foundation lies a fervent commitment to human welfare, always prioritizing health and the needs of society’s most vulnerable.

We have strong partnerships with nonprofit organizations across the country that are working to advance economic mobility and social progress in low- and moderate-income communities. Our focus areas include basic needs like food and housing, workforce development and education, and community development. In addition to our philanthropic investments, we also encourage our employees to make a difference by offering robust employee giving and volunteering programs, including the opportunity to direct funds to organizations they support through volunteer efforts, and a matching gifts program that doubles their individual giving to causes they care about. Last year, we invested $350 million in the communities we serve, and employees contributed more than 1 million volunteer hours and directed $65 million through individual giving and matching gifts to support nonprofits.Through our regional U.S. sponsorships, we support the economic, social and cultural life of the places we live and work. We provide an extensive program of arts and sports sponsorships to help maintain vibrant, healthy communities.Sponsorships supporting communitiesBank of America welcomes your sponsorship proposal for opportunities that make our communities a better place to live and work. We are particularly interested in providing support to address needs vital to the health of our communities through a focus on:

• preserving neighborhoods;
• educating the workforce for 21st century jobs;
• addressing critical needs such as hunger and emergency shelter;
• arts and culture;
• the environment; and
• diversity and inclusion programs.

Grants are made at the Foundation’s discretion based on our current funding strategies focused on housing, jobs and hunger. 

The Lawrence Foundation is a private family foundation focused on making grants to support environmental, human services and other causes.

The Lawrence Foundation was established in mid-2000. We make both program and operating grants and do not have any geographical restrictions on our grants. Nonprofit organizations that qualify for public charity status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or other similar organizations are eligible for grants from The Lawrence Foundation.  

Grant Amount and Types

Grants typically range between $5,000 - $10,000. In some limited cases we may make larger grants, but that is typically after we have gotten to know your organization over a period of time. We also generally don’t make multi-year grants, although we may fund the same organization on a year by year basis over a period of years.

General operating or program/project grant requests within our areas of interests are accepted. In general, regardless of whether a grant request is for general operating or program/project expenses, all of our grants will be issued as unrestricted grants.

Since 1994, the Nonprofit Management Fund has operated as a collaboration of private funders in the metropolitan Milwaukee area. Collectively, the funders have contributed over $9.9 million for grants to nonprofit organizations and to implement related initiatives.

• Our MissionWe accelerate the effectiveness of nonprofits to build strong and vibrant communities.

• We Believe: The Nonprofit Management Fund believes that strong nonprofits build strong communities.

• What We Do: We provide capacity building technical assistance grants to nonprofit organizations for governance planning, training, and assessing. 

Grants awarded are project specific, nonrenewable, and range from $1,000 – $10,000. Applications that include a request greater than $10,000 may automatically be denied. Grant requests over $8,500 will require an organizational financial contribution, in addition to the funds provided by the Nonprofit Management Fund.

We Do Fund:

Governance – Building the Board’s capacity to lead and govern through proven modes, practices and policies, including, but not limited to:

• Recruitment and Orientation of Directors
• Board Leadership (duties, responsibilities, accountability)
• Committee Structure (activation, training, responsibilities)
• Financial Management Oversight Training
• Fund Development Planning and Income Planning
• Fund Development Board/Executive Training and Coaching
• Succession Planning (executive and board)

Management – Building the organization’s capacity through policies and practices to fulfill its mission, vision and goals, including, but not limited to:

• Organization Assessments
• Executive Leadership Development Training or Coaching
• Financial Management/Budgeting
• Technology Planning
• Strategic Planning/Annual Planning
• Marketing and Branding Planning
• Website Upgrade/Overhaul

Professional Facilitation – Support in organization planning for:

• Collaborative Projects
• Joint Ventures
• Restructuring/Merger/Dissolution

Organizational Alternative 

Professional facilitation of organization’s planning for:

• Merger
• Restructuring
• Joint Venture Project
• Partnership/Collaboration
• Dissolution

About the DNR

In keeping with our mission, the DNR is dedicated to working with Wisconsinites while preserving and enhancing the natural resources of Wisconsin. In partnership with individuals and organizations, DNR staff manage fish, wildlife, forests, parks, air and water resources while promoting a healthy, sustainable environment and a full range of outdoor opportunities.

State Park and Forest Heritage Trust Fund

The Wisconsin Legislature created the State Park and Forest Heritage Trust Fund to provide grants to Friends Groups for the maintenance and operations of state parks, southern state forests, state trails or state recreation areas. A Friends Group must have established an endowment fund for the benefit of the property. Only interest generated by the endowment fund can be used as the applicant’s match.

Centene Charitable Foundation

Successful corporate citizenship happens when companies invest in the local organizations that know their communities best. The Centene Foundation works with our local partners on initiatives that focus on inclusion, the whole person and community development.

Vision

Centene’s purpose is transforming the health of the community, one person at a time. The Centene Foundation is an essential part of how we pursue this purpose. We achieve measurable impact for the communities we serve through partnerships and philanthropy efforts that invest in initiatives with holistic approaches to dismantling barriers to health.

Areas of Focus

Reflecting Centene’s commitment to the needs of those who rely on government-sponsored health care and to addressing social determinants of health and health equity, preference will be given to initiatives in three distinct areas of focus.

• Healthcare Access
• Social Services
• Education

Our Mission

Our mission is to continue and further the philanthropic legacy of Gardner Cowles, Jr. and the Cowles family, which includes promotion of education, social justice, health, and the arts.

The Founder

The Cowles Charitable Trust was first established in 1948 by Gardner “Mike” Cowles, Jr. (1903-1985). Born into the Cowles publishing family of Des Moines, Iowa, Mike was the youngest of Gardner Cowles and Florence Call Cowles’ six children. A newspaper editor and publisher by trade, he was committed to his family’s traditions of responsible, public-spirited, and innovative journalism as well as philanthropy. 

The Cowles Charitable Trust supports the arts, education, the advancement of ethical journalism, medical and climate research.

