Best Vilas County Grants for Nonprofits in Wisconsin

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Vilas County, Wisconsin that run existing digital literacy programs for families or seniors may be eligible for US $2,500 - US $50,000 to expand broadband education and access. Charter Communications supports technology access and digital literacy in Spectrum service areas, prioritizing programs serving low-income or multicultural urban and rural communities with measurable impact.

The PLTW Gateway grant supports public schools in offering innovative STEM education. Grantees must provide at least one PLTW Gateway unit during the 2026-2027 academic year, with an additional unit each subsequent year. The total grant award is $20,000, distributed in two installments. Grantees are required to submit annual reports and assist in student and teacher surveys to ensure ongoing program improvement. Eligible districts span several states, including Arkansas, Georgia, and Texas.

The B.A. & Esther Greenheck Foundation provides grants over $5,000 for meaningful projects in North Central Wisconsin that enhance arts, education, health, economic, and social development. Applications are accepted six times a year, with deadlines on the last Wednesday of January, March, May, July, September, and November. The foundation encourages innovative initiatives that engage diverse communities, improve well-being, and support productive citizenship, while promoting appreciation for the area’s natural resources.

The B.A. & Esther Greenheck Foundation Grant, established in 1998, supports projects under $5,000 that enhance arts, education, health, economic, and social development in North Central Wisconsin. Applications are reviewed monthly, with deadlines on the last Wednesday of each month. The foundation encourages diverse funding sources and prefers not to fund the same organization more than once a year. Clear and concise applications are welcomed to ensure meaningful community impact.

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.

Catholic Extension provides essential funding to support the construction, expansion, or renovation of churches and community facilities. This initiative aims to meet the facility needs of under-resourced Catholic dioceses across the U.S. By focusing on active projects, Catholic Extension ensures that communities can enhance their worship spaces and support local ministries, ultimately fostering a stronger church community. Funding is available for both minor and major requests, with an emphasis on urgent needs and robust funding strategies.

The Building Foundation Grants by Catholic Extension aim to support essential pastoral and administrative functions in under-resourced communities. These grants provide salary subsidies and operational funding to ordained, religious, and lay ministers, ensuring access to Catholic services. Prioritizing areas with significant financial need, this initiative seeks to sustain the church's presence where it is most critical, enabling continued ministry and outreach for those who may otherwise be underserved.

The Building Leaders Grants by Catholic Extension aim to enhance the recruitment, education, and ongoing formation of church leaders. This initiative provides critical funding for the professional development of both ordained and lay leaders in mission dioceses. By fostering partnerships with various organizations, it addresses the need for trained ministers and supports various funding areas, including seminarian sponsorship and diaconate formation, ensuring a robust future for church leadership.

The Engaging Young Catholics Grants aim to support ministries that provide faith formation to children, teens, young adults, and families. By focusing on the pastoral needs of young Catholics, the program enhances community vibrancy and fosters new leadership within the church. Catholic Extension prioritizes operational support and seed funding for initiatives that develop youth and young adult ministries, ensuring that dioceses can effectively reach and engage younger generations in their faith.

May Family Foundation

Eleanor Jean May established the May Family Foundation in 2000, as a gesture of gratitude to the communities that shaped her life. The May Family Foundation is dedicated to identifying programs that strongly resonate with our mission and values as we work together to empower and uplift lives within our communities.

Our foundation provides resources and opportunities that empower young individuals to thrive and reach their full potential. Our goal is to create a brighter future for under-resourced youth in our local communities.

May Family Foundation Education Grant

Our foundation strives to be engaged in our local communities beyond grant funding. We support select programs that align with our goals and form a connection through potential volunteering opportunities, site visits, and recognition of successes.

We welcome grant applications for financial support in education:

• Programs and services that offer a range of activities and academic support, such as
  • homework help,
  • tutoring, and
  • extracurricular activities.
• Scholarships and financial support that help students meet their required expenses while in school.

May Family Foundation

Eleanor Jean May established the May Family Foundation in 2000, as a gesture of gratitude to the communities that shaped her life. The May Family Foundation is dedicated to identifying programs that strongly resonate with our mission and values as we work together to empower and uplift lives within our communities.

