Best Waukesha County Grants for Nonprofits in Wisconsin

The FY2025-27 Biennial Budget provided $4 million for Dam Grants with the majority being committed to fund eligible engineering and construction costs associated with the maintenance, repair, modification or abandonment and removal of municipally owned dams.The Municipal Dam grant program provides a cost-sharing opportunity for eligible engineering and construction costs for dam maintenance, repair, modification or abandonment and removal.  Applicants must have an Engineer's inspection order or directive and a Dam Failure Analysis sufficient to identify the hazard potential based on the current development in the hydraulic shadow downstream of the dam. Applicants must have an Engineer's inspection order or directive and a Dam Failure Analysis sufficient to identify the hazard potential based on the current development in the hydraulic shadow downstream of the dam.

The Surface Water Grants: Management Plan Implementation Projects, offered by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, support initiatives aimed at enhancing and protecting surface water resources. With a focus on approved management plans, these grants facilitate projects that improve aquatic ecosystems. Applications are due by September 15 for pre-proposals and November 15 for full proposals. Each waterbody can submit one application, ensuring targeted, impactful management efforts for Wisconsin's vital water resources.

St. Ignace Area Community Foundation: CTE Technical Scholarship

The St. Ignace Community Fund annually awards scholarships assisting students with higher education, technical training, vocational training or retraining based largely on acknowledgement of student responsibility, community service, and civic involvement. These Scholarships are made possible through the generosity of donors to the various accounts within the St. Ignace Area Community Fund. Some accounts specifically are awarded to recognize higher education in the areas of special education, vocational/technical careers, teaching, law enforcement, and health care.

Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

The mission of Susan G. Komen® is to save lives by meeting the most critical needs in our communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer.

Susan G. Komen Career Catalyst Research (CCR) Grants

Susan G. Komen Career Catalyst Research (CCR) Grants foster promising breast cancer researchers who are in the early stages of their faculty careers by providing support for up to three years of “protected time” for research career development under the guidance of a Mentor Committee. We seek to support those who will emerge as the next key leaders in the fight against breast cancer.

CCR Research Focus: Research projects must be hypothesis-driven, breast cancer-focused studies. They may be considered basic, translational, clinical and/or population science in nature and should align with Komen’s research priorities and mission to save lives from breast cancer. 

The Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) aims to combat discriminatory housing practices through funding provided to various organizations. Established by Congress in 1988 and made permanent in 1992, FHIP supports entities that educate the public and enforce fair housing rights. The program offers competitive grants across four initiatives, including the Private Enforcement Initiative, which enables national non-profit organizations to investigate violations and uphold fair housing laws effectively.

Department of Administration

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Department of Administration is the flagship agency of the State of Wisconsin. We help the Office of the Governor with the biennial state budget, provide centralized purchasing and financial management for state agencies, and work with the 11 federally recognized Native Nations in Wisconsin on gaming, coastal programs, and other key areas. Our mission is to provide effective and efficient services at the best value to government agencies and the public.

CDBG - Emergency Assistance Program (EAP)

​Program Overview

The Community Development Block Grant -Emergency Assistance Program CDBG-EAP (PDF) is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Energy, Housing, and Community Resources (DEHCR) under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended. CDBG-EAP funds are used to assist local units of government in addressing emergency housing, public facility, infrastructure, and business assistance needs that occur as a result of natural or manmade disasters.  

The CDBG - Emergency Assistance Program includes funding for: Public Facility/Infrastructure Assistance; Housing Rehabilitation Assistance; and Business Assistance.

Public Facility/Infrastructure Assistance

CDBG-EAP Public Facility Assistance is available to communities where 51% or more of the population is low-to-moderate income (LMI) or where the activity will benefit LMI households. Funds are awarded as a grant, requiring a 25% local match for the total project expense. 

Eligible repair projects include:

• Curbs and gutters
• Water, sewer, and wastewater treatment facilities
• Streets and sidewalks
• Electrical systems

Department of Administration

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Department of Administration is the flagship agency of the State of Wisconsin. We help the Office of the Governor with the biennial state budget, provide centralized purchasing and financial management for state agencies, and work with the 11 federally recognized Native Nations in Wisconsin on gaming, coastal programs, and other key areas. Our mission is to provide effective and efficient services at the best value to government agencies and the public.

CDBG - Emergency Assistance Program (EAP)

​Program Overview

The Community Development Block Grant -Emergency Assistance Program CDBG-EAP (PDF) is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Energy, Housing, and Community Resources (DEHCR) under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended. CDBG-EAP funds are used to assist local units of government in addressing emergency housing, public facility, infrastructure, and business assistance needs that occur as a result of natural or manmade disasters.  

The CDBG - Emergency Assistance Program includes funding for: Public Facility/Infrastructure Assistance; Housing Rehabilitation Assistance; and Business Assistance.

Housing Rehabilitation Assistance

CDBG-EAP housing assistance is available to eligible homeowners and tenants whose primary residence has been damaged by a natural or manmade disaster. Funds are awarded as a grant.

Individual homeowners or tenants must apply directly through their local municipal government. 