Our Mission

Impact100 Greater Milwaukee is an organization of women who collectively award transformative grants that make a lasting impact on the community.

Grants

Impact100 Greater Milwaukee challenges your established nonprofit organization to think creatively about the needs of your community. Dream big, know your plan and how you’ll measure the outcomes, and you could earn a grant to make a transformative, impactful and sustained change in the greater Milwaukee area.

Focus Areas

All programs or projects must fall within one of the following Focus Areas:

• Arts & Culture
  • Projects or programs that cultivate, develop, educate or enhance the artistic and/or cultural climate in the Greater Milwaukee area.
• Education
  • Projects or programs that improve or advance educational opportunities for children and/or adults in the Greater Milwaukee area.
• Environment & Revitalization
  • Projects or programs in the Greater Milwaukee area that:
    • preserve, enhance, revitalize or restore facilities, spaces or surroundings;
    • promote the protection and welfare of animals; or
    • encourage conservation.
• Health & Wellness
  • Projects or programs that positively impact the mental or physical health of people living in the Greater Milwaukee area.
• Family
  • Projects or programs that strengthen or enhance the lives of children, adults and families living in the Greater Milwaukee area.

Ameriprise Financial Grantmaking

At Ameriprise Financial, giving back is deeply rooted in our culture. We’ve initiated positive change in the communities where we live and work for more than 120 years. We believe our community involvement enables us to actively live our values. Through grant making, volunteerism and employee and financial advisor gift matching programs, we support a diverse group of over 6,000 nonprofits across the country.

Focus Areas

Awarding grant dollars to nonprofits is one way we strengthen our communities and help individuals on a path to financial independence. To ensure we're meeting the needs of our communities and making an even greater collective impact, we focus on three key giving areas when awarding grants.

Volunteer engagement is a priority across all focus areas:

The engagement of Ameriprise employees and financial advisors is a critical component of our philanthropy. Whether it’s serving on a nonprofit board, engaging friends, clients and community members in volunteering or providing skills-based support, our relationships with nonprofits go deep. For this reason, we give priority across all focus areas to applications where there is active volunteer engagement of Ameriprise advisors and employees. 

Meeting Basic Needs

At Ameriprise Financial, we help clients achieve financial security and peace of mind. That’s satisfying, meaningful work. We also help the people in our neighborhoods who struggle to meet basic needs such as where their next meal comes from, where they’ll sleep tonight or how they’ll find a higher wage job. We’re here to help them through the three platforms of our Meeting Basic Needs focus area.

Consideration is given to applications addressing the following: 

• Hunger
• Food banks, food shelves and food pantries, daily meal programs or meal services for the homebound
• Hunger-relief programs targeted to meet the special needs of children, ethnic populations or veterans
• Food programs run by nonprofits where hunger is not their sole focus, for example a youth meal program at the YWCA or a backpack program run by a Boys & Girls Club
• Shelter
• Emergency shelter, including youth homelessness
• Transitional housing, permanent supportive housing and efforts to end chronic homelessness
• Housing-first models (programs quickly providing housing and then addressing needed services)
• Achieving and maintaining home ownership, repair and maintenance efforts helping keep seniors, veterans and other populations in their homes 
• Adult Self-Sufficiency: Programs serving adults age 21 and older that help address the following areas:
• Basic hard and soft skills that help adults achieve economic and family stability
• Basic financial and budgeting skills
• Increase employability and wages, including work readiness and job transitions
• Employment of disabled adults

Supporting Community Vitality

We believe communities should be strong, healthy and resilient. We want livable places for all, where neighbors look out for one another, cultural events are well-attended and people pull together in times of crisis and joy. We work to create economic vitality and cultural enrichment through the following areas of focus.

Consideration is given to applications addressing the following: 

• Community Development
• Neighborhood revitalization
• Economic development
• Strengthening and supporting small businesses and nonprofits through technical expertise
• Cultural Enrichment
• Arts education
• Access for underserved populations
• Diverse artists and performances that spark topical community conversations 

Volunteer Driven Causes: Ameriprise employees and financial advisors are outstanding volunteers who serve in teams and also as individuals bringing personal skill-sets to nonprofits. Volunteering is part of the culture at Ameriprise and we are proud to support communities through contributions of both service and financial resources. 

Funding for Volunteer-Driven Causes is determined by current Ameriprise volunteerism. In general, funding is in proportion to the size of the Ameriprise volunteer team supporting a nonprofit. A team may include employees, financial advisors and/or staff or a combination of any Ameriprise volunteers. 

Cycle 1

The Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s discretionary grantmaking supports projects and programs that align with priorities that support our strategic vision of creating a Milwaukee for all. 

Funding Priorities

• Arts and Culture – Visual, performing, and multidisciplinary arts, and arts education
• Basic Needs – Food access and distribution and temporary shelter support
• Housing – Quality affordable housing, pathways to homeownership, and eviction prevention
• Physical Health – Access to affordable, culturally responsive integrative care that fulfills unmet health needs.

Community Ties Giving Program

As part of the Community Ties Giving Program, Local Grants help us achieve our mission by providing small and medium-sized grants within our priority cause areas to local organizations spread widely across Union Pacific's footprint.

Funding Priorities & Objectives

Throughout its existence, the success of Union Pacific's business has been inextricably linked to the economic and community wellbeing of cities and towns across the nation. We take pride in the role we have played in helping communities thrive and believe the impact we can have on local communities is greatest when it is authentic to our history and reflective of the diverse company we are today.

As such, we have carefully aligned our Local Grants cause areas to our company's unique heritage, strengths, and assets. Specifically, we prioritize funding for direct services and efforts that build the capacity of organizations focused on the following causes within our local operating communities. Within each focus area, we aim to support programs and organizations working to advance the diversity, equity and inclusion of underrepresented populations within the local context and issue areas addressed. Find more information about our commitment to DEI in our FAQs.