Our foundation provides resources and opportunities that empower young individuals to thrive and reach their full potential. Our goal is to create a brighter future for under-resourced youth in our local communities.

May Family Foundation Social Services Grant

Our foundation strives to be engaged in our local communities beyond grant funding. We support select programs that align with our goals and form a connection through potential volunteering opportunities, site visits, and recognition of successes.

We welcome grant applications for financial support in social services:

• Programs that protect vulnerable children and support families in need of assistance.
• We also support projects that improve community safety and guide youth to become productive and engaged adults.

May Family Foundation

Eleanor Jean May established the May Family Foundation in 2000, as a gesture of gratitude to the communities that shaped her life. The May Family Foundation is dedicated to identifying programs that strongly resonate with our mission and values as we work together to empower and uplift lives within our communities.

Our foundation provides resources and opportunities that empower young individuals to thrive and reach their full potential. Our goal is to create a brighter future for under-resourced youth in our local communities.

May Family Foundation Community Outreach Grant

Our foundation strives to be engaged in our local communities beyond grant funding. We support select programs that align with our goals and form a connection through potential volunteering opportunities, site visits, and recognition of successes.

We welcome grant applications for financial support in community outreach:

• Programs that provide professional services to under-resourced families who may not otherwise have access.
• We support programs that help to identify existing problems or challenges in our local communities and provide the means and resources to solve them.

Vilas County, Wisconsin fire, law enforcement, and rescue agencies can access funding through Wisconsin Public Service Foundation to purchase lifesaving equipment and professional development as part of one-time, safety-focused projects. Eligible emergency response organizations in the WPS gas or electric service area may receive up to US $2,000 per project, with funds usable within two years.

Vilas County, Wisconsin environmental and conservation organizations can access funding through the Great Lakes Protection Fund for projects that deliver measurable, regionally significant improvements to the Great Lakes ecosystem. Eligible teams may include nonprofits, universities, government agencies, for-profit businesses, and individuals, as long as projects use sound science and drive basin-wide, action-oriented change.

Nonprofit organizations improving affordable telecommunications access for low-income residents, people with disabilities, or high-cost service areas in Vilas County, Wisconsin can seek support for related programs or projects. Focused on technology access and digital literacy, Wisconsin Public Service Foundation’s Nonprofit Access Grant helps expand essential telecom services for underserved households.

May Family Foundation

Eleanor Jean May established the May Family Foundation in 2000, as a gesture of gratitude to the communities that shaped her life. The May Family Foundation is dedicated to identifying programs that strongly resonate with our mission and values as we work together to empower and uplift lives within our communities.

Our foundation provides resources and opportunities that empower young individuals to thrive and reach their full potential. Our goal is to create a brighter future for under-resourced youth in our local communities.

May Family Foundation Mentoring Grant

Our foundation strives to be engaged in our local communities beyond grant funding. We support select programs that align with our goals and form a connection through potential volunteering opportunities, site visits, and recognition of successes.

We welcome grant applications for financial support in mentoring:

• Programs that pair students with adult mentors who provide guidance and support to help students succeed academically and develop important life skills.
• These can go beyond the classroom, such as sports and recreation enrichment programs.

May Family Foundation

Eleanor Jean May established the May Family Foundation in 2000, as a gesture of gratitude to the communities that shaped her life. The May Family Foundation is dedicated to identifying programs that strongly resonate with our mission and values as we work together to empower and uplift lives within our communities.

Our foundation provides resources and opportunities that empower young individuals to thrive and reach their full potential. Our goal is to create a brighter future for under-resourced youth in our local communities.

May Family Foundation Mental Health & Counseling Grant

Our foundation strives to be engaged in our local communities beyond grant funding. We support select programs that align with our goals and form a connection through potential volunteering opportunities, site visits, and recognition of successes.

We welcome grant applications for financial support in mental health and counseling:

• Programs and services that improve life for those with physical and mental challenges.
• We support programs that help students deal with a mental health diagnosis and life stressors, to help navigate the changes that occur during early childhood development through college.

