Search Through Preservation Grants in Wisconsin in the U.S.

The Jeffris Family Foundation invites applications for grants from the Jeffris Heartland Fund, to support the development of important historic preservation projects in the states of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin.The decision to pursue a grant from the Jeffris Heartland Fund must be made in consultation with a Director of the Foundation to discuss your project and request a Jeffris Heartland Fund application form.Directors can also assist grant-seekers with the application process, provide related technical assistance to guide wise and constructive use of the grant funding, and administer grants once awarded. Applications, once invited, are accepted at any time.  Award notices are issued within approximately 30 days of receipt of the application.Grants will be made in the range of $5,000 to $50,000 to cover 50% the cost of an Historic Structure Report, and must be matched dollar-for-dollar with cash from sources unrelated to the Jeffris Family.

Historic Significance of the Site

• Priority will be given to sites of documented national and then state historic significance. Sites with local significance only will not be eligible for funding.
• Priority will be given to sites associated with prominent figures of national, regional, or statewide importance, or with events of national, regional, or statewide significance.
• Priority will be given to sites with significant architectural merit, including association with designers of national, regional, or statewide importance.
• Priority will be given to sites with strong elements of the decorative arts.
• Priority will be given to projects involving historic resources that are extremely rare and/or unique.
• Priority will be given to projects with a high degree of historic integrity, and to work relating to the restoration of original elements. While work to accommodate contemporary usage is acceptable, all work on the property must conform to The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

Proposed Project and Plan

• Priority will be given to applicants that can best demonstrate that a Historic Structure Report or other detailed planning study for which funding is being requested is critical to the accurate and appropriate restoration of the property.
• Priority will be given to applicants that can best demonstrate their intended use will be financially viable and operationally sustainable over time.
• Priority will be given to applicants that can assure that the project will fully comply with The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties through review and oversight by a local historic preservation commission, state historic preservation office, or preservation consultants thoroughly familiar and experienced with those standards.

 Organizational Excellence

• Priority will be given to applicants who can demonstrate a pattern of programming and services connected to the site and their stated mission (e.g. educational programs, events, hospitality).
• Priority will be given to applicants who demonstrate a broad base of membership and community support.
• Priority will be given to applicants with demonstrated success in past capital fundraising efforts.

About

The B.A. & Esther Greenheck Foundation was established in 1998 by Bernie and Esther Greenheck. Today, their son-in-law and daughter, Brian and Sandy Gumness — as well as their grandchildren and several community leaders — play an important role in managing the foundation and preserving Bernie and Esther’s legacy.

The B.A. & Esther Greenheck Foundation operates completely independently of Greenheck Fan Corporation. Our purpose is to provide financial support for meaningful projects in North Central Wisconsin that enhance the area’s arts, education, health, economic and social development resources. We encourage people to submit clear, concise grant applications.

What We Fund

The B.A. & Esther Greenheck Foundation welcomes applications that seek financial support in the following categories listed below.

• Arts: We welcome grant applications that expand existing arts programs and facilities. We also support the introduction of new arts-related experiences that people of all economic backgrounds can enjoy.
• Education: We support new and innovative ways to make education interesting and exciting. Special consideration is given to programs that can serve as models for other area school districts. Projects that promote greater understanding of our area’s diverse cultural and historic development are also encouraged.
• Health: Our foundation is committed to enhancing health care initiatives in North Central Wisconsin. Considerations are given to programs, facilities and education in the health care field.
• Economic: We support projects that promote economic development and that stimulate interest in careers and job skills that will keep our area competitive. We encourage appreciation and respect for our area’s natural resources by supporting projects that provide educational and economic benefits to the community.
• Social Development: We encourage grant applications for programs that guide and inspire people of all ages to become productive, engaged citizens with strong character and respect for family life in Central Wisconsin. We also support projects that improve community safety and the overall well being of area residents. The foundation welcomes proposals to fund projects that improve life for those with physical and mental challenges.

Under $5,000

The board of trustees prefers not to consider proposals from any institution or organization more frequently than once every 12 months. We encourage applicants to develop and rely upon diverse funding sources.

Funding

Applications that are $5,000 or under are reviewed monthly by the B.A. & Esther Greenheck Foundation. Grant applications are due by midnight on the last Wednesday of each month for consideration.