Safety

In order for communities to thrive, all residents must feel safe. Just as the safety of our employees and community members is paramount to how we operate, Union Pacific is committed to helping communities prevent and prepare for incidents and emergencies, and helping residents get home safely at the end of each day. As such, we prioritize funding for projects and programs that seek to: 

• Encourage safe behaviors and prevent incidents through education and awareness, particularly projects which focus on rail, driver, bike, and pedestrian safety, and ensure outreach efforts reach underserved populations.
• Eliminate risks and improve safe and equitable access to community spaces through infrastructure improvements, such as signage, proper lighting, and public trail improvements.
• Prepare and equip residents and emergency responders* to effectively respond to incidents and emergencies if or when they occur.
  • *Union Pacific supports publicly funded emergency responders through a variety of corporate programs; only independent nonprofit, 501(c)(3) emergency response organizations, such as volunteer departments, are eligible for funding through this grant program
• Prevent crime and violent incidents and support survivors of domestic violence through efforts that address the root causes of these issues and seek to mitigate their occurrence.
• Build the capacity of safety-focused organizations to integrate practices that improve upon the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of the organization. This can take the form of internal capacity building or the creation/expansion of culturally relevant programming and services that seek to impact a broad and diverse audience. 

Workforce Development

For more than 160 years, Union Pacific has helped stimulate economic growth in cities and towns throughout the nation by training and providing employment to millions of workers. More than ever, we are committed to helping underrepresented residents in our communities achieve family-supporting careers like those offered by Union Pacific. As such, we prioritize funding for programs that seek to:

• Put youth on the right track by creating awareness of and pathways toward employment opportunities; building foundational skills, especially in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM); establishing necessary technical skills and life skills; and providing mentorship and positive role models for the future.
• Raise awareness of, educate and prepare young adults for middle skills jobs like those Union Pacific offers, for instance through community colleges, vocational and career training programs, workforce readiness initiatives, and programs that assist with job placement and/or on-the-job experience.
  • Programs that develop proficiency in areas relevant to Union Pacific operations such as welding, electrical work, machine operations, and civil and electrical engineering are given priority.
• "Up-skill" the existing workforce by providing training and resources that enable them to reach the next level of their career.
  • Programs that develop proficiency in areas of relevance to Union Pacific operations are given priority.
• Resolve barriers to employment such as transportation, childcare, acquiring necessary equipment for work, and second chance employment programs.
• Build the capacity of workforce development-focused organizations to integrate practices that improve upon the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of the organization. This can take the form of internal capacity building or the creation/expansion of culturally relevant programming and services that seek to impact a broad and diverse audience. 

Community Vitality

Union Pacific Railroad is committed to establishing vibrant, healthy and inclusive communities for employees, customers and residents to work, visit and call home. Just as the railroad opened avenues for economic development and opportunity more than 160 years ago, we maintain this tradition by cultivating unique cultural and recreational experiences and equipping community members with opportunities to live healthy, vital lives. As such, we prioritize funding for projects and programs that seek to:

• Create, sustain or expand artistic and cultural experiences offered to a broad and diverse audience (e.g., museums, theaters, zoos, cultural and local heritage, visual and performing arts, etc.)
• Provide recreational opportunities that foster wellbeing, enrichment and/or an appreciation for our natural environment (e.g., parks, libraries, senior centers, recreation centers, learning centers, etc.).
• Revive neighborhoods and main street areas, especially in historically underinvested neighborhoods, to improve livability, promote commerce and attract more residents, businesses and visitors to town.
• Ensure residents’ basic needs are met and barriers are overcome (e.g., safe shelter and homelessness prevention, hunger relief, mental health and community health needs, etc.).
• Offer youth development and educational opportunities to ensure young people can thrive into healthy and productive community members (e.g., mentoring, leadership development, tutoring, services for youth in foster care, etc.).
• Build the capacity of community vitality-focused organizations to integrate practices that improve upon the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of the organization. This can take the form of internal capacity building or the creation/expansion of culturally relevant programming and services that seek to impact a broad and diverse audience. 

Environmental Sustainability

The future of our business, communities and planet depends on bold, collective action to reduce and slow the impacts of climate change while building a more sustainable economy for the next generation. Union Pacific is taking deliberate steps to reduce our environmental impact and helping our partners improve their own. Extending this commitment to our community investments, we seek to support leading environmental nonprofits and community-based organizations to advance the health of our environment. As such, we prioritize funding for projects and programs that seek to:

• Preserve and restore nature, including programs focused on natural habitats, ecosystems, and biodiversity.
• Protect and enhance water, soil and air quality through innovative and proactive solutions such as water conservation, carbon sequestration and emission reduction programs.
• Reduce waste through initiatives focused on promoting recycling and circularity throughout the community, including recycling and composting programs and other efforts that reduce waste.
• Develop environmental stewards through youth programs focused on fostering environmental appreciation, responsibility, and leadership.
• Advance a sustainable economy by helping communities accelerate their transition to environmental jobs and renewable energy, as well as helping nonprofits and small businesses build their own capacity to operate more sustainably.
• Promote environmental justice through initiatives that ensure access to clean air, water, and land and protect underserved populations from disproportionate and adverse environmental effects.
• Build the capacity of sustainability-focused organizations to integrate practices that improve upon the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of the organization. This can take the form of internal capacity building or the creation/expansion of culturally relevant programming and services that seek to impact a broad and diverse audience.

Calling to Serve

Since its inception in 2016, the Robinson Foundation has sought to demonstrate God’s love through sharing the gifts we have received. We understand the often unspoken hardships and struggles that people in and outside of our community face everyday. As such, our contributions are focused on relieving these hardships for the betterment of our world.

As a family-operated foundation, we pray that our small efforts will not only create immediate change in the lives of our neighbors, but will help set those lives on a course for success in the future. We are thankful for each and every day we have on this earth to use what God has granted us to make a difference.

