Best Shawano County Grants for Nonprofits in Wisconsin

The Georgia-Pacific Foundation Grant supports organizations in the Metro Atlanta area, focusing on education, entrepreneurship, community enrichment, and environmental sustainability. Established in 1958, the foundation prioritizes investments that align with its mission and values, promoting long-term well-being within communities where Georgia-Pacific operates. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, public schools, and local government entities located within 30 miles of GP manufacturing sites.

The SAC Developmental Disabilities Grants aim to enhance the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities by funding innovative programs that foster education, independence, and social engagement. Grants of up to $5,000 support both new and existing initiatives, including recreational, educational, and therapeutic activities. Eligible organizations include public charities and governmental units serving the Foundation’s designated areas. Priority is given to projects that promote respect, inclusion, and productivity, ensuring a positive impact on the community.

Nonprofit organizations focused on freshwater and marine conservation or recreational boating infrastructure in Shawano County, Wisconsin can apply for Great Lakes Foundation grants. Funding supports projects like protecting wilderness cruising areas, enhancing marine safety education, and preserving the Great Lakes environment through research, publications, seminars, and related initiatives.

The Prospera Foundation Grant aims to positively impact local communities through financial literacy, sustainable housing, and poverty alleviation. This private funder, associated with the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, prioritizes support for tax-exempt organizations dedicated to enhancing quality of life and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. By collaborating with nonprofits aligned with these values, the grant seeks to empower individuals and foster prosperous communities.

The Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation is dedicated to fostering a healthy Great Lakes ecosystem and a vibrant Southeast Michigan community. Since its inception, it has invested over $180 million in environmental, cultural, and educational initiatives. As it transitions to spend down its assets by 2034, the Foundation aims to make bold, impactful investments that address urgent community needs and promote sustainable development.

Shawano County, Wisconsin environmental and conservation organizations can access funding for projects that deliver measurable, regionally significant improvements to the Great Lakes ecosystem. The Great Lakes Protection Fund supports collaborative, science-based efforts that use market, social, or policy strategies to restore freshwater habitats, reduce pollution, and improve water resource management affecting the basin.

The We Energies Foundation Grants support community development, health services, arts, education, and environmental initiatives. They prioritize projects from qualified 501(c)(3) organizations located within their service areas, aiming to foster relationships that yield lasting community benefits. Funding is restricted to one grant per organization per year, with a preference for supporting specific projects rather than general operating expenses. Overall, they encourage innovative approaches to enhance community well-being and cultural enrichment.

The Mielke Family Foundation Grant supports innovative educational initiatives that enhance the lives of individuals in the Appleton and Shawano areas, focusing on health care, arts, and intergenerational programs. Established in 1963, the foundation prioritizes projects that reflect community demographics and foster collaboration. Grants are awarded annually through a responsive cycle, emphasizing proposals that engage local individuals, particularly in the fields of youth development and aging. The foundation actively seeks to empower its communities through education and creativity.

Students pursuing technical education in plumbing, HVAC, electrical, or construction in Central Wisconsin, including Shawano County, can receive scholarship support for 2-year technical schools. The Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin selects recipients based on academic achievement, financial need, extracurricular involvement, and essay responses, and students may apply for multiple scholarships if eligible.

The Rewarding Responders Grant, offered by the We Energies Foundation, supports local public safety agencies with funding up to $2,000 per project. Eligible projects include equipment purchases and professional training that enhance safety initiatives within the communities served by the foundation. Grants must be utilized within two years, and projects should be special, one-time efforts. This initiative emphasizes the importance of safety and well-planned public safety responses.

The Jewelers Mutual Impact Fund Grant aims to empower youth, advance technology, and foster community progression within the jewelry industry. Established in 1913 by jewelers, the fund supports nonprofit organizations that inspire the next generation through arts education, enhance the industry with technological innovations, and drive positive community development. Focused primarily on areas where employees reside, it also considers broader giving opportunities, ensuring a lasting impact on lives and communities.

501(c)(3) nonprofits serving Shawano County, Wisconsin can apply for Wisconsin Public Service Foundation’s Local Community Grant Program to support specific programs or projects in arts and culture, community development, education, environment, or health and human services. Eligible organizations must be within the utility’s service area and focus on one or more of these priority areas.

The Wisconsin Public Service Foundation Grant supports local communities through charitable contributions, focusing on areas such as arts, education, and human services. Funded by shareholders, not utility customers, the foundation awards nearly $1.4 million annually to nonprofit organizations that enhance community quality of life. Eligible projects must align with specific funding areas and be located within the service area. The foundation encourages innovative projects that foster community engagement and development.

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

Background

The Community Vision Fund (CVF) is an unrestricted fund within the Community Foundation with the ability to be agile due to its discretionary nature. ​​Granting through this fund remains committed to fulfilling community needs and advancing the well-being for all in Calumet, Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca, and the Neenah-Menasha area of Winnebago counties.

