Wisconsin Arts Grants

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations and government entities in Brown, Kewaunee, and Oconto counties to support innovative projects that address community needs in areas such as education, health, and the arts.

This funding opportunity supports small to mid-sized nonprofit organizations in Wisconsin to create arts projects that celebrate the United States' 250th anniversary in 2026.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in the Chicago Metropolitan Area that focus on education, healthcare, and human services, particularly for underserved children and communities.

This grant provides funding to U.S.-based non-profit organizations to support projects that promote Japanese arts and culture, particularly in areas with limited access to such events.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Brown, Door, Kewaunee, and Oconto counties, focusing on capacity-building efforts to enhance their sustainability and effectiveness, particularly for those led by people of color and serving older populations.

This grant provides financial support to not-for-profit organizations in Stevens Point for projects that boost tourism and increase overnight stays in the city.

The **Women’s Giving Circle (WGC)**, a fund of the **Eau Claire Community Foundation**, supports initiatives that enhance the lives of women and children in **Eau Claire County, Wisconsin**, through the power of collective philanthropy. By pooling the resources and generosity of local women, the WGC aims to create meaningful, lasting change in the community. Its grant program funds projects that directly address the needs, challenges, and opportunities facing women and children, fostering greater equity, empowerment, and well-being. For the **2025 grant cycle**, the Women’s Giving Circle will consider funding requests of up to **$7,000**, with a grant period running from **January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025**. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or those working with a qualified fiscal agent, as well as tax-exempt government, educational, and religious institutions. Projects must primarily benefit **women and/or children under 18 years old** and serve Eau Claire County residents. Applications should demonstrate cultural sensitivity and alignment with community needs, avoiding duplication of existing programs or services. The WGC places a strong emphasis on fairness, inclusion, and collaboration. Grants are not awarded to organizations that engage in discrimination based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected characteristics. Additionally, to ensure equitable distribution of funds, organizations funded in two consecutive years are ineligible to apply in the third year but may reapply in the fourth. Proposals should demonstrate how the initiative complements existing community efforts, fills an unmet need, and produces tangible outcomes for the intended beneficiaries. Certain requests will be evaluated **on a case-by-case basis**, including travel that supports project implementation and funding requests from other foundations or endowments. However, some types of funding are **not supported**, such as annual fundraising drives, capital campaigns, debt reduction, building funds, political activities, scholarly research, or religiously focused projects. The WGC also avoids grants for ongoing operational expenses or unrelated asset purchases, keeping its focus on direct-impact initiatives that create measurable improvements in the lives of local women and children. When reviewing applications, the Women’s Giving Circle prioritizes proposals that are clear, purposeful, and aligned with the applicant’s mission. Strong applications define a specific goal, outline how success will be measured, and demonstrate a lasting positive effect on the community. Through this program, the Women’s Giving Circle continues its mission of empowering women to be catalysts for change—investing in local solutions that nurture the health, education, and advancement of women and children throughout Eau Claire County.

The Community Foundation of Chippewa County in Wisconsin is offering grants ranging from $500 to $6,500 to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that benefit the communities of Chippewa County, with a focus on projects that promote arts, culture, community development, education, environment, animal welfare, health and human services, and demonstrate sustainability and strong volunteer involvement.

This award recognizes individuals in the Madison community who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and volunteerism in promoting peace and cooperation among diverse populations.

The City of Wausau in Wisconsin is accepting applications for its 2025 Community Development Block Grant, aimed at benefiting low/moderate income persons, preventing slums/blight, and addressing urgent needs, with a focus on affordable housing, public services, and public facilities, open to public or private non-profit agencies, public housing authorities, and government entities.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in the Milwaukee area for impactful projects that improve community well-being in areas such as arts, education, environment, health, and family support.

The Go Outside Fund by the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin offers grants between $100 and $500 to teachers and organizations in Wisconsin, aiming to facilitate outdoor, nature-based learning experiences for children aged pre-K to 12 by covering costs such as field supplies, transportation, and educator costs.