John Deere FIRST

John Deere and FIRST are together committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion which encourages teams to be more innovation, creative, and make better decisions. We encourage your team to support and encourage diversity within your team.

John Deere grants are focused on increasing the participation and positive outcomes for students in John Deere home communities who historically have been underserved and underrepresented in STEM (Engineering, Computer Science/IT, and Manufacturing). This focus is supporting John Deere’s Bold Commitment of reaching at least one million underserved/underrepresented youth by 2030.

Current U.S. & Canada John Deere Inspire Home Communities

United States:

• California - Torrance
• Georgia - Augusta
• Illinois - Champaign & Quad Cities
• Iowa - Des Moines, Dubuque, Paton, Ottumwa, Quad Cities, & Waterloo
• Kansas - Coffeyville
• Louisiana - Thibodaux
• Missouri - Springfield
• North Carolina - Raleigh-Durham
• North Dakota - Fargo & Valley City
• Tennessee - Greeneville
• Wisconsin – Horicon

Canada:

• Alberta - Edmonton 
• Manitoba - Altona
• Ontario - Grimsby
• Ontario - Oakville
• Saskatchewan - Regina

John Deere FIRST

John Deere and FIRST are together committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion which encourages teams to be more innovation, creative, and make better decisions. We encourage your team to support and encourage diversity within your team.

John Deere grants are focused on increasing the participation and positive outcomes for students in John Deere home communities who historically have been underserved and underrepresented in STEM (Engineering, Computer Science/IT, and Manufacturing). This focus is supporting John Deere’s Bold Commitment of reaching at least one million underserved/underrepresented youth by 2030.

Current U.S. & Canada John Deere Inspire Home Communities

United States:

• California - Torrance
• Georgia - Augusta
• Illinois - Champaign & Quad Cities
• Iowa - Des Moines, Dubuque, Paton, Ottumwa, Quad Cities, & Waterloo
• Kansas - Coffeyville
• Louisiana - Thibodaux
• Missouri - Springfield
• North Carolina - Raleigh-Durham
• North Dakota - Fargo & Valley City
• Tennessee - Greeneville
• Wisconsin – Horicon

Canada:

• Alberta - Edmonton 
• Manitoba - Altona
• Ontario - Grimsby
• Ontario - Oakville
• Saskatchewan - Regina

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.

Wisconsin Wetland Conservation Trust

The Wisconsin Wetland Conservation Trust (WWCT) is a statewide wetland mitigation in-lieu fee (ILF) program sponsored and administered by the Wisconsin DNR. Operational since November 2014, the WWCT allows permittees or exempt project proponents with unavoidable wetland impacts to mitigate through the purchase of credits. The program is available in all watersheds in Wisconsin.

Mission

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

Examples

The following are representative but not exclusive examples of projects that could be recipients of Biodiversity Fund grants:

• Inventory, monitoring and analysis to establish priorities for protection and restoration of habitats for species and ecosystems of special concern, especially when state and federal help is lacking
• Planning for impacts of climate change, land use and management practices, urban development or other changing conditions
• Mapping and control of invasive species where they may threaten more desired native species
• Watershed and land protection projects, including fee-title or conservation easement acquisition, innovative regulation or other methods
• Management of sites to protect, conserve and enhance their importance for biodiversity
• Habitat restoration or enhancement of aquatic or terrestrial plant and wildlife communities
• Involvement of students, adults or families in volunteer work on habitat restoration and measurement of consequent changes in species diversity
• Promotion or facilitation of native landscaping and habitat enhancement in yards and neighborhoods and in public and commercial spaces
• Innovative approaches that promote public understanding and engagement in biodiversity issues

About

Through its grantmaking and other policy-focused efforts, the Foundation seeks to:

• Racial Equity: Incorporate the voices of, and achieve more equitable outcomes for, Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) communities in the Great Lakes region.
• Economic Mobility: Improve the ability of individuals in the Great Lakes region to move up the economic ladder within a lifetime or from one generation to the next.
• Next Generation: Incorporate the voices of, and improve outcomes for, the next generation of Great Lakes residents, defined as young people born after 2000.

