Best Walworth County Grants for Nonprofits in Wisconsin

The Advancing Lives Grant, offered by the Advia Foundation, supports nonprofit organizations dedicated to making a meaningful impact in their communities. This grant focuses on initiatives that drive progress and improve lives, ensuring that the funding is directed towards organizations that meet specific eligibility criteria, including tax-exempt status and community involvement. Applications are limited to one grant per year per organization, fostering a fair distribution of resources.

The Teachers and Educators Scholarship, funded by the Advia Foundation, invites teachers to propose financial literacy projects aimed at enhancing students' understanding of money management. This initiative supports the development of effective financial decision-making skills among students, fostering a generation of informed individuals. Eligible proposals should focus on innovative classroom strategies that promote financial knowledge and empower students to make sound financial choices.

The Kott Memorial Charitable Trust Grants provide essential funding to charitable organizations that enhance the lives of seniors through education, health services, and community engagement. Dedicated to supporting gerontology, these grants aim to improve the quality of life for older adults by funding innovative programs, internships, and professional training. By focusing on the needs of seniors, the Trust plays a vital role in fostering a supportive environment for this demographic, ensuring they receive the care and services they deserve.

The Old National Bank Foundation offers grants to nonprofit organizations for community impact initiatives across Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Focused on four key areas—Affordable Housing, Workforce Development, Economic Development, and Financial Empowerment—the foundation prioritizes programs that support underrepresented communities. Organizations must have 501(c)(3) status and align with the foundation’s funding priorities to qualify for grants, which can be applied for every two years.

Broadening Narratives

Broadening Narratives supports diverse stories and collections that expand our understanding of who we are. ​

Our Vision for Broadening Narratives

We work to ensure that those whose stories are being told through collections are included in the decisions about how those stories are told. We seek to broaden the kinds of narratives being told, particularly stories that have never been told, or have been told incompletely or inaccurately.  

This includes stories from culturally specific communities including people of color, LGBTQ+ perspectives, working-class experiences, and small community stories.

We support collections that tell stories that have not been told, have been told incompletely, or have been told inaccurately. We require that those whose stories are being told be included in the decision-making process.

What is broadening narratives?

Why collections? And what do you mean by “Broadening Narratives”? What drove this change in strategy and approach to your collections work? ​

Read this answer and more here.

The County Fair Facility Upgrade Grant Program aims to support rural communities within Compeer Financial’s territory by providing funding for upgrades and repairs to county fair facilities. Eligible organizations can receive up to $4,000 to enhance livestock buildings, 4-H buildings, and judging arenas. This initiative not only improves facilities but also fosters community engagement and agricultural education, ensuring that fairs continue to thrive in delivering memorable experiences for all ages.

The Dr. Leonard Weis Earth & Environmental Sciences Scholarship, established by Captain Greg Neuschafer, honors Professor Leonard Weis for his impactful teaching at the University of Wisconsin Fox Valley. This $500 non-renewable scholarship supports graduating high school seniors and non-traditional students from the Fox Valley area who are pursuing environmental or earth sciences at a UW institution. Preference is given to continuing students and veterans, with a minimum GPA requirement of 2.5.

The Elizabeth Guttenberg Memorial Scholarship honors the vibrant life of Liz Guttenberg, a talented young artist and active community member who tragically passed away at 18. Funded by the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, this $750 non-renewable scholarship supports graduating high school seniors or continuing college students from the Fox Valley area pursuing degrees in Arts or Theatre at UW institutions, encouraging them to thrive in their educational endeavors.

The Esther Kliefoth Stutzman Excellence Scholarship, established in 1998 by Charlie Kliefoth, honors his sister's memory. It offers a $1,800 award for high-achieving students from the Fox Valley area attending any 2-year or 4-year UW institution full-time. Eligible applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 and demonstrate academic excellence. Preference is given to students attending UW-Oshkosh. This scholarship aims to support educational pursuits and foster community growth.

The Fanchon B. Smith Scholarship, established in 2013 by the Carla and Todd Rabe Family and the James and Fanchon Smith Family, supports non-traditional students pursuing higher education. With a non-renewable award of $600, this scholarship is aimed at adult learners aged 22 and older attending 2-year or 4-year UW institutions. Eligibility includes a minimum 2.75 GPA and consideration of financial need, fostering educational opportunities in the Fox Valley Region.

The Advia Youth Scholarships Program, initiated by the Advia Foundation, aims to empower graduating seniors who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and a commitment to community service. By providing financial support, the program fosters the growth of future leaders while enhancing financial literacy and education within the community. Advia Foundation's mission is to improve the overall quality of life, making significant contributions to the lives of young individuals and their communities.