The Northland Community Foundation is offering grants ranging from $10,000 to $31,800 to nonprofit organizations, public sector agencies, and other entities in Clay and Platte counties, focusing on sustaining programs that improve the well-being of children, excluding individual needs, scholarships, capital campaigns, and several other categories.

The Janesville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (JACVB) is offering its Tourism Marketing Fund to support attractions and event organizers. The primary goal is to encourage visitors from outside Rock County, Wisconsin, to generate overnight hotel stays and provide a positive economic impact on the Janesville community. As an independent non-profit 501(c)(6) organization, the JACVB serves as Janesville’s Destination Marketing Organization, aligning its mission with fostering local economic growth through tourism. The grant targets non-profit organizations or those with strong demonstrated partnerships with non-profits. The beneficiaries are attractions and event organizers who aim to market to audiences outside of Rock County. The ultimate impact goal is to create overnight stays in Janesville, leading to a positive economic impact for a wider range of local businesses. The JACVB prioritizes applications that demonstrate potential for creating new or increased business for Janesville, encouraging self-supporting events, and aligning with the "Janesville, Wisconsin’s Great Outside" brand. Key focuses for qualifying projects include promoting special events, developing marketing materials (brochures, videos, website design, direct mail), advertising buys, social media campaigns, and conference and sporting event bidding fees. The JACVB will not fund organizations that discriminate, political entities, building/capital campaigns, organizations benefiting only a few, or requests for staffing/administrative/operational/supplies purposes. This strategic filtering ensures that the grants support initiatives directly contributing to tourism marketing and economic stimulation. Expected outcomes include an increase in out-of-county visitors, a rise in overnight hotel stays, and greater media exposure for Janesville events and promotions at the county, state, or regional level. Measurable results will likely be assessed through the number of overnight stays generated, the economic impact on local businesses, and the reach of marketing campaigns. The JACVB's theory of change posits that by investing in targeted tourism marketing, they can effectively draw visitors, thereby bolstering the local economy and enhancing Janesville's reputation as a destination. Strong consideration is given to proposals that include matching funds from the applicant, further amplifying the potential for a positive economic return.

This grant provides funding to organizations in Minnesota and Wisconsin for planning projects that improve water quality and watershed management through innovative methods, education, and outreach.

The St. Croix Valley Foundation is offering Music Education Grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 for K-12 schools in specified counties of Minnesota and Wisconsin, to enhance music education programs through funding materials, guest artists, community outreach, and collaborations, with a preference for hands-on activities over technological innovations.

The Crime Prevention Foundation aims to increase public awareness and provide financial assistance to crime prevention programs within Brown County, Wisconsin. Their mission is directly aligned with reducing crime by addressing its fundamental elements: desire, ability, and opportunity. This grant program specifically provides financial support to both existing crime prevention initiatives and the implementation of new programs, reinforcing the foundation's commitment to a safer community. The target beneficiaries of this grant are the residents of Brown County, as the programs funded are designed to improve public safety and prevent crime in the area. The impact goals are centered on fostering a community where the desire, ability, and opportunity for crime are significantly diminished. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed beyond "typically up to $3,000" in funding information, the overall expected outcome is a reduction in criminal activity and an enhanced sense of security for Brown County citizens. The foundation's strategic priorities are clearly outlined by the "Priorities" section, which identifies the three necessary elements for a crime to occur: desire, ability, and opportunity. This indicates a theory of change that by targeting and mitigating these three factors, crime can be effectively prevented. The funding information, typically up to $3,000, suggests a focus on supporting a broader range of smaller-scale, impactful programs rather than a few large initiatives. Eligibility criteria further define the foundation's strategic approach. Applicants must be nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) designation or governmental bodies operating in Brown County, and they must conduct business without discrimination. The foundation explicitly states what it does not fund, such as capital campaigns, religious activities, individuals, endowments, and lobbying, ensuring that resources are directed towards direct crime prevention efforts and not diverted to other causes. These exclusions highlight a focused strategy on tangible, community-based crime prevention programs rather than general fundraising or advocacy.