Education & Economic Mobility Grants

The mission of the Education & Economic Mobility Program is to close income and race disparities in college and career success through equitable access to high-quality education. We invest in local, state and federal policies that aim to ensure historically underserved young people 1) have effective educators; 2) graduate high school with academic and career momentum; and 3) attain affordable college credentials with economic value. In the short term, we will invest in research, policy development, and advocacy to help young people recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effective Educators

Evidence is clear that teachers and principals are the main in-school driver of student success. Yet, young people of color and those from underserved communities often have inexperienced, unqualified, or ineffective educators. To ensure historically marginalized students have top-notch and diverse educators, the Foundation invests in research, policy development, advocacy, and technical assistance to: 1) use data to better align educator supply and demand; 2) diversify the educator pipeline; 3) build strong pathways from high school into teaching; and 4) spread innovative school staffing models that attract educators, boost retention, and improve student outcomes. Our investments focus on Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and national efforts.

College and Career Readiness

There is overwhelming evidence that a college degree significantly improves life outcomes. Yet not enough high school students—especially young people of color and those from underserved communities—are prepared to succeed in post-secondary. To help students get on the right path, the Foundation supports federal and state policies to: 1) align K-12, higher education, and workforce systems; 2) increase access and success in rigorous courses; and 3) increase access to high-quality work-based learning activities connected to careers with family-sustaining wages.

Post-Secondary Success

A post-secondary degree remains the surest path to social and economic mobility. Yet colleges fail to enroll and graduate students of color and students from low-income households at the same rate as White and wealthier students. This contributes to racial and socioeconomic disparities in education and career outcomes. To address these disparities, the Joyce Foundation supports federal and state policies that: 1) scale proven student support models to improve community college outcomes; 2) preserve access for students of color and rural students to affordable, high- quality public college options and labor markets that require college degrees; 3) seek racial and family income representativeness at selective public universities; and 4) narrow gaps in post-graduate financial outcomes for students of color and low-income students.

Background

The Habitat grant program provides funding to preserve essential habitat; protect, restore, and stabilize important fish habitats; and increase habitat availability. The GLFT pursues these efforts through investments in specific places with a degraded or vulnerable habitat, connectivity enhancements, and use of decision-support tools that suggest optimal strategies for investing in habitat. The RFP is planned for release annually in the winter.

The GLFT prioritizes its investments in capital projects such as fish passage, dam removal, and land acquisition to projects where the habitat opportunity is prime, other funders are contributing, long-term management is assured, and the proposed project has the strongest community support and interest.

Funding Priorities

The Trust’s priorities for the Habitat Protection and Restoration grant category are:

• Projects that offer an increase in long-term, sustainable, natural reproduction for species now supported by hatchery production—project benefits should be targeted toward salmonids and nonsalmonid predator game species.
• Projects that offer secondary benefits—for example, improved sea lamprey management or protection of state-listed threatened or endangered species—may be supported at a greater funding level.
• Applicants that use the Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Framework (GLAHF), the Great Lakes Fishery Commission Barrier Removal Collaboration Suite, Fishwerks, existing field inventories, or similar tools to identify appropriate projects or as part of their proposed scopes of work.

Wausau Marathon County Impact Grants

Wausau Marathon County Impact Grants provide funding for projects and programs that most effectively make a positive impact on the greater Wausau area and Marathon County. 

Focus Areas

The Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin’s quarterly Wausau Marathon County Impact Grants application process matches funding with innovative ideas of nonprofits meeting our community’s needs in the focus areas of:

• the Arts,
• Education,
• Health and Human Services, and
• Resource Preservation.

We attempt to understand both the specific objectives of a request and the long-term benefits to be derived by the community if a project receives funding.

What We Fund

We look for proposals that:

• Provide a long-term, tangible difference in meeting a specific need.
  • Examples include capital improvements and equipment needs.
• Provide capacity building resources to escalate your organization’s level of service.
  • An example is new program development.

Get To Know Us

The Milton Fund was established in 1996 as a means for current and former residents to give back to the community through charitable contributions. Donations to the Milton Fund are placed into a permanent endowment fund. A percentage of the Fund’s earnings are given back to the community annually in the form of grants. Grants are awarded to support historical and environmental preservation, education, health care, youth programs and the elderly. The Fund is advised by community volunteers who initiate fundraising activities and determine grant awards.

