Best Grants for Grassroots Organizations in Wisconsin

The Aviation Management Scholarship, offered by the AAAE Foundation, supports students enrolled in aviation programs at accredited colleges in the U.S. or Canada. Scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence, financial need, and active community participation. Up to ten awards of $2,000 each will be given, with at least two designated for ethnic minority applicants. The scholarship aims to foster future leaders in the aviation industry.

The Albert & Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation Grant supports nonprofit organizations that create positive change in communities. Focused on enhancing lives and providing opportunities for self-improvement, the foundation prioritizes requests from organizations in the Houston area and Texas. Eligible applicants may submit one request per year, ensuring a fair assessment process. Note that grants are not available to individuals, and lobbying efforts may adversely affect the consideration of applications.

The SBB Research Group Foundation Grant supports 501(c)(3) organizations addressing unmet needs through sustainable strategies. Winners are selected monthly, receiving $5,000, while other finalists are awarded $1,000. The foundation collaborates with various partners and has a strong commitment to community service. Organizations are encouraged to apply early, as prior applicants can be reconsidered in subsequent months. This initiative aims to empower impactful initiatives across diverse sectors.

The Methodology, Measurement, and Statistics (MMS) Program by the National Science Foundation (NSF) promotes innovative analytical and statistical methodologies for social, behavioral, and economic sciences. It offers various funding mechanisms, including Regular Research Awards, Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement (DDRI), and Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) grants. The program aims to enhance the utility of official statistics through collaborative research and supports early career development initiatives.

The Madison Rotary Foundation's Innovation Grants Program offers one-time grants up to $5,000 to inspire local non-profits in the Madison area to implement innovative solutions for community challenges. With approximately $50,000 available for grants, organizations are encouraged to explore new services, improve existing programs, and reach underserved demographics. This initiative aims to foster creativity and enhance the support provided to those in need, making a significant impact in the community.

The Fondy 100 Gives Grant invites 100 community members to contribute $100 each, creating a collective fund to support impactful local projects in Fond du Lac. Eligible projects must demonstrate immediate positive community benefits and have a budget of approximately $7,500. Non-profit organizations, including schools and municipalities, can apply. This initiative emphasizes community involvement and appreciation for local generosity, fostering a spirit of collaboration to enhance the Fond du Lac area.

The Spark Good: Strengthening Community Local Grants program by the Wal-Mart Foundation empowers local organizations through grants ranging from $250 to $5000. This initiative aims to enhance community welfare by supporting diverse projects, including animal shelters and educational programs. Eligible organizations must have a verified Spark Good account, ensuring funds are allocated effectively to meet local needs and foster community development. Together, we can create lasting impacts through small yet significant actions.

The Designated Fund Grant, offered by the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation, is available to 501(c)(3) organizations or governmental units. Applicants must be designated fund designees and can request grants for various charitable purposes, provided they align with the Foundation's governing documents. Applications are reviewed quarterly, ensuring timely support for eligible projects that benefit the community.

The Convention Opportunity Travel Grant, offered by the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES), supports non-student members with incomes under $40,000 to present their research at the ASEEES Annual Convention. Established in 1948, ASEEES prioritizes first-time presenters and junior scholars lacking institutional support. The grant encourages diverse scholarly contributions and is aimed at enhancing the visibility of underrepresented voices in the field of Slavic and East European studies.

The Regional Scholar Travel Grant, offered by the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES), provides up to $1,000 to support travel for faculty and independent scholars from Eastern Europe and Eurasia. Applicants must present a paper at the ASEEES Annual Convention and meet specific eligibility criteria, including residency in eligible countries and ASEEES membership. This grant aims to promote scholarly exchange and foster participation among junior scholars and first-time presenters.

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- Annual Responsive Grants ​

Focus:

Grants play a vital role in strengthening nonprofit resilience by giving organizations the flexible, timely support they need to respond to emerging challenges and opportunities. These cycles honor the reality of day-to-day mission work, allowing nonprofits to direct resources where they will have the greatest impact. 

The Annual Responsiveness grant is our pilot effort at being more open to hearing what nonprofits need in the moment. The 2025 nonprofit survey demonstrated that overall, nonprofits desire “general, responsive funding.” The Annual Responsiveness grant allows nonprofits to share an overall picture of opportunity: You can submit for general operating and/or a specific program. This is your time to help us understand what is currently happening within your organization and how continued philanthropic support would make a difference. ​

​Grant Deadlines:

With recognition of the cyclical nature of philanthropy, we will have three cycles. Applicants are encouraged to apply to the cycle that best aligns with their needs:​

​Grant Ranges:

• Grant awards will range from $1,000 to $15,000 for a one-year award​.

​Grant Considerations:

• Annual responsive grants support flexible, general operating support and the applications will reflect a more general approach to understanding the mission, current work being done, and financial need. ​

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 Ewalt and Jocelyn Maurushat Engineering Scholarship, established in memory of retired engineer Ewalt Maurushat, supports graduating seniors from Erie County, Ohio high schools pursuing an Engineering major. This scholarship emphasizes financial need and may be renewed for up to three years, providing vital assistance to students. Preference is given to academically strong candidates with large families. The Erie County Community Foundation administers this scholarship, fostering educational opportunities and community growth.