Eligible repair projects include:

• Foundations, façades, and roofs
• Electrical and HVAC repairs and replacements
• Water, sewer system, and water heater repairs

Department of Administration

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Department of Administration is the flagship agency of the State of Wisconsin. We help the Office of the Governor with the biennial state budget, provide centralized purchasing and financial management for state agencies, and work with the 11 federally recognized Native Nations in Wisconsin on gaming, coastal programs, and other key areas. Our mission is to provide effective and efficient services at the best value to government agencies and the public.

CDBG - Emergency Assistance Program (EAP)

​Program Overview

The Community Development Block Grant -Emergency Assistance Program CDBG-EAP (PDF) is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Energy, Housing, and Community Resources (DEHCR) under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended. CDBG-EAP funds are used to assist local units of government in addressing emergency housing, public facility, infrastructure, and business assistance needs that occur as a result of natural or manmade disasters.  

The CDBG - Emergency Assistance Program includes funding for: Public Facility/Infrastructure Assistance; Housing Rehabilitation Assistance; and Business Assistance.

Business Assistance

CDBG-EAP business assistance is available to eligible businesses that have been affected by a natural or manmade disaster. Funds may be awarded as a loan or a grant. To qualify, a business must demonstrate that:

• Damages are linked directly to a disaster event.
• They employ LMI individuals.
• CDBG-EAP assistance will result in creating new or maintaining existing LMI jobs.
• 51% of the jobs created and/or maintained must be held by LMI individuals.

Eligible projects include:

• Building, water system, and sewer/septic repairs
• Equipment repair/replacement
• Provision of working capital
• Other expenses not covered by insurance claims

The Child Protection Compact Annual Program Statement invites proposals aimed at combating child trafficking through collaborative efforts between the United States and other countries. This initiative focuses on enhancing the capacity to prosecute traffickers, providing care for victims, and implementing preventive measures. Organizations interested in applying must align with the objectives of the CPC to ensure comprehensive support and effective intervention against all forms of child trafficking.

The TIP Office of the US Department of State invites applications for projects aimed at combating human trafficking, adhering to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. This initiative prioritizes prosecuting traffickers, protecting victims, and preventing trafficking through strategies outlined in the National Security Strategy, executive orders, and the annual Trafficking in Persons Report, while aligning with America First Foreign Policy priorities.

Public Service Commission of Wisconsin

Mission Statement: The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) ensures safe, reliable, affordable, and environmentally responsible utility services and equitable access to telecommunications and broadband services.

State Broadband Expansion Grants

The purpose of the Broadband Expansion Grant (BBEG) Program is to encourage the deployment of advanced telecommunications capability in unserved areas of the state. This state program was established in 2014 and follows statutory requirements set forth in Wis. Stat. § 196.504.

Successful applicants will demonstrate a clear and achievable plan to improve broadband communications services in one or more unserved areas in the state.

Wisconsin Department of Justice

​​​​​The Wisconsin Department of Justice (Wisconsin DOJ) is led by the attorney general, a constitutional officer who is elected by partisan ballot to a four-year term. Public safety is the core of Wisconsin DOJ's mission. The main duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Providing legal advice and representation for the State of Wisconsin
• Investigating crimes that are statewide in nature, importance, or influence
• Providing technical assistance and training to law enforcement officers and prosecutors
• Assisting victims of crime in exercising their rights and accessing services
• Providing forensic analysis of evidence in criminal cases
• Promoting safe school environment​s​

Sexual Assault Victim Services (SAVS) Grant Program

Program Goal

The goal of the SAVS Grant Program is to develop, expand, enhance, and/or support comprehensive sexual assault victim services so they are available to victims of sexual assault regardless of where they reside in Wisconsin. 

Core Services

The SAVS legislation provides a brief list of services that award recipients must provide or propose to provide, and statistical information that OCVS is mandated to collect from grantees. Statistical information reflects the core services.

• 24 Hour Crisis Response
• Personal Advocacy
• Systems Advocacy
• Information and Referral
• Support Groups
• Accessible Services
• Community Outreach and Prevention Education

The DOW Combat Readiness – Medical Research Program's FY26 Translational Research Award supports innovative research aimed at improving trauma care outcomes. This program emphasizes hypothesis-driven studies that can transition promising technologies into practical solutions for enhancing casualty survivability. Applicants must provide preliminary data and utilize validated animal models, with a focus on projects that meet a minimum technology readiness level of 4, ensuring a mature translational research effort.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is funding research to enhance drug susceptibility testing (DST) for mycobacteria. This initiative aims to improve testing for tuberculosis (TB) and non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections, which are on the rise. Current methods are slow and ineffective against drug-resistant strains, making rapid DSTs essential for effective treatment and reducing transmission rates. Innovative approaches, including rapid genotypic and phenotypic methods, will be supported to address these challenges.

The Childhood Asthma in Urban Settings Clinical Research Network (CAUSE) aims to enhance asthma prevention and treatment in economically disadvantaged pediatric populations. Funded by the NIH, CAUSE supports multi-site clinical studies to identify innovative strategies and treatment targets for asthma. Utilizing systems biology, the network seeks to discover specific disease endotypes suitable for new therapeutic approaches, addressing the high burden of asthma in urban settings.