Learn About Our Grants

Once per year the advisory board awards grants to non-profit organizations, the local school district, and/or local government agencies providing charitable programs and projects serving the good of the community. 

What is a Community Fund?

A Community Fund allows individuals and groups to contribute time and money toward the betterment of a specific community. Each community fund has a volunteer advisory board comprised of local members who encourage the growth of the fund and oversee distributions in the form of grants. These grants are awarded to community projects and programs based on the changing needs of that community. The Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin oversees 16 community funds in its nine-county service area.

Mission

The Four Cedars Environmental Fund provides financial incentives that initiate, stimulate, enrich and assist programs and organizations involved in the protection, preservation and education of the unique natural resources found primarily within the western Lake Superior watershed. The fund supports programs and organizations with capital requests, start-up costs, technical assistance and project/program support.

Examples

• The University of Wisconsin-Superior, located in Douglas County, Wisconsin
• The Sigurd Olson Institute at Northland College, located in Ashland County, Wisconsin
• The McCabe Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, located in St. Louis County, Minnesota
• Sweetwater Alliance, located in St. Louis County, Minnesota
• The Great Lakes Aquarium, located in St. Louis County, Minnesota
• The Sustainable Farming Association of Northeast Minnesota, located in St. Louis County, Minnesota
• The research vessel L.L. Smith of the Lake Superior Research Institute, located in St. Louis County, Minnesota

Mission

The fund supports initiatives that:

• Increase community awareness of global interdependence
• Encourage progressive social change
• Broaden democratic participation, particularly to assure continued freedom of expression as guaranteed by the First Amendment
• Fight racism, sexism and discrimination of all kinds
• Promote justice
• Promote access to universal health care
• Promote the well-being of all people

The fund encourages co-sponsorship and co-funding of projects.

Other objectives of the fund include:

• Increasing citizen understanding of world cultures, political and social systems and international trade
• Highlighting the need for population control
• Addressing problems of less-developed countries
• Contributing to the preservation of the environment
• Examining the validity of military expenditures
• Fostering justice and human rights.

Examples

The following are representative but not exclusive examples of projects:

• Lectures in support of peace and justice
• News articles
• Sister city relationships, particularly with countries with which the United States may be on unfriendly terms
• Foreign exchanges of postsecondary faculty or students
• Awards to individuals for university or graduate-level study in the United States or abroad on subjects related to peace and justice
• Projects that explore innovative ideas for solutions to problems of hunger and homelessness, or that provide emergency aid to people dealing with these issues in northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin

The following are representative but not exclusive examples of possible grant recipients:

• Colleges and universities in northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin as well as Finlandia University in Hancock, Michigan
• Finnish-American organizations
• The Immigration History Research Center at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
• Organizations that support Native American treaty rights
• Organizations concerned with health care for low-income people
• International organizations working on programs with local implications, such as national security, population, refugees or the environment

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.

The James E. Dutton Foundation is a charitable foundation providing financial support to organizations working on projects which benefit wildlife, animal causes, environmental preservation, and outdoors education.

We believe it is our responsibility to care for animals and the environment. We work towards protecting the outdoors, so it can provide a healthy home for wildlife and be a place where humans can learn, experience nature, and enrich their lives.

Our Approach To Giving

Jim Dutton was passionate about protecting the environment as a home for wildlife and a refuge for people. Our primary goal is to fulfill the charitable intent of Jim Dutton and support organizations that benefit wildlife and/or animal related causes. We honor his memory by providing financial support to organizations, programs, or individuals working on projects related to environmental preservation, animal protection, and outdoors education.

We have supported many kinds of organizations. Some provide direct aid to wildlife or domestic animals in distress. Others support individuals interested in enjoying or caring for our environment and our natural resources. Yet others study the relationship of man and the environment, or teach young children about biology, animal care, conservation, stewardship and a general appreciation of the outdoors.

All of the grants we make seek to positively impact the environment, domestic animals, wildlife, human life, or all.

Our Guidelines for Grantmaking

We measure our success as an organization on how well our grants:

• Positively impact the environment, wildlife, and animal life, or
• Enhance human life through nature-related activities and education.