Areas of Interest

• Animal Welfare
• Children & Families
• Disaster Relief
• Education
• Medical Assistance
• Nature & Wildlife Conservation
• Poverty Relief
• Religious & Spiritual Endeavors
• Veterans' Issues

Grant Considerations

We take many different aspects of applications into account when making grant issuing decisions, however these are some of the high-level questions we ask ourselves during the process:

• How does the organization serve their key audience goals?
• Is the organization fiscally responsible?
• Will a grant have a tangible, meaningful impact?
• Will we see direct results from this grant?
• Does the organization have other financial contributors?

Community Partnership Award

The Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award recognizes outstanding nonprofit organizations in the United States that have shown exemplary leadership by facilitating partnerships with public, private or social sector leaders who are working together as equal partners, not as donors and recipients, to build a cohesive community that serves as a model for collaborating with others for the greater good.

Each year, the Mutual of America Foundation sponsors a national competition in which hundreds of organizations demonstrate the value of their partnership to the communities they serve, their ability to be replicated by others and their capacity to stimulate new approaches to addressing significant social issues.

Six organizations are selected by an independent committee to receive the Community Partnership Award.

• The Thomas J. Moran Award is given to the national award-winning program and includes $100,000 and a documentary video about the program.
• The Frances R. Hesselbein Award is given to a partnership that is addressing social challenges in more than one community, or which demonstrates the potential to be replicated in other communities. This recipient receives $75,000.
• Four other organizations are named Honorable Mention recipients for their programs, and each receives $50,000.

Since its inception in 1996, the Community Partnership Award has recognized 262 partnerships from cities and towns across America. Like so many of our clients working in the nonprofit community, Mutual of America is dedicated to having a direct, positive impact on society.

GMF: Cycle 2 - Capital Support

The Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s discretionary grantmaking supports projects and programs that align with priorities that support our strategic vision of creating a Milwaukee for all. 

Funding Priorities

• Early Childhood Education – 
• This funding priority does not fund Capital expenses.

• Mental Health – 
  • Background -  
    • The greater Milwaukee region faces significant racial health disparities that lead to differences in disease outcomes, life expectancy, and overall quality of life. These disparities are driven by systemic racism. Our communities are rich with cultural resilience, strong social networks, and innovative grassroots organizations working to address our health disparities. Community-led initiatives are improving outcomes by leveraging these strengths and showcasing greater Milwaukee’s ability to harness its collective resources and wisdom to foster equitable health outcomes for all residents.
  • Grantmaking focus -
    • Increase transformative, community-led investments that support access to appropriate mental health services and improve mental health outcomes.
      • General operating, capital/facilities, and project/program grants are available.
    • Examples of potential applications include but are not limited to those seeking funds for one or more of the following:
      •  Providing community-based, culturally reverent mental health support and services
      • Advancing an integrative evidence-based approaches to well-being  
      • Focusing on restorative justice and trauma-responsive healing initiatives
      • Building solidarity and collaboration among service providers and the community
      • Creating and sharing stories of communities overcoming systemic barriers
      • Engaging patients and/or program participants to leverage their insights and capacity for improving mental health
      • Integrating those with lived experiences into the organization’s leadership
      • Engaging in advocacy and organizing efforts, including anti-racist organizational development
      • Addressing mental health impacts of racial inequity 
• Workforce Development – 
  • Background -
    • Our communities are brimming with talent and assets, but in too many places, disinvestments have limited individuals’ economic opportunity and quality of life. People’s ability to improve their economic status contributes to a thriving community. Helping people to improve their economic standing over time, regardless of their background, creates a more equitable society. Improving economic mobility helps improve a person’s quality of life. 
  • Grantmaking focus -
    • Increase economic mobility through job creation, access, and retention.
      • General operating, capital/facilities, and project/program grants are available.
    • Examples of potential applications include but are not limited to those seeking funds for one or more of the following:
      • Developing and implementing creative job creation strategies
      • Delivering training programs that help people enter jobs that pay a living wage
      • Creating workforce programs and projects that support people and employers 

Funding

Requests for up to $50,000 per year for up to three years will be considered. Organizations are encouraged to apply for the funds and length of award necessary.  

GMF: Cycle 2 - General Operating Support

The Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s discretionary grantmaking supports projects and programs that align with priorities that support our strategic vision of creating a Milwaukee for all. 

Funding Priorities

• Early Childhood Education – 
• Background -  
• High quality early childhood care and education is key to giving every child the start in life they need and deserve. It has been shown to have a significant impact on a child’s long-term academic, social and developmental success, and enables parents to participate in the workforce. Furthermore, research supports that physical learning environments matter. Facilities and the child-centered spaces within them can enhance children’s development by inspiring a range of social and cognitive learning experiences, as well as encouraging the development of gross motor skills. Indoor and outdoor spaces can increase students in a variety of hands-on learning experiences, collaboration, exploration and play.
• Grantmaking focus - 
  • Increase access to quality, affordable early childhood care and education for every child in need.
    • Project/program and general operating funds are available for early childhood care and education professional development, recruitment and retention.
  • Examples of potential applications include but are not limited to those seeking funds for the following:
    • Designing and delivering professional development opportunities for early childhood education providers
    • Facilitating an early childhood education career exploration event and establishing a social media presence aimed at recruiting individuals who are passionate about working with young children, eager to contribute to high-quality early learning environments, and committed to advancing the field of early childhood education
    • Collaborating with early childhood educators and other nonprofits to promote the development and/or retention of early childhood educators 