The R3PEATS Multi-Team Triangulation initiative supports collaborative research teams to explore a central biomedical question using diverse methods and model systems. It emphasizes the importance of identifying biological variability and ensuring the robustness of findings through replication strategies. This program is part of the NIH Common Fund's Rigor, Replicability, & Reproducibility to Promote Excellence in Science, aiming to enhance the accuracy and translation of scientific discoveries.

The MAA Tensor Grant Program, supported by the Tensor Foundation, aims to enrich mathematics education for underrepresented students. It encourages women and pre-college girls to pursue mathematics while also supporting historically underrepresented groups, including Black, Hispanic, and Native American students. Each project can receive up to $8,000 in funding, with a focus on clear plans to achieve the program's goals. This initiative fosters a diverse mathematics community and enhances student engagement.

The FY2026/2027 Community Compass Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Program provides competitive grants to organizations capable of delivering technical assistance (TA) to communities served by HUD. With up to $86 million available, recipients are expected to develop educational tools, collaborate with HUD, and show a strong record of performance. This initiative aims to enhance community systems, support high-priority projects, and ensure effective training delivery, fostering impactful outcomes across the nation.

The Ash Grove Charitable Foundation Grant supports public charities with 501(c)(3) status, focusing on capital projects that enhance community life in states where Ash Grove operates. With a commitment to environmental sustainability, education, and human services, the Foundation prioritizes funding for renovation and construction projects. Grants typically reach up to $25,000, aiming to foster better living standards and support local initiatives that are vital for community growth and resilience.

The Statistics Program, funded by the National Science Foundation, promotes research in statistical theory and methods applicable across various scientific and engineering domains. It supports projects ranging from individual investigators to interdisciplinary teams, fostering advancements in data collection, analysis, and interpretation. The program emphasizes the importance of statistical methods in modeling uncertainty and enhancing scientific discovery. For more information, please visit the NSF's official website.

The Mathematical Sciences Research Institutes, supported by the National Science Foundation, serve as critical national resources aimed at advancing research in mathematics and statistics. These institutes facilitate the discovery and dissemination of knowledge while enhancing connections with related fields. Their activities attract top mathematical minds to tackle pressing problems and engage a diverse array of U.S.-based researchers, ultimately bolstering the impact of mathematical sciences across various disciplines.

The Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (MSPRF) aim to support emerging leaders in mathematics and statistics. These fellowships enhance participants' research environments, ensuring significant scientific development. Awardees can choose between a Research Fellowship or a Research Instructorship, with funding available for research across various mathematical and statistical disciplines. Proposals are submitted directly to the NSF, and fellows must affiliate with eligible institutions or organizations.

The Edgerton Community Fund Grant, established in 2001, serves as a permanent financial resource for the Edgerton community. Each year, this fund distributes grants to local non-profits, schools, and government agencies, aligning philanthropy with community needs. Managed by a volunteer board, it emphasizes supporting charitable programs that enhance the community's welfare and development.

The Janesville Generations Fund Grant, managed by The Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, aims to support the Janesville community through various charitable funds. Established to create a lasting legacy, it invites donations of any amount, allowing community members to contribute to vital projects. The grant oversees distribution from five family funds, ensuring that the community's needs are met for generations to come. This initiative fosters local engagement and empowers donors to make impactful contributions.

The KCF Scholarships - Colleen Deininger Aviation Scholarship Fund offers a one-time scholarship of $2,500 for students from Kenosha and surrounding counties. Eligible applicants include high school seniors enrolling in accredited colleges or universities, specifically those pursuing degrees in aviation-related fields with a minimum GPA of 3.0. The scholarship is administered by the Kenosha Community Foundation, which manages various scholarship funds to support local students in their educational endeavors.

The Kenosha Community Foundation offers Unrestricted Grants sourced from a dedicated investment pool, allowing for flexible funding that meets the evolving needs of the community. These grants support a variety of projects, including educational, arts, and infrastructure initiatives. By encouraging diverse organizations to apply, KCF aims to bolster community development and responsiveness. This funding opportunity reflects the foresight of legacy donors who prioritized unrestricted endowment funds, ensuring ongoing support for impactful projects.

The Human Networks and Data Science (HNDS) program, supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), focuses on enhancing our understanding of human behavior through data and network science. It features two tracks: HNDS-I, aimed at developing data resources for social sciences, and HNDS-R, which leverages large datasets to advance theoretical frameworks in core social, behavioral, and economic disciplines. Proposals are encouraged to provide innovative insights that can lead to significant societal benefits.

Bader Philanthropies' Community Matters Grant Programs focus on enhancing community engagement and support in Milwaukee. They provide funding to tax-exempt organizations and government entities that address critical human needs through innovative strategies. The program emphasizes grassroots initiatives and metrics like individuals served and mindset changes to measure success. Preliminary applications are reviewed on a rolling basis with deadlines aligned to biannual board meetings, ensuring timely responses to applicants.

The Clinton Presidential Research Fellowship, offered by the Clinton Presidential Library and the Clinton Foundation, supports graduate students and early career academics in the humanities and social sciences. This fellowship enables research into President Clinton's administration and its legacy. Annual funding ranges from $1,250 to $5,000 USD, encouraging students and scholars to delve into American history and presidential legacies. Applications are invited from current graduate students or those who have earned a PhD within the last eight years.