We base grantmaking decisions on how well we believe a proposal will accomplish these goals and how well the project fits with our mission statement.  

We also use grant reports and feedback from grantees to aid us in our future grantmaking decisions. We consider the outcomes of previously awarded grants, based on the report we require all grantees to file after funds are disbursed. Grantees reflect on the most important activities the grant produced. They must state the positive impact the activities had on the environment, animals, and/or people and be clear about how they measure success.

Over the years the Foundation has observed a noted increase in both the quantity and quality of grant requests submitted for our review. As such, the Foundation has developed a policy to generally award grants to individual organizations no more than once every 3 years. If an organization has not been awarded a grant within 3 years and is unsuccessful with a current request they may continue to submit proposals for the Foundations review.

Get To Know Us

The Monroe Fund is a permanent endowment fund established by current and former residents in 1996. The Fund provides a means for Monroe supporters to match their philanthropy to the needs of the community.

Each year the Fund gives a percentage of its earnings back to the community in the form of grants that enhance the area’s quality of life.

The Monroe Fund is a component fund of the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin.

Family of Funds

The following charitable funds have been established by individuals and organizations to support their charitable goals for the community:

• Dr. Fred W. & Alice J. Kundert Charitable Fund
• Jane Lysaght Memorial Fund
• Monroe Farmers Market Coupon Program
• Clifford & Dorothy Reasa Charitable Fund
• Clifford & Dorothy Reasa Fund for Historic Preservation

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.

Purpose

The Surface Water Grant Program supports surface water management from start to finish. Whether your organization is looking for help with outreach, assessments and surveys, planning, project design, or management, there may be a grant program that can help you. Funds can be used for a wide variety of projects related to surface water, under one of two general categories:

• EDUCATION & PLANNING PROJECTS help communities understand surface water conditions, determine management goals, and develop strategic management plans.
• MANAGEMENT PROJECTS protect and improve water quality and aquatic habitat and prevent and control aquatic invasive species (AIS). Some projects require an approved recommendation in a management plan to be eligible for funding.

Nordson Corporation Foundation

The Nordson Corporation Foundation awards grants to non-profits in our communities throughout the United States. Since 1989, the Foundation has awarded more than $60 million in grants to improve the quality of life in our communities, placing a special focus on causes related to education. Employees support the foundation by making donations during our annual A Time to Give Campaign, or by participating in a Community Affairs Committee (CAC). Committees review grant applications and vote to distribute Foundation funds to deserving local causes. During the last financial year, the Foundation gave out 362 grants totaling $6.3 million.

Nordson Foundation Giving Strategies

The geographic areas in which Nordson has major facilities determine the Nordson Foundation's giving priorities.

Within these geographic areas, granting priorities are driven by community needs. Although needs change quickly, our vision is long term. We pursue and support results-oriented opportunities that prepare individuals for full and equal participation in the economic and social mainstream. We believe these kinds of programs help improve the quality of life over the long term and produce stronger, more enlightened communities in which we live and work. We strive to fulfill these responsibilities in our communities through contributions to charitable activities with a focus on education. Other major giving categories that are supported are human welfare, civic affairs and arts and culture. 

Nordson Foundation Values 

In the spirit of our corporate founders, the Nordson Corporation Foundation continues to operate on the belief that business, as a corporate citizen, has a social responsibility to share its success with the communities where it operates and draws employees.  

The Nordson Foundation is dedicated to improving our communities by supporting the continuum of education from birth to adulthood in the belief that education is the key for individuals to become self-sufficient, productive members of society.  

To prepare individuals for economic independence, a variety of quality educational experiences are necessary. To be successful today, individuals not only need to master the basics, “reading, writing and arithmetic”, they must also know how to think critically and creatively. Strengthening the community’s human capital – through quality education – is crucial.  

The Nordson Foundation offers support to non-profit organizations that cultivate educational curriculum and experiences that foster self-sufficiency, job readiness and goals to aspire to higher education. The Foundation is well aware of the fact that for non-profit organizations to remain viable they must receive operating support. With this in mind, Nordson Corporation Foundation does invest in general operating support.  

