Innovation Grants

United Way of Sheboygan County (UWSC) offers the Innovation Grants program to support local nonprofit agencies in launching or expanding innovative solutions that strengthen Sheboygan County. With a focus on flexibility and responsiveness, these grants are intended to fund ideas that address pressing challenges and support the foundational well-being of the community. UWSC, a longstanding community-focused organization, is committed to enabling nonprofits to meet essential needs by facilitating creative responses to dynamic local issues. The Innovation Grants are specifically designed to support projects that address urgent or unexpected needs, strengthen organizational capacity, or expand successful programs. For the 2026 grant cycle, funded activities must offer tangible support in areas including food security, housing stability, transportation, safety, healthcare access, financial literacy, childcare, and other essential services that contribute to the financial stability and well-being of Sheboygan County residents. Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations that can demonstrate how their proposal meets the defined criteria for innovation. The grant supports creative solutions to community needs, capacity-building efforts, and expansion or adaptation of existing programming. Proposals that simply sustain existing efforts without a growth or innovation component are not eligible. Additionally, projects for political or religious purposes, capital campaigns, debt reduction, fundraising, or direct individual benefit are excluded from consideration. The application process is structured in two phases. Applicants must first submit a complete online application by April 30, 2026. Paper submissions will not be accepted. The Community Action Team (CAT), comprised of local volunteers, will evaluate applications based on how well they address community needs. Selected applicants will be invited to a second-round review, which requires either a video submission or an in-person presentation. Up to 10 applicants will be invited to this second stage, which takes place the week of May 18, 2026. Specific presentation slots are offered on May 20, 21, and 22. Funding decisions will be finalized by the Community Action Team after the conclusion of second-round presentations. Awards will be distributed by the end of June 2026. Recipients must use all funds by June 2027 and will be required to submit a report detailing the impact of the funded project by that time. Grants range from $10,000 to $40,000, depending on the scope and scale of the proposed project. This funding opportunity is a one-time grant and does not recur annually. Therefore, interested applicants are encouraged to present their most impactful and innovative ideas. For additional details, potential applicants may contact United Way of Sheboygan County directly at 920-458-3425. All application materials, including a preview of the grant questions, are available online through the official UWSC application portal.