• Mental Health – 
  • Background -  
    • The greater Milwaukee region faces significant racial health disparities that lead to differences in disease outcomes, life expectancy, and overall quality of life. These disparities are driven by systemic racism. Our communities are rich with cultural resilience, strong social networks, and innovative grassroots organizations working to address our health disparities. Community-led initiatives are improving outcomes by leveraging these strengths and showcasing greater Milwaukee’s ability to harness its collective resources and wisdom to foster equitable health outcomes for all residents.
  • Grantmaking focus -
    • Increase transformative, community-led investments that support access to appropriate mental health services and improve mental health outcomes.
      • General operating, capital/facilities, and project/program grants are available.
    • Examples of potential applications include but are not limited to those seeking funds for one or more of the following:
      •  Providing community-based, culturally reverent mental health support and services
      • Advancing an integrative evidence-based approaches to well-being  
      • Focusing on restorative justice and trauma-responsive healing initiatives
      • Building solidarity and collaboration among service providers and the community
      • Creating and sharing stories of communities overcoming systemic barriers
      • Engaging patients and/or program participants to leverage their insights and capacity for improving mental health
      • Integrating those with lived experiences into the organization’s leadership
      • Engaging in advocacy and organizing efforts, including anti-racist organizational development
      • Addressing mental health impacts of racial inequity 
• Workforce Development – 
  • Background -
    • Our communities are brimming with talent and assets, but in too many places, disinvestments have limited individuals’ economic opportunity and quality of life. People’s ability to improve their economic status contributes to a thriving community. Helping people to improve their economic standing over time, regardless of their background, creates a more equitable society. Improving economic mobility helps improve a person’s quality of life. 
  • Grantmaking focus -
    • Increase economic mobility through job creation, access, and retention.
      • General operating, capital/facilities, and project/program grants are available.
    • Examples of potential applications include but are not limited to those seeking funds for one or more of the following:
      • Developing and implementing creative job creation strategies
      • Delivering training programs that help people enter jobs that pay a living wage
      • Creating workforce programs and projects that support people and employers 

Funding

Requests for up to $50,000 per year for up to three years will be considered. Organizations are encouraged to apply for the funds and length of award necessary.  

GMF: Cycle 2 - Project Support

The Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s discretionary grantmaking supports projects and programs that align with priorities that support our strategic vision of creating a Milwaukee for all. 

Funding Priorities

• Early Childhood Education – 
• Background -  
• High quality early childhood care and education is key to giving every child the start in life they need and deserve. It has been shown to have a significant impact on a child’s long-term academic, social and developmental success, and enables parents to participate in the workforce. Furthermore, research supports that physical learning environments matter. Facilities and the child-centered spaces within them can enhance children’s development by inspiring a range of social and cognitive learning experiences, as well as encouraging the development of gross motor skills. Indoor and outdoor spaces can increase students in a variety of hands-on learning experiences, collaboration, exploration and play.
• Grantmaking focus - 
  • Increase access to quality, affordable early childhood care and education for every child in need.
    • Project/program and general operating funds are available for early childhood care and education professional development, recruitment and retention.
  • Examples of potential applications include but are not limited to those seeking funds for the following:
    • Designing and delivering professional development opportunities for early childhood education providers
    • Facilitating an early childhood education career exploration event and establishing a social media presence aimed at recruiting individuals who are passionate about working with young children, eager to contribute to high-quality early learning environments, and committed to advancing the field of early childhood education
    • Collaborating with early childhood educators and other nonprofits to promote the development and/or retention of early childhood educators 

• Mental Health – 
  • Background -  
    • The greater Milwaukee region faces significant racial health disparities that lead to differences in disease outcomes, life expectancy, and overall quality of life. These disparities are driven by systemic racism. Our communities are rich with cultural resilience, strong social networks, and innovative grassroots organizations working to address our health disparities. Community-led initiatives are improving outcomes by leveraging these strengths and showcasing greater Milwaukee’s ability to harness its collective resources and wisdom to foster equitable health outcomes for all residents.
  • Grantmaking focus -
    • Increase transformative, community-led investments that support access to appropriate mental health services and improve mental health outcomes.
      • General operating, capital/facilities, and project/program grants are available.
    • Examples of potential applications include but are not limited to those seeking funds for one or more of the following:
      •  Providing community-based, culturally reverent mental health support and services
      • Advancing an integrative evidence-based approaches to well-being  
      • Focusing on restorative justice and trauma-responsive healing initiatives
      • Building solidarity and collaboration among service providers and the community
      • Creating and sharing stories of communities overcoming systemic barriers
      • Engaging patients and/or program participants to leverage their insights and capacity for improving mental health
      • Integrating those with lived experiences into the organization’s leadership
      • Engaging in advocacy and organizing efforts, including anti-racist organizational development
      • Addressing mental health impacts of racial inequity 
• Workforce Development – 
  • Background -
    • Our communities are brimming with talent and assets, but in too many places, disinvestments have limited individuals’ economic opportunity and quality of life. People’s ability to improve their economic status contributes to a thriving community. Helping people to improve their economic standing over time, regardless of their background, creates a more equitable society. Improving economic mobility helps improve a person’s quality of life. 
  • Grantmaking focus -
    • Increase economic mobility through job creation, access, and retention.
      • General operating, capital/facilities, and project/program grants are available.
    • Examples of potential applications include but are not limited to those seeking funds for one or more of the following:
      • Developing and implementing creative job creation strategies
      • Delivering training programs that help people enter jobs that pay a living wage
      • Creating workforce programs and projects that support people and employers 

Funding

Requests for up to $50,000 per year for up to three years will be considered. Organizations are encouraged to apply for the funds and length of award necessary.  

Gupta Family Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, USA. Our mission is to support organizations that provide focused intervention in the lives of people who have been disadvantaged in some way to help them become self-reliant. We take a very broad view of “disadvantage” to include anything that holds a person back from realizing their potential, such as poverty, physical or mental disability, social alienation, etc. The foundation also supports relief agencies that serve people affected by emergencies such as natural disasters.

The foundation evaluates and awards annual and multi-year grants ranging from $5,000 to over $250,000 (USD). Our focus is on funding smaller organizations all around the world that are led by individuals with a deep personal commitment to their missions. 

Our selection criteria include:

• Mission alignment
• The organization is run by the founder or, if not, by a successor who embodies the original inspiration, passion and commitment of the founder.
• At least 90% of grant monies reaches the intended beneficiaries.
• The organization is non-sectarian, i.e.,
  • It does not, directly or indirectly, support or condone the proselytization of any religion,
  • It is not supported by or affiliated to a religious organization.