As stewards of the Foundation assets, the directors feel strongly that the organizations that are supported by the Foundation be able to measure the effectiveness of their mission and programs. Quantitative and/or qualitative data allows for the Foundation to ensure that the organizations it supports are bringing about the desired outcomes in our communities.

Nordson Foundation Goals

The goals of the Nordson Corporation Foundation are to insure that:

• All children have access to and receive quality educational experiences from early childhood  
• All individuals have the opportunity to be self-sufficient members of society 
• There is a continuum of quality educational opportunities 
• Our communities are strengthened by the organizations we fund whether their focus is education, human welfare, civic or arts and culture

Nordson Foundation Funding Strategy

Through its grant-making, the Foundation supports organizations that directly or indirectly seek to maximize success before, during and beyond the traditional classroom years. Grants will be reviewed and considered on the basis of their enrichment to the communities where our employees live and work. Organizations and programs receiving grants will be expected to identify relevant, measurable outcomes to demonstrate the effectiveness of their programs.

Education

• Early Childhood Care and Education
• Maximizing Student Success
• Access to quality educational opportunities
• Innovative programs
• Partnerships/collaborations with school districts
• Funding gaps not covered by public monies
• Augmenting core curriculum
• Exposure to programs that expand on traditional education
• Workforce Preparation
• Initial preparation for the world of work
• Retraining for the new job market
• Strengthening our communities

Human Welfare

• Promote prevention and lifestyle maintenance programs and activities
• Promote crisis intervention
• Promote life transition opportunities
• Promote systemic change

Arts and Culture

• Actively seek to broaden the audience bases in Nordson communities
• Support the visual and performing arts
• Provide educational enrichment for students
• Motivation for at-risk youth
• Provide access to the arts for special needs audience
• Promote greater understanding among people via the arts

Civic

• Work to improve the physical or economic environment
• Provide cultural or historical preservation
• Strive to inform citizens and increase their participation in community improvement

The John C. Bock Foundation is organized and operated for the preservation, maintenance and enhancement of land areas in their natural or undeveloped state that support woodlands and old-growth forests, principally those proximate to Lake Mendota, Wisconsin, and generally in the state of Wisconsin.

The mission of the Foundation is public education, particularly of builders and developers, regarding the importance of the preservation, conservation, and custodianship of the natural resources of land, emphasizing mature woodlands and old-growth forests.

To this end, the Foundation supports educational activities and research of this nature. The foundation also supports other qualifying conservation organizations that are directly engaged in the preservation and protection of landscapes containing mature woodlands and old-growth forests.

Best Life Community Awards

Nominate a nonprofit that you support with your time, talents, or money to receive a grant.

Funding

The winner will be awarded $10,000!

Preservation

Kohler Foundation is committed to the preservation of art environments and important collections, as well as Wisconsin culture and heritage. In the past, Kohler Foundation’s preservation efforts were focused almost entirely in the state of Wisconsin. However, the Foundation is committed to expanding its preservation efforts nationwide. In some cases, artists have transformed their homes and/or their yards into powerful and unique works of art; some have built chapels and grottos, while others created literally hundreds of life-size or over-life-size sculptures and murals that cover entire buildings. Kohler Foundation has initiated and completed many major restorations, among them: The Painted Forest at Valton, Wisconsin; Wisconsin Concrete Park in Phillips, Wisconsin; Paul and Matilda Wegner Grotto at Cataract, Wisconsin; Prairie Moon Sculpture Garden and Museum near Cochrane, Wisconsin; Nick Engelbert’s Grandview in Hollandale, Wisconsin, Hartman Rock Garden in Springfield, Ohio; Tellen Woodland Sculpture Garden in Sheboygan, Wisconsin; and Kenny Hill's Chauvin Sculpture Environment in Chauvin, Louisiana. Kohler Foundation's most recent site preservation projects include the Garden of Eden sculpture park in Lucas, Kansas, Pasaquan in Buena Vista, Georgia, and the Langlais Preserve in Cushing, Maine. Many of our Wisconsin sites are included in Wandering Wisconsin, a consortium of art environments in the state.  

At the Kohler Foundation, we believe the power of small investments, thoughtfully made, creates a lasting impact.