The Madison Community Foundation's Community Impact grants are designed to advance initiatives that create long-term positive impact on the community and the lives of its residents. This aligns with MCF's broader mission to strengthen innovative or high-performing nonprofits and invest in initiatives and natural and cultural assets that foster a thriving community. The grants are aimed at improving the quality of life for residents in greater Madison through five key focus areas: Arts & Culture, Community Development, Environment, Learning, and Organizational Capacity Building. The target beneficiaries of these grants are primarily residents and organizations within Dane County, Wisconsin. For example, Arts & Culture grants support Dane County's vibrant arts scene, while Community Development grants enhance quality of life by strengthening local assets and building community bonds. Learning grants support K-12 academic achievement and out-of-school programs, and Organizational Capacity Building grants aim to strengthen the infrastructure and long-term impact of Dane County nonprofits. The overarching impact goal is to create a more vibrant, equitable, and sustainable community. The program prioritizes initiatives that demonstrate a long-term impact on residents or physical environments in Dane County, with meaningful, reasonable, and measurable outcomes. Innovative approaches to community issues are encouraged, as are projects that strengthen community assets, build self-sufficiency, attract additional funding, and utilize partnerships or collaborations. The foundation's strategic priority is to support programs that are sustainable beyond the scope of the initial grant, fostering lasting change within the community. This indicates a theory of change that emphasizes empowering organizations and initiatives to create enduring positive effects. Grants are categorized into three broad types: Program Grants for new or expanding successful programs, Capital Grants for facility and land acquisition or renovation, and Endowment Challenge Grants to build capacity and sustainability by leveraging additional funds. Eligibility requires organizations to be public charities or governmental bodies (501(c)(3) exempt), located within Dane County (with an exception for endowment challenge grants if the fund resides at MCF), and to conduct business without discrimination. This ensures that the grants support a diverse range of impactful projects while adhering to strong ethical and operational standards.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and governmental bodies in select Wisconsin counties to improve health and prosperity in their communities.

The Platteville Community Fund, established in 2002 by the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, is a permanent, unrestricted charitable endowment dedicated to enhancing various aspects of community life in the Platteville area. Its mission aligns with supporting projects that enrich the arts, education, health and human services, the environment, and historic preservation. This broad focus allows the fund to address a diverse range of community needs and contribute to the overall well-being and cultural vibrancy of Platteville. Annually, a portion of the Fund's earnings is distributed back to the community in the form of grants. These grants target non-profit organizations, the local school district, and/or local government agencies that provide charitable programs or projects serving the community. The impact goals are centered on fostering community development and addressing specific concerns within Platteville, as evidenced by entities like the PHS Scholarship Fund, created in 2010, and the Platteville Excellence in Education Endowment Fund. The fund's strategic priorities include empowering local citizens to support charitable interests through various focused funds, as well as providing essential funding for the Platteville School District's educational needs not covered by the regular budget, exemplified by the EIE fund's inception in 2021. The theory of change suggests that by providing accessible grant funding and facilitating community-driven initiatives, the fund can significantly strengthen the social, cultural, and educational infrastructure of Platteville. The expected outcomes of these grants include improved access to arts and cultural programs, enhanced educational opportunities, better health and human services, a healthier environment, and preserved historical assets. While specific measurable results for all grant categories are not explicitly detailed in the provided information, the existence of funds like the EIE fund with an initial grant of over $30,000 indicates a commitment to substantial financial support and measurable educational impact within the school district. The advisory board, composed of volunteer citizens, plays a crucial role in initiating fundraising and determining grant awards, ensuring that resources are allocated effectively to achieve these community-focused goals.