Best Shawano County Grants for Nonprofits in Wisconsin

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.

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

The Shawano Area Community Foundation Grant provides funding to enhance the quality of life in the Shawano area through flexible support for creative projects, strengthening existing services, and small capital investments. Eligible organizations include public charities and educational institutions, while ineligible entities include private non-operating foundations and requests for general operating support. The foundation seeks unique, community-oriented proposals that address unmet needs and promote sustainability.

Shawano County, Wisconsin 501(c)(3) nonprofits addressing mental health can access funding through BayCare Clinic Foundation to support projects improving community mental well-being. Eligible organizations must operate within BayCare Clinic’s service counties and may propose innovative, gap-filling programs, outreach for underserved residents, or educational campaigns that increase awareness and reduce stigma around mental health.

501(c)(3) nonprofits operating in BayCare Clinic–served counties, including Shawano County, Wisconsin, can apply for BayCare Clinic Foundation’s Health and Wellness Grant to support community health initiatives. Eligible programs must address mental health issues and improve health and well-being for northeastern Wisconsin residents, with applications reviewed and funded on a quarterly basis.

The Women’s Fund for the Fox Valley Region offers Impact Grants to support projects that enhance the lives of women and girls. The fund focuses on education, life skills, and mental wellness. This year, applicants can choose between Single-Year Impact Grants of up to $10,000 or Multi-Year Innovative Pathways Grants of up to $20,000 per year for three years. The initiative aims to promote gender equality and empower women and girls in the community.

The Rotary Club of Appleton offers a grant to support projects benefiting children with disabilities in Appleton and the surrounding area. Funded through the Helen Thom Fund, this initiative aims to assist eligible charitable organizations with impactful programs within a 50-mile radius. However, the funds cannot be used for employee salaries or general operating expenses. This grant represents a commitment to improving the lives of challenged children through dedicated community efforts.

The Fox Cares Foundation Grant, administered by the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, supports nonprofits addressing homelessness, hunger, and arts engagement. It provides funding for emergency shelter programs, innovative food security solutions, and arts initiatives that engage under-represented populations. Eligible organizations must be public charities serving specific counties in Wisconsin. Grants are not typically awarded to private foundations or for general operating support. This rolling application process enables impactful community support throughout the year.

Nonprofit and public entities restoring fish habitat in Shawano County, Wisconsin and other Great Lakes areas can seek US $250,000 - US $30,000,000 to implement on-the-ground projects. Focused on habitat and ecosystem restoration for native Great Lakes fish, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration funding prioritizes projects advancing Great Lakes Restoration Initiative goals and Lake Committee environmental priorities.

The John and Sally Mielke Early Years Fund supports innovative programs for children from birth to age five in the Fox Valley Region. This fund, established to honor the Mielkes' commitment to community welfare, prioritizes grants that enhance early childhood experiences through direct services, advocacy, and education. Eligible organizations include public charities and government units, with a focus on collaborative and preventative solutions. Applications are accepted biannually, fostering impactful initiatives for families and caregivers.

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.

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.

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 PLTW Launch program, supported by Burns and McDonnell, aims to enhance student engagement in STEM education within eligible communities. This initiative will provide grants to schools that implement at least one PLTW Launch module in the 2025-2026 academic year, followed by another module in subsequent years. The program is designed to empower students with hands-on learning experiences that connect real-world challenges to essential skills, fostering a stronger future in STEM fields.

The PLTW Launch program, in collaboration with Burns and McDonnell, aims to enhance STEM education by expanding access to innovative educational modules in eligible schools. This initiative supports public and charter schools in targeted counties, focusing on increasing student engagement in STEM fields. Through grant funding, participating schools can introduce new PLTW Launch modules and provide essential training for teachers, fostering a richer learning environment to prepare students for future careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

State agencies or their designees implementing approved aquatic invasive species management plans in Great Lakes states can apply for US $100,000 - US $600,000 to support control, monitoring, and related work. Grants from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service help Shawano County, Wisconsin and other eligible areas advance invasive species control, fish conservation, and wildlife health under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

The Alliant Energy Foundation offers community grants to support local organizations within its service areas. With a focus on strategic areas such as hunger, housing, workforce readiness, environmental stewardship, and community safety, the foundation has invested over $76 million since 1998. Applications are accepted year-round, and funding is available for specific programs aimed at enhancing community well-being and innovation. Organizations may receive one grant per year, emphasizing the foundation's commitment to diverse community support.

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.

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.