Cycle 3

The Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s discretionary grantmaking supports projects and programs that align with priorities that support our strategic vision of creating a Milwaukee for all. 

Funding Priorities 

• Arts and Culture – The Greater Milwaukee Foundation supports targeted arts education and arts and culture strategies representing visual, performing and multidisciplinary art projects and programs.
  • Grantmaking focus:
    • Arts education programs in traditional or nontraditional educational environments for children/youth from birth to high school
    • Creation and exhibition of art that engages the community in creative and substantive ways
    • Artists-in-residence within community-based settings
    • Programming that cultivates and supports an appreciation of diverse cultures and art forms
    • Projects that integrate arts and creativity into community planning and development
• Aging and Older Adults – The health outcomes of older adults are impacted by the ongoing harm of racial disparities in our health care system. Access to appropriate health services and improving health outcomes are this portfolio's main priorities. Our grant investment strategy aims to shift power, representation and policy toward racial equity. 
  • Grantmaking focus:
    • Projects/organizations that help residents age in place in transforming or disadvantaged neighborhoods
    • Projects/organizations that develop intergenerational support/cohesion
    • Projects/organizations that build solidarity and collaboration among service providers and community in their sector/work
    • Projects/organizations that build narrative and actual power for oppressed communities
    • Projects/organizations engaged in advocacy efforts, including antiracist organizational development which transforms influence in their sector/work
    • Projects/organizations addressing health impacts of racial inequity, particularly interventions that are disproportionately underfunded
    • Projects/organizations that help residents age in place, especially within transforming neighborhoods facing multiple barriers.
    • Projects/organizations which develop intergenerational support/cohesion/beloved community
    • Underfunded health services
• Early Childhood Education – High quality early childhood care and education is the key to giving every child the start in life they need and deserve. It has been shown to have a significant impact on a child’s long-term academic, social, and developmental success, and enables parents to participate in the workforce. Furthermore, research supports that physical learning environments matter. Facilities and the child-centered spaces within them can enhance children’s development by inspiring a range of social and cognitive learning experiences, as well as encouraging the development of gross motor skills. Indoor and outdoor spaces can increase students in a variety of hands-on learning experiences, collaboration, exploration, and play. For the well-being of our children and the future of our economy, we need to act now. That is why the Greater Milwaukee Foundation is prioritizing early childhood care and education.  
  • Grantmaking focus:
    • Facility upgrades
• Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development - Through these grants, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation provides access to resources and technical assistance that help small businesses get to the next level.
  • Grantmaking focus:
    • Small business growth and retention
    • Access to capital
    • Creative business solutions  
• Environment – 
  • Grantmaking focus:
    • Protection and conservation of environmental assets
    • Strengthening local and community-based food systems
    • Programming focused on youth engagement and conservation leadership development 
• Healthy Birth Outcomes – Healthy birth outcomes are impacted by the ongoing harm of racial disparities in our health care system. Access to appropriate health services and improving health outcomes are this portfolio's main priorities. Our grant investment strategy aims to shift power, representation and policy toward racial equity. 
  • Grantmaking focus:
    • Projects/organizations that address Black maternal/child health disparities.
    • Projects/organizations that decolonize maternal health care
    • Projects/organizations that build solidarity and collaboration among service providers and community in their sector/work
    • Projects/organizations that build narrative and actual power for oppressed communities
    • Projects/organizations engaged in advocacy efforts, including anti-racist organizational development which transforms influence in their sector/work
    • Projects/organizations addressing health impacts of racial inequity, particularly interventions that are disproportionately underfunded.
    • Projects/organizations that address Black maternal/child health disparities
    • Projects/organizations that provide culturally specific and integrative maternal and child health care  

Funding

• The typical grant range is $5,000 to $75,000. The maximum request for a capital grant is $100,000.
  • This grant range applies to these funding priorities:
    • Arts and Culture
    • Aging and Older Adults
    • Healthy Birth Outcomes
• The typical grant range is $5,000 to $50,000. The maximum request for a capital grant is $100,000.
  • This grant range applies to these funding priorities:
    • Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development
    • Environment
• The maximum request for a capital grant is $100,000. 
  • This grant range applies to this funding priority:
    • Early Childhood Education

GMF: Cycle 3 - Capital Support

The Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s discretionary grantmaking supports projects and programs that align with priorities that support our strategic vision of creating a Milwaukee for all. Learn more about our third grant cycle timeline, priorities, guidelines and the appropriate program officer to contact with any questions.

Priorities and Guidelines

Arts and Culture – The Greater Milwaukee Foundation supports targeted arts education and arts and culture strategies representing visual, performing and multidisciplinary art projects and programs.

Grantmaking focus:

• Arts education programs in traditional or nontraditional educational environments for children/youth from birth to high school
• Creation and exhibition of art that engages the community in creative and substantive ways
• Artists-in-residence within community-based settings
• Programming that cultivates and supports an appreciation of diverse cultures and art forms
• Projects that integrate arts and creativity into community planning and development

Aging and Older Adults – The health outcomes of older adults are impacted by the ongoing harm of racial disparities in our health care system. Access to appropriate health services and improving health outcomes are this portfolio's main priorities. Our grant investment strategy aims to shift power, representation and policy toward racial equity. 