May Family Foundation

Eleanor Jean May established the May Family Foundation in 2000, as a gesture of gratitude to the communities that shaped her life. The May Family Foundation is dedicated to identifying programs that strongly resonate with our mission and values as we work together to empower and uplift lives within our communities.

Our foundation provides resources and opportunities that empower young individuals to thrive and reach their full potential. Our goal is to create a brighter future for under-resourced youth in our local communities.

May Family Foundation After-School Enrichment Grant

Our foundation strives to be engaged in our local communities beyond grant funding. We support select programs that align with our goals and form a connection through potential volunteering opportunities, site visits, and recognition of successes.

We welcome grant applications for financial support in after-school enrichment:

• Programs with trained instructors that provide students with opportunities to participate in enrichment activities to learn new things and develop skills they will find useful in real life.

Nonprofit and educational organizations in Vilas County, Wisconsin working on Great Lakes wilderness cruising, marine safety education, or freshwater conservation can apply for Great Lakes Foundation support. Funding may assist projects like environmental protection, marine research, publications, seminars, or other efforts that preserve cruising areas and foster the art and science of cruising.

The PLTW Launch program, in collaboration with Huber, offers grants to public schools seeking to initiate or expand their PLTW offerings for the 2026-2027 academic year. Schools can utilize the $5,000 grant to enhance their curriculum by adding new modules, increasing student participation, or training more teachers. Eligible districts span across several states, including Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, and Texas, providing opportunities for a diverse range of schools to benefit from this initiative.

The Wisconsin Public Service Foundation offers Local Community Grants to support initiatives that enhance community development, health, arts, education, and the environment. Nonprofit organizations in the service areas are eligible for funding. The foundation emphasizes partnerships that promote educational opportunities and community improvement. With a history of providing financial support since 1964, the foundation encourages projects that engage local residents and foster collaboration among diverse groups. Preference is given to specific programs or projects that align with their mission.

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

The Fund for Lake Michigan Grant supports initiatives aimed at enhancing the health of Lake Michigan through projects that yield both immediate and long-term benefits. Eligible applicants include non-profits, government agencies, and educational institutions focusing on water quality improvement. Grants range from $700,000 to $900,000 quarterly, with priorities on projects that directly impact water quality and promote sustainable practices. This grant fosters economic growth while ensuring the preservation of vital water resources.

County, local, and volunteer fire, law enforcement, and rescue agencies in Vilas County, Wisconsin can seek funding for one-time, safety-related equipment and professional development projects. We Energies Foundation supports first responder initiatives with grants up to US $2,000 per project for lifesaving gear and training within its service area.

Nonprofit organizations in Vilas County, Wisconsin seeking capital funding for arts, education, or health projects can apply for support through the RCU Foundation. RCU Foundation provides Vilas County nonprofits with grants for impactful, community-benefiting capital initiatives in areas Royal Credit Union serves, prioritizing strong local need, broad impact, and sustainable plans backed by diverse funding sources.

About National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) works with partners to foster sustainable and impactful conservation solutions so that people and nature thrive together. Chartered by Congress in 1984, NFWF has grown to become the nation’s largest conservation foundation. Since its founding, NFWF has funded more than 23,900 projects that have generated a total conservation impact of more than $12 billion.About Sustain Our Great Lakes Program

Sustain Our Great Lakes is a public–private partnership designed to sustain, restore and protect fish, wildlife and habitat in the basin by leveraging funding, building conservation capacity, and focusing partners and resources toward key ecological issues. The program achieves this mission, in part, by awarding grants for on-the-ground habitat restoration and enhancement.Funding priorities for this program include:

• Habitat Restoration to Conserve Species and Improve Water Quality
• Expand and Maintain Nature-Based Solutions in Great Lakes Communities
• Invasive Species Control to Protect and Enhance Restored Habitat
• Activate Restored Habitats and Natural Areas

The Wisdom Family Foundation Grant Program supports organizations that empower children and strengthen communities. Founded in 2007, this 501(c)(3) nonprofit focuses on providing essential resources such as food security and educational assistance. Grants typically range from $1,000 to $5,000, with larger capital grants considered on a case-by-case basis. The Foundation operates primarily in Greater Chicago, Northern Wisconsin, and the Twin Cities, promoting a spirit of generosity and collaboration within communities.