• Grants of up to $10,000 will be available with preference given to new projects and programs.
• Eligible grant applicants must be classified as tax-exempt public charities (Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) or public institutions such as schools or governmental entities.)
• Our geographic funding preference is Sheboygan County, but we consider applicable programs throughout rural Wisconsin. We award grants primarily within the state of Wisconsin.

Funding Priorities

Kohler Foundation makes grants to tax-exempt public charities described under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Service Code or public institutions such as schools or governmental entities. Kohler Foundation is organized to engage in, advance, support, promote, and administer educational and artistic activities primarily within the Sheboygan County region. While our focus remains local to this area, we also support arts and education programs in rural communities in the state of Wisconsin, particularly those that have already been the recipients of KFI investment through its other program areas (e.g. Art Preservation), and rural areas where there is little other philanthropic capital available.

• Programs within the fields of arts and education are of special interest to KFI’s grant committee, including:
  • STEAM initiatives (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics);
  • Increasing access to the arts (e.g. transportation, visiting artists/distance learning, rural outreach, technology);
  • Programs which have a specific plan to create an impact of greater proportion than a small grant might initially reflect.
• Requests for technology and equipment may receive funding occasionally, but not on an ongoing basis.

John Deere FIRST

John Deere and FIRST are together committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion which encourages teams to be more innovation, creative, and make better decisions. We encourage your team to support and encourage diversity within your team.

John Deere grants are focused on increasing the participation and positive outcomes for students in John Deere home communities who historically have been underserved and underrepresented in STEM (Engineering, Computer Science/IT, and Manufacturing). This focus is supporting John Deere’s Bold Commitment of reaching at least one million underserved/underrepresented youth by 2030.

Current U.S. & Canada John Deere Inspire Home Communities

United States:

• California - Torrance
• Georgia - Augusta
• Illinois - Champaign & Quad Cities
• Iowa - Des Moines, Dubuque, Paton, Ottumwa, Quad Cities, & Waterloo
• Kansas - Coffeyville
• Louisiana - Thibodaux
• Missouri - Springfield
• North Carolina - Raleigh-Durham
• North Dakota - Fargo & Valley City
• Tennessee - Greeneville
• Wisconsin – Horicon

Canada:

• Alberta - Edmonton 
• Manitoba - Altona
• Ontario - Grimsby
• Ontario - Oakville
• Saskatchewan - Regina

About the Fund

Founded in 1996, the Evansville Fund is a permanent, charitable endowment created to support the community of Evansville. The Fund gives back a portion of its annual earnings in the form of grants to support the arts, education, health and human services and historic preservation. A volunteer board takes responsibility for fundraising activities and determines grant distributions.

What is a Community Fund?

A Community Fund allows individuals and groups to contribute time and money toward the betterment of a specific community. Each community fund has a volunteer advisory board comprised of local members who encourage the growth of the fund and oversee distributions in the form of grants. These grants are awarded to community projects and programs based on the changing needs of that community. The Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin oversees 16 community funds in its nine-county service area.

Family of Funds

The charitable funds shown on the Evansville Fund Family Tree have been established by individuals and organizations to support their charitable goals for the community:

• Dr. Roger & Elizabeth Gray Fund
• Dorothy & Alvin Helgesen Family Fund, of the Evansville Fund
• Millie Tait Charitable Fund
• Richard & Elaine Strassburg Fund
• Clifford & Jeanette Fellows Fund
• E. Susan Eager Fund
• Leonard P. Eager Fund
• Robert J. & Janet L. Petterson Family Fund
• Alan & Diana Eager Fund, of the Evansville Fund
• Finfrock Fund, of the Evansville Fund
• Gordon, Barb & Kelly Andrew Fund
• Hartje Fund, of the Evansville Fund
• Paul & Barbara George Family Fund, of the Evansville Fund
• William C. & Thea Brunsell Fund for Elementary Education
• Meals on Wheels Fund (MOW)
• Carolyn Butts Family Fund

What is a Community Fund?

A Community Fund allows individuals and groups to contribute time and money toward the betterment of a specific community. Each community fund has a volunteer advisory board comprised of local members who encourage the growth of the fund and oversee distributions in the form of grants. These grants are awarded to community projects and programs based on the changing needs of that community. The Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin oversees 16 community funds in its nine-county service area.