Community Vision Fund- Visionary Grants 

Focus:

Visionary grants support community-driven ideas that emerge from lived experience and grassroots leadership. They are designed to elevate voices with lived experience, encourage innovation and experimentation, and support early stage or non-traditional approaches. ​

​Grant Ranges:

• Grant awards will range from $5,000 to $10,000 for a one-year award​

​Grant Considerations:

In alignment with the namesake of this fund, visionary grants are focused on supporting:​

• Community-driven ideas shaped by lived experience​
• Efforts that test new approaches, pilot emerging ideas, or explore creative solutions​
• Initiatives that are just beginning or evolving but show promise for community benefit​
• Projects where there is potential for shared learning, community strengthening, or systems insights 

Community Vision Fund- Event Sponsorship

Focus: Events that foster a community where all are valued, feel included, and can contribute​.

​Grant Ranges:

• $500 to $5,000​

​Grant Considerations:​

• Event must be free and open to the public​
• No top-tier sponsorships; ​
• Request can be up to 50% of event budget.​

​Application Process:

• Online portal application with high-level event summary report. Submission must be at least 60 days prior.

Community Vision Fund- Capacity Building Grants 

Focus:

Providing nonprofit organizations with the opportunity to enhance their internal capabilities and effectiveness. These grants focus on new strategies, improving processes, and strengthening organizational capacity to ensure long-term sustainability​

Grant Ranges:

• Grant awards will range from $5,000 to $75,000 for a one-year award​

Grant Considerations

This is not an exhaustive list, please reach out if you have questions about project alignment.​

• Leadership and Board Development; Staff well-being support​
• Key personnel expansion, including hiring and/or right-sizing FTE status​
• Technology optimization for systems and tools already assessed​
• Major organization transitions (e.g., mergers, acquisitions, or other structural realignments)​

Application Considerations:

To encourage shared investment and long-term sustainability, capacity building grant requests are limited to no more than 75% of the total project budget.

Community Vision Fund- Technical Assistance Grants

​Focus:

Providing support in the form of professional advice, consulting, training, and/or strategic planning. They are designed to help organizations achieve mission sustainability and their long-term goals with more certainty and clarity. ​

​Grant Ranges:

• Grant awards will range from $1,000 to $10,000 for a one-year award​

​Grant Considerations

This is not an exhaustive list, please reach out if you have questions about project alignment.​

• Grants to support working with a consultant, expert, or advisor to provide specific advice, training, or planning assistance​.
• Strategic planning and/or board development support​.
• Technology optimization assessment work​.

​Application Considerations:

Applications are encouraged to provide a realistic scope of work, timeline and budget that reflects the project, even if it goes beyond the granting range identified above

Nonprofit organizations in Shawano County, Wisconsin planning or building collaborative systems-change initiatives can receive capacity-building support, with awards up to US $75,000. Basic Needs Giving Partnership funds efforts addressing early care and education, housing access, mental health, or substance use that work to disrupt policies and practices keeping people in poverty.

With a mission to support education, H.E.L.P., The Charity provides Shawano County, Wisconsin schools and other U.S.-based nonprofit, tax-exempt entities with resources for academic success and educational access programs. Eligible groups include public schools, bands, and athletic teams in communities served by participating Figaro’s Pizza locations.

The PLTW Gateway program, in partnership with Burns and McDonnell, aims to enhance STEM education by supporting schools in eligible counties to implement PLTW Gateway units. With a total grant of $20,000, schools are encouraged to offer at least one unit per academic year, fostering real-world skills and engagement in STEM fields. This initiative seeks to increase access and participation in high-quality STEM learning experiences, ultimately preparing students for future careers.

Public and charter middle schools in Shawano County, Wisconsin with at least 40% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch can apply for Project Lead The Way’s PLTW Gateway expansion grants. Funding of US $10,000 supports STEM program growth, including PLTW fees, required equipment and supplies, technology, and PLTW Core Training costs for the 2027–2028 school year.

Public and charter schools expanding PLTW Computer Science programs in Shawano County, Wisconsin can apply for US $10,000 to add courses, sections, or teacher training. With a mission to expand STEM education access, Project Lead The Way provides funding for participation fees, required technology, equipment, supplies, and PLTW Core Training in eligible Burns & McDonnell communities.

Public and charter schools starting new PLTW computer science programs in Shawano County, Wisconsin can receive US $20,000 over two years for participation fees, required computers, equipment, supplies, and PLTW Core Training costs. With a mission to expand STEM education access, Project Lead The Way provides support to schools in designated Burns & McDonnell communities serving at least 40% free and reduced-price lunch students.

The PLTW Engineering program, in partnership with Burns and McDonnell, aims to enhance STEM education by providing grants to public and charter schools in specific counties. This initiative empowers students to engage with real-world challenges through hands-on learning experiences. Eligible schools must offer PLTW Engineering courses, ensuring access to quality education for students from diverse backgrounds. With a total grant of $40,000 over two years, this program seeks to inspire the next generation of engineers and innovators.

The PLTW Engineering Program Expansion by Burns and McDonnell aims to enhance STEM education in eligible communities. This initiative supports schools in expanding their existing PLTW Engineering programs, providing students with hands-on experiences and essential skills. The program focuses on empowering students through new courses and teacher training, ensuring access for underrepresented populations. By fostering excitement around STEM, Burns and McDonnell is committed to shaping the future workforce and enhancing educational opportunities in critical areas.

Great Lakes tribes or their designees working on aquatic invasive species control in Shawano County, Wisconsin and the wider Great Lakes Basin can seek US $20,000 - US $100,000 to develop or implement Tribal Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plans. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service supports prevention, early detection, rapid response, outreach, and enforcement efforts tied to Great Lakes protection.