Heart of Canal Street, established in 1994 by Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, focuses on enhancing the lives of children in southeastern Wisconsin. The initiative collaborates with local charities to provide essential services, promote safety, and foster an appreciation for the arts. In 2024, the program will award over $500,000 to 30 deserving children's charities, ensuring a brighter future for youth in the community.

The Mercyhealth Janesville Medical Staff Scholarship offers six $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors from Janesville, Milton, Beloit, Whitewater, Edgerton, Walworth (Big Foot), Brodhead, Delavan, or Evansville. Applicants must be pursuing a career in health care. This initiative supports students in their educational journey while emphasizing the importance of health care professions. Mercyhealth is dedicated to providing quality medical services and fostering future healthcare leaders in the community.

The GSF Foundation Grant supports 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations that enhance the lives of children and families in need. Applications must be submitted by a current GSF Associate who nominates the organization and its project. Since 2002, the foundation has funded over 600 organizations nationwide. It emphasizes personal involvement and contributions from associates, focusing on essential needs such as education tools, food, and shoes for children. Grants are reviewed at local and national meetings.

The Mercyhealth Minority/Veteran Scholarships offer two $2,000 awards to minority or veteran individuals in Wisconsin and Illinois pursuing a career in healthcare. This initiative aims to support those who contribute to the community while enhancing diversity in the healthcare field. Applicants must submit complete documentation to be considered. Since 1994, Mercyhealth has been committed to providing quality healthcare, making this scholarship a vital opportunity for future healthcare professionals.

The PNC Foundation's Grow Up Great Grant is a significant initiative aimed at enhancing educational opportunities for children from birth to age 5. With a commitment of $500 million, this program focuses on improving school readiness through support in vocabulary development, social-emotional learning, and the arts. By partnering with community-based nonprofits, PNC aims to foster stronger, smarter, and healthier communities, ensuring a brighter future for the next generation.

The PLTW Gateway program, backed by Ardagh Group, aims to enhance educational opportunities in local communities. Over the next decade, this initiative will support over 500,000 PreK-12 students and provide exceptional training for more than 5,000 teachers across 2,000 schools in the U.S. The program focuses on fostering innovation and creativity through engaging STEM curricula, ensuring that educational resources are accessible and effective for all students.

Potawatomi Hotel & Casino is committed to community support through philanthropy, providing jobs and financial assistance. Their Heart of Canal Street program has donated over $13.6 million since 1994, helping local children. They recycle used playing cards for nonprofit organizations and donate auction items for fundraising events within a 125-mile radius. However, they do not support K-12 schools or for-profit entities, ensuring their contributions are directed to those in need.

The Hernandez Family Scholarship Fund, administered by the Kenosha Community Foundation, supports local students originating from Kenosha, Racine, or Walworth County. Eligible applicants include high school seniors and college students enrolled in undergraduate programs, who demonstrate financial need through FAFSA completion and plan to study business or a related field. This scholarship marks its inaugural year, aiming to empower the next generation of leaders in the region.

Community Foundation of Northern Nevada

Established in 1998 as a Nevada nonprofit 501(c) 3 Corporation, the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada has distributed more than $200 million in grants and scholarships from over 300 charitable funds to strengthen our Nevada home. 

Scholarship Program

The Community Foundation of Northern Nevada’s Scholarship Program is intended to help students cover the ever-increasing cost of tuition. Some of our scholarships are based on financial need, but others represent an award for achievement. These scholarships typically go to students who have excelled in an academic area or have shown they can balance academics, volunteer work, and extracurricular activities. There are also scholarships designated for students who have overcome adversity, students pursuing degrees in high-need areas, and adult learners outside the traditional college age group. Community Foundation scholarships can help cover tuition, books, and on-campus housing.

Claudine Williams Harrahs LV Employee Scholarship

You are eligible to apply for the Claudine Williams Harrah’s LV Employee Scholarship if you meet all of the following requirements:

• your parent or legal guardian has been a full-time employee of the original Harrah’s Las Vegas property for three (3) consecutive years at grade L14 or below (including all H and S grades
• your parent or guardian continues to be employed by Caesars Entertainment either at Harrah’s Las Vegas or another Caesar’s property for three consecutive years on the date the application is submitted
• your family income shows a need for tuition assistance
• you are a high school senior or college student with a minimum cumulative unweighted 2.75 GPA
• you have a minimum 1200 SAT or 20 ACT score
• you agree to maintain a minimum 2.5 grade point average and provide a copy of your unofficial transcripts at the end of each semester you are receiving a scholarship for review prior to annual scholarship renewal