Grantmaking focus:

• Projects/organizations that help residents age in place in transforming or disadvantaged neighborhoods
• Projects/organizations that develop intergenerational support/cohesion
• Projects/organizations that build solidarity and collaboration among service providers and community in their sector/work
• Projects/organizations that build narrative and actual power for oppressed communities
• Projects/organizations engaged in advocacy efforts, including antiracist organizational development which transforms influence in their sector/work
• Projects/organizations addressing health impacts of racial inequity, particularly interventions that are disproportionately underfunded
• Projects/organizations that help residents age in place, especially within transforming neighborhoods facing multiple barriers.
• Projects/organizations which develop intergenerational support/cohesion/beloved community
• Underfunded health services

Early Childhood Education – High quality early childhood care and education is the key to giving every child the start in life they need and deserve. It has been shown to have a significant impact on a child’s long-term academic, social, and developmental success, and enables parents to participate in the workforce. Furthermore, research supports that physical learning environments matter. Facilities and the child-centered spaces within them can enhance children’s development by inspiring a range of social and cognitive learning experiences, as well as encouraging the development of gross motor skills. Indoor and outdoor spaces can increase students in a variety of hands-on learning experiences, collaboration, exploration, and play. For the well-being of our children and the future of our economy, we need to act now. That is why the Greater Milwaukee Foundation is prioritizing early childhood care and education. 

Grantmaking focus:

• Facility upgrades
• Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development - Through these grants, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation provides access to resources and technical assistance that help small businesses get to the next level.
• Grantmaking focus:
• Small business growth and retention
• Access to capital
• Creative business solutions 

Environment – Everyone should have access to quality and healthy green spaces in their communities. Due to historical industrial sites, redlining, disinvestment, and other systematic inequities, black and brown communities often lack access to quality green spaces in their communities. Green spaces improve mental and physical health, community cohesion, and help clean the air and water. Milwaukeeans have a history of investing in, advocating for, and caring for green spaces in their communities. When we partner together, we can increase the quality and amount of green spaces in our communities.

Grantmaking focus:

• Protection and conservation of environmental assets
• Strengthening local and community-based food systems
• Programming focused on youth engagement and conservation leadership development 

Healthy Birth Outcomes – Healthy birth outcomes are impacted by the ongoing harm of racial disparities in our health care system. Access to appropriate health services and improving health outcomes are this portfolio's main priorities. Our grant investment strategy aims to shift power, representation and policy toward racial equity. 

Grantmaking focus:

• Projects/organizations that address Black maternal/child health disparities.
• Projects/organizations that decolonize maternal health care
• Projects/organizations that build solidarity and collaboration among service providers and community in their sector/work
• Projects/organizations that build narrative and actual power for oppressed communities
• Projects/organizations engaged in advocacy efforts, including anti-racist organizational development which transforms influence in their sector/work
• Projects/organizations addressing health impacts of racial inequity, particularly interventions that are disproportionately underfunded.
• Projects/organizations that address Black maternal/child health disparities
• Projects/organizations that provide culturally specific and integrative maternal and child health care.   

Grant amount

Requests for up to $50,000 per year for up to three years will be considered. Organizations are encouraged to apply for the funds and length of award necessary.

Grantmaking framework

Our grant investment framework aims: to ultimately support policies that benefit communities of color; to increase diverse representation (reflective of the racial and ethnic composition of communities served) in the decision-making bodies of institutions; and to change rules of engagement so that power is built, shared, and wielded equitably in order to produce just and sustainable outcomes. 

GMF: Cycle 3 - General Operating

The Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s discretionary grantmaking supports projects and programs that align with priorities that support our strategic vision of creating a Milwaukee for all. Learn more about our third grant cycle timeline, priorities, guidelines and the appropriate program officer to contact with any questions.

Priorities and Guidelines

Arts and Culture – The Greater Milwaukee Foundation supports targeted arts education and arts and culture strategies representing visual, performing and multidisciplinary art projects and programs.

Grantmaking focus:

• Arts education programs in traditional or nontraditional educational environments for children/youth from birth to high school
• Creation and exhibition of art that engages the community in creative and substantive ways
• Artists-in-residence within community-based settings
• Programming that cultivates and supports an appreciation of diverse cultures and art forms
• Projects that integrate arts and creativity into community planning and development

Aging and Older Adults – The health outcomes of older adults are impacted by the ongoing harm of racial disparities in our health care system. Access to appropriate health services and improving health outcomes are this portfolio's main priorities. Our grant investment strategy aims to shift power, representation and policy toward racial equity. 

Grantmaking focus:

• Projects/organizations that help residents age in place in transforming or disadvantaged neighborhoods
• Projects/organizations that develop intergenerational support/cohesion
• Projects/organizations that build solidarity and collaboration among service providers and community in their sector/work
• Projects/organizations that build narrative and actual power for oppressed communities
• Projects/organizations engaged in advocacy efforts, including antiracist organizational development which transforms influence in their sector/work
• Projects/organizations addressing health impacts of racial inequity, particularly interventions that are disproportionately underfunded
• Projects/organizations that help residents age in place, especially within transforming neighborhoods facing multiple barriers.
• Projects/organizations which develop intergenerational support/cohesion/beloved community
• Underfunded health services

Early Childhood Education – High quality early childhood care and education is the key to giving every child the start in life they need and deserve. It has been shown to have a significant impact on a child’s long-term academic, social, and developmental success, and enables parents to participate in the workforce. Furthermore, research supports that physical learning environments matter. Facilities and the child-centered spaces within them can enhance children’s development by inspiring a range of social and cognitive learning experiences, as well as encouraging the development of gross motor skills. Indoor and outdoor spaces can increase students in a variety of hands-on learning experiences, collaboration, exploration, and play. For the well-being of our children and the future of our economy, we need to act now. That is why the Greater Milwaukee Foundation is prioritizing early childhood care and education. 

Grantmaking focus:

• Facility upgrades
• Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development - Through these grants, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation provides access to resources and technical assistance that help small businesses get to the next level.
• Grantmaking focus:
• Small business growth and retention
• Access to capital
• Creative business solutions 

Environment – Everyone should have access to quality and healthy green spaces in their communities. Due to historical industrial sites, redlining, disinvestment, and other systematic inequities, black and brown communities often lack access to quality green spaces in their communities. Green spaces improve mental and physical health, community cohesion, and help clean the air and water. Milwaukeeans have a history of investing in, advocating for, and caring for green spaces in their communities. When we partner together, we can increase the quality and amount of green spaces in our communities.

