Greater Milwaukee Foundation Grant Program

The Greater Milwaukee Foundation's discretionary grantmaking for Cycle 2 of 2025 is aligned with its strategic goal of creating a more equitable and inclusive Milwaukee. The Foundation is a community-focused philanthropic organization dedicated to supporting initiatives that build thriving communities across Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, and Waukesha counties. This grant opportunity supports programs that enhance racial equity and inclusion, focusing on key impact areas such as early childhood education, mental health, and workforce development. The grant seeks to fund nonprofit organizations that address systemic challenges and create transformative, community-led change. Projects must align with the Foundation's broader investment framework, which emphasizes increasing representation of communities of color in decision-making, promoting equitable policy outcomes, and shifting institutional power structures to foster sustainable justice. Grants of up to $50,000 per year for up to three years are available, and both project-specific and general operating support are eligible uses of funding. Funding may also be used for capital and facilities expenses where applicable to the program focus. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with a board composed of at least 10 percent people of color, excluding the executive director in the calculation. Boards must also have at least four unrelated members. The term "people of color" refers to individuals identified as African American, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, or any other non-white designation as per U.S. Census definitions. Geographic eligibility is restricted to the four-county area of Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, and Waukesha. The application process for this grant cycle opens on June 16, 2025, and closes on July 11, 2025. Organizations are encouraged to attend open office hours on June 13, 2025, at the Greater Milwaukee Foundation offices to engage directly with portfolio managers and clarify questions related to eligibility or application content. Following submission, proposals will be reviewed by the Community Investment Committee and finalized at a board meeting in September 2025. Each priority area under this grant cycle has its own focus and point of contact. For early childhood education, the grant supports efforts to expand access to affordable, high-quality care and to improve provider training and workforce retention. Contact Jeannie Fenceroy for questions in this area. In the mental health category, the Foundation is looking to invest in culturally responsive and community-led mental health strategies; Benjamin Porter is the contact for this area. Workforce development funding focuses on improving economic mobility through job creation and skill training, with Theresa Scott as the relevant program officer. The grant is not rolling but does recur annually. It is anticipated to reopen around June 2026, with the next internal planning check recommended by May 2026. Interested applicants can access the grant application through the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s portal and should ensure compliance with eligibility and funding guidelines before applying. For further questions, the Foundation can be contacted at 414.272.5805 or visited in person at 2153 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Suite 4000, Milwaukee, WI 53212.