The St. Croix Valley Foundation serves six counties bordering the St. Croix River through local partnerships and place-based philanthropy. We serve:

• Minnesota: Chisago County, Washington County
• Wisconsin: Burnett County, Pierce County, Polk County, St. Croix County

Since our founding in 1995, we’ve:

• Grown to 500+ charitable funds and $100M+ in assets
• Facilitated $100M+ in grants and scholarships, including $5.8 million in 2024
• Partnered with local community affiliates led by volunteers who help guide grantmaking, grow local endowments, and connect donors to opportunities close to home.

Humane Organization Grant Program 

Mission

To enhance the quality of life of shelter/ rescue animals and to increase their chances for adoption. 

The St. Croix Valley Foundation (SCVF) Humane Organization grant program funded by the Compassionate Animal Fund, is accepting applications (invitation only) from Managed Open Admission humane organizations located in the upper Midwest. The grants, ranging up to $3,000, can cover items on your “wish list” including food, supplies, infrastructure needs, and veterinary cost. 

Funding Criteria

Grants are intended to provide funds for items such as food, supplies, medicine, spay/neuter programs (for in-house animals to aid in adoption) newsletters, or other needs and/or programs that most benefit the humane organization.

​We understand that shelters may differ in the services or alternatives they offer during the waiting period prior to intake. If your facility is at capacity, you must provide a clear statement outlining how emergency surrenders and stray animals are handled, including the procedures your organization follows to operate as an Open Admission shelter.  

The Pilot Projects to Enhance the Human Virome Program (R03) aims to support small-scale research projects that enhance the understanding of the human virome. This initiative encourages innovative approaches to study virome interactions and improve tools developed under the Human Virome Program. By leveraging human and animal specimens, projects should foster collaboration and expand existing research efforts, ultimately contributing to a deeper understanding of the virome's role in health and disease.

Community Foundation of Northern Nevada

Established in 1998 as a Nevada nonprofit 501(c) 3 Corporation, the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada has distributed more than $200 million in grants and scholarships from over 300 charitable funds to strengthen our Nevada home. 

Scholarship Program

The Community Foundation of Northern Nevada’s Scholarship Program is intended to help students cover the ever-increasing cost of tuition. Some of our scholarships are based on financial need, but others represent an award for achievement. These scholarships typically go to students who have excelled in an academic area or have shown they can balance academics, volunteer work, and extracurricular activities. There are also scholarships designated for students who have overcome adversity, students pursuing degrees in high-need areas, and adult learners outside the traditional college age group. Community Foundation scholarships can help cover tuition, books, and on-campus housing.

General Fred Michel Memorial Scholarship

You are eligible to apply for a scholarship if you:

• provide strong evidence of interest in aviation as a career
• are a senior graduating from a northern Nevada high school, or are enrolled in or accepted to an accredited institution of higher education (2-year, 4-year, trade school, or certificate program)
• are pursuing or plan to pursue a degree in a field related to aviation
• have a minimum 1000 SAT and/or minimum 20 ACT score
• have a minimum 2.75 GPA
• agree to maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA and submit an unofficial copy of transcripts at the end of each semester you are receiving an award

Arnold Ventures

Arnold Ventures (AV) is a philanthropy dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through evidence-based policy solutions that maximize opportunity and minimize injustice. We focus on improving systems where outcomes are falling short, incentives are misaligned, and the time is right for change.

To advance this mission, we invest in rigorous research to better understand the root causes of problems and strengthen the evidence base on what works to solve them. Using this evidence, we advocate for policy reforms at all levels of government and help build durable, bipartisan coalitions for lasting change.

Causal Research on the Impacts of Cell Phone Policies in K-12 Schools

The Opportunity

Smartphones are nearly universal among children and adolescents in the United States: 95% of teens reported having access to a smartphone, giving them regular exposure to social media, gaming, and video streaming platforms. While smartphones can support learning and social connection, emerging evidence suggests that using phones during school may also interfere with important educational goals, including student engagement, attendance, and academic performance.

In response, more than 30 states have passed laws restricting cell phone use in K-12 schools in recent years. These policies vary widely, ranging from “bell-to-bell” policies to classroom-level bans on phones only during instructional time. Despite the rapid adoption of these policies, rigorous evidence on academic, behavioral, and mental health impacts remains limited. In the absence of strong research, federal and state policymakers, as well as school and district leaders, lack the information needed to make informed decisions that effectively support student success. Building a robust evidence base is critical for shaping policies and practices that improve learning and well-being in both the short- and long-term.