Grantmaking focus:

• Protection and conservation of environmental assets
• Strengthening local and community-based food systems
• Programming focused on youth engagement and conservation leadership development 

Healthy Birth Outcomes – Healthy birth outcomes are impacted by the ongoing harm of racial disparities in our health care system. Access to appropriate health services and improving health outcomes are this portfolio's main priorities. Our grant investment strategy aims to shift power, representation and policy toward racial equity. 

Grantmaking focus:

• Projects/organizations that address Black maternal/child health disparities.
• Projects/organizations that decolonize maternal health care
• Projects/organizations that build solidarity and collaboration among service providers and community in their sector/work
• Projects/organizations that build narrative and actual power for oppressed communities
• Projects/organizations engaged in advocacy efforts, including anti-racist organizational development which transforms influence in their sector/work
• Projects/organizations addressing health impacts of racial inequity, particularly interventions that are disproportionately underfunded.
• Projects/organizations that address Black maternal/child health disparities
• Projects/organizations that provide culturally specific and integrative maternal and child health care.   

Grant amount

Requests for up to $50,000 per year for up to three years will be considered. Organizations are encouraged to apply for the funds and length of award necessary.

Grantmaking framework

Our grant investment framework aims: to ultimately support policies that benefit communities of color; to increase diverse representation (reflective of the racial and ethnic composition of communities served) in the decision-making bodies of institutions; and to change rules of engagement so that power is built, shared, and wielded equitably in order to produce just and sustainable outcomes. 

GMF: Cycle 3 - Project Support

The Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s discretionary grantmaking supports projects and programs that align with priorities that support our strategic vision of creating a Milwaukee for all. Learn more about our third grant cycle timeline, priorities, guidelines and the appropriate program officer to contact with any questions.

Priorities and Guidelines

Arts and Culture – The Greater Milwaukee Foundation supports targeted arts education and arts and culture strategies representing visual, performing and multidisciplinary art projects and programs.

Grantmaking focus:

• Arts education programs in traditional or nontraditional educational environments for children/youth from birth to high school
• Creation and exhibition of art that engages the community in creative and substantive ways
• Artists-in-residence within community-based settings
• Programming that cultivates and supports an appreciation of diverse cultures and art forms
• Projects that integrate arts and creativity into community planning and development

Aging and Older Adults – The health outcomes of older adults are impacted by the ongoing harm of racial disparities in our health care system. Access to appropriate health services and improving health outcomes are this portfolio's main priorities. Our grant investment strategy aims to shift power, representation and policy toward racial equity. 

Grantmaking focus:

• Projects/organizations that help residents age in place in transforming or disadvantaged neighborhoods
• Projects/organizations that develop intergenerational support/cohesion
• Projects/organizations that build solidarity and collaboration among service providers and community in their sector/work
• Projects/organizations that build narrative and actual power for oppressed communities
• Projects/organizations engaged in advocacy efforts, including antiracist organizational development which transforms influence in their sector/work
• Projects/organizations addressing health impacts of racial inequity, particularly interventions that are disproportionately underfunded
• Projects/organizations that help residents age in place, especially within transforming neighborhoods facing multiple barriers.
• Projects/organizations which develop intergenerational support/cohesion/beloved community
• Underfunded health services

Early Childhood Education – High quality early childhood care and education is the key to giving every child the start in life they need and deserve. It has been shown to have a significant impact on a child’s long-term academic, social, and developmental success, and enables parents to participate in the workforce. Furthermore, research supports that physical learning environments matter. Facilities and the child-centered spaces within them can enhance children’s development by inspiring a range of social and cognitive learning experiences, as well as encouraging the development of gross motor skills. Indoor and outdoor spaces can increase students in a variety of hands-on learning experiences, collaboration, exploration, and play. For the well-being of our children and the future of our economy, we need to act now. That is why the Greater Milwaukee Foundation is prioritizing early childhood care and education. 

Grantmaking focus:

• Facility upgrades
• Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development - Through these grants, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation provides access to resources and technical assistance that help small businesses get to the next level.
• Grantmaking focus:
• Small business growth and retention
• Access to capital
• Creative business solutions 

Environment – Everyone should have access to quality and healthy green spaces in their communities. Due to historical industrial sites, redlining, disinvestment, and other systematic inequities, black and brown communities often lack access to quality green spaces in their communities. Green spaces improve mental and physical health, community cohesion, and help clean the air and water. Milwaukeeans have a history of investing in, advocating for, and caring for green spaces in their communities. When we partner together, we can increase the quality and amount of green spaces in our communities.

Grantmaking focus:

• Protection and conservation of environmental assets
• Strengthening local and community-based food systems
• Programming focused on youth engagement and conservation leadership development 

Healthy Birth Outcomes – Healthy birth outcomes are impacted by the ongoing harm of racial disparities in our health care system. Access to appropriate health services and improving health outcomes are this portfolio's main priorities. Our grant investment strategy aims to shift power, representation and policy toward racial equity. 

Grantmaking focus:

• Projects/organizations that address Black maternal/child health disparities.
• Projects/organizations that decolonize maternal health care
• Projects/organizations that build solidarity and collaboration among service providers and community in their sector/work
• Projects/organizations that build narrative and actual power for oppressed communities
• Projects/organizations engaged in advocacy efforts, including anti-racist organizational development which transforms influence in their sector/work
• Projects/organizations addressing health impacts of racial inequity, particularly interventions that are disproportionately underfunded.
• Projects/organizations that address Black maternal/child health disparities
• Projects/organizations that provide culturally specific and integrative maternal and child health care.   

Grant amount

Requests for up to $50,000 per year for up to three years will be considered. Organizations are encouraged to apply for the funds and length of award necessary.

Grantmaking framework

Our grant investment framework aims: to ultimately support policies that benefit communities of color; to increase diverse representation (reflective of the racial and ethnic composition of communities served) in the decision-making bodies of institutions; and to change rules of engagement so that power is built, shared, and wielded equitably in order to produce just and sustainable outcomes.