The BRAIN Initiative seeks to develop innovative tools and approaches for neuroscience research, focusing on cell-specific and circuit-specific processes within the central nervous system. This initiative encourages projects that enhance our understanding of brain architecture and function through novel technologies for characterizing neural components and advancing methods for recording and modulating neural activity. Applications are invited to address significant challenges and promote transformative breakthroughs in neuroscience.

The National Institute of Mental Health is inviting research applications for the AIDS Research Center program, which includes Developmental Centers and full Research Centers. This initiative aims to enhance interdisciplinary HIV/AIDS research through collaboration and innovative approaches across various scientific domains. The program emphasizes alignment with national strategies and encourages applications from teams skilled in fostering partnerships with diverse stakeholders. Although applications are currently not being solicited, this notice allows potential applicants time to prepare strong proposals.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is advancing research on immune tolerance through its Collaborative Network. This program aims to clarify the mechanisms of immune tolerance and develop interventions for related diseases, including transplant rejection and autoimmune disorders. Key objectives include conducting clinical trials on tolerogenic strategies and refining immune assays. This initiative is supported by regulations under the Public Health Service Act, ensuring a structured approach to improving patient outcomes.

The Clinical Data, Safety and Statistical Centers (CDSSC) program, supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), aims to enhance clinical research through comprehensive support. This includes statistical analysis, protocol development, and oversight of safety monitoring in studies related to asthma, autoimmune diseases, and transplantation. By coordinating these efforts, the program seeks to facilitate impactful research outcomes and improve public health outcomes through informed data-driven decisions.

The Translational Transplantation Tolerance Cooperative Study Group, supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, aims to advance transplant tolerance strategies that promote long-term graft survival without lifelong immunosuppression. This initiative focuses on developing, optimizing, and evaluating methods to induce immune tolerance in allogeneic transplants through collaborative efforts across multiple centers, utilizing translationally relevant models to ensure effective outcomes.

The NIAID aims to enhance our understanding of the interplay between chronic and infectious diseases through innovative precision systems biology research. By utilizing advanced technologies such as multi-omics and artificial intelligence, the initiative focuses on uncovering critical pathways that connect infections to chronic health issues. This multidisciplinary approach leverages longitudinal patient data to inform and improve prevention and treatment strategies, ultimately seeking to provide insights into disease progression and host-pathogen interactions.

The Asthma and Allergic Diseases Cooperative Research Centers (AADCRC) program, supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), aims to enhance research on asthma and related allergic diseases. This initiative fosters multi-center, multidisciplinary research to explore disease mechanisms and treatment responses. By promoting clinical trials and observational studies, the AADCRC seeks to advance understanding and improve interventions for conditions such as asthma and food allergies, ultimately benefiting public health.

About Us

Wisconsin Sea Grant is a statewide program of basic and applied research, education, outreach and technology transfer dedicated to the stewardship and sustainable use of the nation’s Great Lakes and ocean resources.

Headquartered at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the institute is housed in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research’s Aquatic Sciences Center. (See our Water and Land Acknowledgement.) Wisconsin Sea Grant is part of a national network of 34 university-based programs funded through the National Sea Grant College Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce and through matching contributions from participating states and the private sector. 

John A. Knauss Marine (and Great Lakes) Policy Fellowship

The University of Wisconsin Sea Grant College Program is accepting applications from graduate students statewide for the National Sea Grant College Program’s John A. Knauss Marine (and Great Lakes) Policy Fellowship Program. The program, established in 1979, provides a unique educational experience to applicants who have an interest in ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources. The program matches highly qualified graduate students with “hosts” in the legislative and executive branch of government located in the Washington, D.C. area, for a one year paid internship. Placement opportunities are numerous and very diverse and have typically included offices within Congress, the Executive Office of the President, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Departments of State, Treasury, Transportation, and Energy, in addition to others. Applicants from a variety of backgrounds including natural and social sciences, law, engineering, and communications can be competitive for this fellowship. Fellowships begin June 1, 2027.

The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) aims to enhance broadband access and adoption on Tribal lands, supporting initiatives for remote learning, telework, and telehealth. Administered by NTIA, this program provides vital funding to eligible entities under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. This funding is crucial for fostering digital inclusion and improving connectivity in underserved Tribal communities.

The Native Entities Grant Program, initiated by NTIA under the Digital Equity Act of 2021, aims to support Indian Tribes, Alaska Native entities, and Native Hawaiian organizations. This program streamlines funding through a unified application for two significant initiatives: the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant and the Digital Equity Competitive Grant. By focusing on reducing administrative burdens, it enhances access to digital resources and equity in underserved communities.

The DoW Bone Marrow Failure Idea Development Award supports innovative, high-impact research aimed at understanding and curing bone marrow failure diseases. This grant is available to both Established Investigators and Early-Career Investigators, with no preliminary data required for applications. Reviewers assess proposals based on specific criteria tailored to the investigator's career stage. The focus is on achieving interpretable results that contribute significantly to the field.