About the Fund

The Argyle Community Fund is a permanent endowment created to enhance and improve the quality of life in the Argyle area. Each year a portion of the Fund’s earnings are returned to the community in the form of grants.

The ACF is a component fund of the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin.

About our Grants

Once per year the advisory board awards grants to non-profit organizations, the local school district, and/or local government agencies who provide charitable programs or projects serving the Argyle community. Grants are made to support education, youth, the elderly, health care, historic preservation, the arts and the environment and are awarded in November.

Get To Know Us

The New Glarus Community Foundation is a charitable endowment created in 1996 by and for the people of New Glarus. Each year a portion of the Foundation’s earnings are given back to the community in the form of grants supporting the arts, education, health care, youth, elderly programs, the environment, and historic preservation.

The New Glarus Community Foundation is a component fund of the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin.

Family of Funds

The following charitable fund has been established to support the donor’s charitable goals for the community:

• Dr. Fred W. & Alice J. Kundert Charitable Fund
• Anonymous II Fund

John Deere FIRST

John Deere and FIRST are together committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion which encourages teams to be more innovation, creative, and make better decisions. We encourage your team to support and encourage diversity within your team.

John Deere grants are focused on increasing the participation and positive outcomes for students in John Deere home communities who historically have been underserved and underrepresented in STEM (Engineering, Computer Science/IT, and Manufacturing). This focus is supporting John Deere’s Bold Commitment of reaching at least one million underserved/underrepresented youth by 2030.

Current U.S. & Canada John Deere Inspire Home Communities

United States:

• California - Torrance
• Georgia - Augusta
• Illinois - Champaign & Quad Cities
• Iowa - Des Moines, Dubuque, Paton, Ottumwa, Quad Cities, & Waterloo
• Kansas - Coffeyville
• Louisiana - Thibodaux
• Missouri - Springfield
• North Carolina - Raleigh-Durham
• North Dakota - Fargo & Valley City
• Tennessee - Greeneville
• Wisconsin – Horicon

Canada:

• Alberta - Edmonton 
• Manitoba - Altona
• Ontario - Grimsby
• Ontario - Oakville
• Saskatchewan - Regina

FIRST Robotics Competition

Combining the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology

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.

Grants to Friends Groups

Each year, $250,000 from the Stewardship program is set aside for grants to friends groups and nonprofit conservation organizations (NCOs) to improve facilities, build new recreation projects and restore habitat on state properties. The program recognizes the important role friends groups play in meeting the development and restoration needs of state properties.

The mission of the Fund for the Environment is to promote livable communities throughout the Lake Superior watershed and northwoods through public education, land use planning, and collaboration. Livable communities are defined as those that prosper economically while conserving natural ecosystems to maintain the region’s high quality of life for future generations.

Goals and Strategies

Goal I: Individually and collectively, citizens will recognize and assume responsibility to maintain the region’s natural resources.

Strategies include:

• Undertake needs assessment to avoid duplication and enhance collaboration among environmental education programs.
• Develop community-wide environmental education projects that increase understanding of ecological and economic value of natural resources and the role of citizens in conservation. This would include a focus on public officials, college students, business leaders, and continuing adult education programs. Wherever possible, projects should be experiential and encourage networking and information sharing.
• Support demonstration projects that increase public awareness about environmental issues and can be replicated throughout the region.

Goal II: Innovative, livable community models will be developed regionally based on land use planning, natural heritage preservation, waste minimization, and green business development.

Strategies include:

• Undertake assessment to determine community planning needs regionwide.
• Help implement Duluth 2001 and assist communities throughout the region to develop and implement comparable vision plans. Projects could include brownfield and urban area reuse and cluster development and support for green business and pollution prevention oppor
• Support demonstration projects to conserve natural resources to maintain the area’s high quality of life.

Goal III: Unique collaborations will be created to build consensus and achieve a shared vision among diverse stakeholders.

Strategies include:

• Undertake needs assessment to determine opportunities to creatively resolve community conflict.
• Foster new community leadership and partnerships among citizen groups, public officials, business, and academia to build livable communities.
• Proactively support model processes that anticipate and attempt to resolve issues to strengthen community