This RFP seeks to address these gaps by supporting rigorous, causal research on the academic, behavioral, and mental health impacts of cell phone policies in K-12 schools in the United States. We seek studies that generate actionable insights for policymakers, as well as school and district leaders, who are deciding whether and how to implement or refine such policies. This RFP will support both Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) and Quasi-Experimental Designs (QEDs) that can credibly estimate causal effects. While we are open to a range of research questions, we highlight 2 areas of particular interest below.

What are the overall impacts of policies restricting cell phone use in K-12 schools?

• What are the short- and long-term impacts of cell phone policies on student-level outcomes, including academic achievement and attainment (e.g., standardized test scores, graduation rates), behaviors (e.g., engagement, attendance, disciplinary actions), and/or mental health (e.g., depression, anxiety, loneliness)?

• What are the short- and long-term impacts of cell phone policies on school-level outcomes, including school safety (e.g., reported incidents), school climate (e.g., bullying, social connections), and administrative factors (e.g., costs, logistics, communications with parents)?

• Do initial impacts persist, fade, or grow as schools refine their practices over time?

What factors explain variation in the impacts of cell phone policies?

• Which students, schools, and districts are most impacted by cell phone policies?

• Which policy design features (e.g., what devices are banned, when devices are banned, how devices are stored/locked) make cell phone policies more — or less — effective?

• Which implementation strategies (e.g., training and supports for school staff, consistent approaches for enforcement) make cell phone policies more — or less — effective?

• How do the resource and operational implications of different policy approaches (e.g., costs, staff time, infrastructure needs) influence their effectiveness? How do these factors affect the scalability and sustainability of effective approaches?

Community Foundation of Northern Nevada

Established in 1998 as a Nevada nonprofit 501(c) 3 Corporation, the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada has distributed more than $200 million in grants and scholarships from over 300 charitable funds to strengthen our Nevada home. 

Scholarship Program

The Community Foundation of Northern Nevada’s Scholarship Program is intended to help students cover the ever-increasing cost of tuition. Some of our scholarships are based on financial need, but others represent an award for achievement. These scholarships typically go to students who have excelled in an academic area or have shown they can balance academics, volunteer work, and extracurricular activities. There are also scholarships designated for students who have overcome adversity, students pursuing degrees in high-need areas, and adult learners outside the traditional college age group. Community Foundation scholarships can help cover tuition, books, and on-campus housing.

Jean Bear Mullins Memorial Scholarship

In honor of our beloved wife and mother, who was lovingly known as Jean Bear to her children, we have started the Jean Bear Mullins Memorial Scholarship to help students from Washoe County who have been accepted to or are currently enrolled in a Physician Assistant program or Medical School program at an accredited college or university nationwide. We are so proud to be able to honor her legacy.

NAFC Open Grant/Product Donation Applications

The National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC) is the only nonprofit 501c(3) organization whose mission is solely focused on the issues and needs of the medically underserved throughout the nation and the more than 1,400 Free and Charitable Clinics that serve them. The NAFC has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar and a 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator. Founded in 2001 and headquartered near Washington, D.C., the NAFC is working to ensure that the medically underserved have access to affordable quality healthcare and strives to be a national voice promoting quality healthcare for all. For more information about the NAFC, including how to become a member, please visit https://www.nafcclinics.org.

NAFC Response & Emergency Needs Fund

The NAFC Response & Emergency Needs Fund is designed to address urgent and unforeseen challenges that threaten operations or patient access to care within NAFC member organizations. These organizations often operate with limited reserves, making them especially vulnerable to unexpected repairs, equipment failures, workforce disruptions, or community emergencies. This fund provides rapid, flexible support to help stabilize operations and ensure continuity of care for uninsured and underserved patients.

Jack and Jill - Jacqueline Moore Bowles Scholarship

The Jack and Jill of America Foundation is committed to the positive development of youth and future leaders. Through providing programs focused on financial literacy, education, mentoring, health and wellness, and early childhood development, the Foundation promotes the preparation of succeeding generations of leaders.

In partnership with UNCF, the Jack and Jill of America Foundation - Jacqueline Moore Bowles Scholarship was developed to provide a one-time need-based scholarship of up to $2,500 to service-oriented undergraduate students majoring in Communications. 

Applicants must have completed a minimum of 60 hours of volunteer and community service within 12 months preceding the application deadline. Awards will be issued in the 2025-2026 spring term.