Wisconsin Infrastructure Grants

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 funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that can enhance access, equity, and inclusion for individuals with disabilities in workforce development programs across California.

The Greater Milwaukee Foundation offers grants to 501(c) (3) nonprofit organizations in the greater West Bend area, Wisconsin, prioritizing projects in arts and culture, education, family, youth, elderly, health and human services, community development, and historic preservation, with an application deadline of 10/07/2024.

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.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is seeking applications for its 2025 Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin Grants to strengthen Wisconsin’s agriculture and food industries by helping farms and businesses more efficiently process, market, and distribute locally grown food products. Donor Name: Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection State: Wisconsin County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/09/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 3 Years Details: Managed by DATC​P, the grants can help farms and business more efficiently process, market and distribute food in local markets including stores, schools and institutions. Keeping food dollars in Wisconsin communities supports local businesses, improves farm​ incomes, and creates jobs.​ Funding Information Grant requests must be between $5,000 and $50,000. Grant Period Projects can receive grant funds for up to three years. Eligibility Criteria Qualified applicants include individuals, groups, or businesses involved in Wisconsin production agriculture, food processing, food distribution, food warehousing, retail food establishments, or agricultural tourism operations. Funded projects must report on increased local food sales, created and retained jobs, and new investments. For more information, visit DATCP.

The Platteville Community Fund supports community projects that enhance the arts, education, health and human services, the environment, and historic preservation. Donor Name: Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/15/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Platteville Community Fund is a permanent, unrestricted, charitable endowment created in 2002 to serve the Platteville area. Annually a portion of the Fund’s earnings are given back to the community in the form of grants. The Platteville Community Fund also provides a means for individuals, organizations, and businesses to support their unique charitable community interests through funds that focus on specific concerns. The PHS Scholarship Fund, created by the Platteville Community Fund in 2010, is one such entity. A group of volunteer citizens makes up the Fund’s advisory board which initiates fundraising activities and determines grant awards. The Platteville Excellence in Education Endowment Fund supports the educational needs of the Platteville School District that are not funded through the regular school budget. The EIE fund was started in 2021 with a grant of more than $30,000 provided by the estate of Jane Howell, a mathematics teacher at Platteville Middle school for more than 30 years. Criteria The advisory board awards grant to non-profit organizations, the local school district, and/or local government agencies providing charitable programs or projects serving the community. For more information, visit CFSW.

The Urban Forestry Catastrophic Storm Grants is for tree repair, removal or replacement within urban areas following a catastrophic storm event for which the governor has declared a state of emergency under s. 323.10, Wis. Stats. Donor Name: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources State: Wisconsin County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/27/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: A catastrophic storm means damage to urban forests caused by snow, ice, hail, wind or tornado. Catastrophic storm does not include insect infestation or disease, forest fire, drought or water saturation due to flooding. Funding Information  Grants range from $4,000 to $50,000. Grant Period 1 Year. Eligible Costs Eligible costs are limited to damaged tree repair, removal or replacement within urban areas in the geographic area covered by the state of emergency and incurred as a direct result of the catastrophic storm event for which the governor has declared a state of emergency. Eligible costs are those necessary for—and consistent with—damaged tree repair, removal or replacement. Costs must be documented and reasonable. Eligible costs include regular wages and fringe benefits of people working directly on tree repair, removal or replacement (overtime costs are not eligible) and cost of services, supplies, equipment or facilities used for tree repair, removal or replacement. Costs reimbursed by another funding source (including federal disaster assistance or insurance) are not eligible. Eligibility Criteria Cities, villages, towns, counties, tribes and 501(c)(3) organizations that have experienced damage to an urban forest as a direct result of a catastrophic storm event for which the governor has declared a state of emergency are eligible to apply for an urban forestry catastrophic storm grant. Private property owners are not eligible for this funding. Urban forest damage must have occurred in an area with a minimum of 100 residents per square mile. Residential density is determined from statistics provided by the Wisconsin Demographic Services Center [exit DNR] according to U.S. Census Bureau data. For more information, visit Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is offering Regular Urban Forestry Grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 to cities, villages, towns, counties, tribes, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Wisconsin for projects that enhance community tree management, maintenance, or education, including tree inventory, urban forestry plans, pest response, public outreach, and tree planting.

The Water-Right Charitable Fund, managed by the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, offers grants between $1000 to $10,000 to 501(c)(3) public charities in Wisconsin, particularly those serving the Fox Valley Region, to support projects addressing basic needs, environmental needs, and education.

The Madison Area Sports Commission (MASC) is accepting applications for its Youth Grant Program to provide financial assistance that serves youth in need, connecting them to sports activities that can provide lifelong enjoyment and health benefits. Donor Name: Madison Area Sports Commission (MASC) State: Wisconsin County: Dane County (WI) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Madison Area Sports Commission (MASC) youth grant program is a program developed, administered, and funded by the MASC. Designed to serve the youth of Dane County, Wisconsin, the grant program was established following the creation of the MASC with contributions made from the Ironman Community Foundation, individuals, corporations and annual community fundraisers. The MASC youth grant program strives to assist children in developing healthy lifestyles by introducing them to sports that meet their interests and abilities. Healthy lifestyles help to combat childhood obesity, create positive and emotional connections, and to instill commitment and daily structure to their lives. Eligibility Grants will be made to an organization (or to an organization on behalf of individuals), and not to individuals. Grant recipients and recipient organizations must reside in and serve Dane County youth ages 17 and under. Grants will be made only to organizations with open, non-restrictive membership available to all, regardless of race, creed, sexual orientation, religious belief, or nationality. Gender-specific activities will be considered. Criteria The child or children to be served by the grant are ages 17 and under, residents of Dane County and from a population that is underserved by current sports programs. A mutual commitment between the sports program and the individuals it serves that extends beyond the term of the grant proposal. Consideration will be given to the broad scope of sports, including so-called “minor” sports and sports for individual competition, as well as more traditional team sports. The key is not the sport, but aligning individuals with a sport that is consistent with their interests and abilities, as well as the quality of the sports program and opportunity. The number and overall reach of people the grant application will be impacting. Whether the efforts of the proposed grant being duplicated among or supported by other community resources. Whether the sports program will grow and maintain quality as a result of participation. Transportation requests (for youth to qualified programs) will be considered. Capital construction requests will be considered under special conditions i.e. when a special need can be established, part of the funding is a matching grant or other devices will supplement the grant, the project can be completed within a reasonable time frame (12 months). It is highly recommended that the applicant closes out any open or previous grant awards through MASC before re-applying for additional funding. MASC reserves the right to turn down or forward applications to a future grant cycle or wait until all accounts have been paid out completely before considering any additional applications. Additional Requirements The applicant must fill out the grant paperwork and be willing to fill out a follow up report. The applicant must be willing to be included or mentioned in promotional work including website, public relations, etc. When a grant is awarded, the MASC Youth Grant Program recognizes that the award provides opportunities for benefits to both parties. The Program reserves the right to expect the following. Acknowledgement in publicity by grantee of MASC donation and association through various media, press releases, social media posts press conferences, publicity, photos, etc. Acknowledgement in publicity within the membership of the grantee organization. Acknowledgement and presence on each other’s respective websites where appropriate. Logos will be provided upon request. The applicant must submit two (2) references in support of the organization and/or programs. For more information, visit MASC.

Are you aged 15 to 24 years old? Want to make a difference in the La Crosse community? Are you ready to act on climate change and help the environment? If yes, then apply for the Youth Climate Action Fund (YCAF) Micro-Grant Program. Donor Name: City of La Crosse State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/24/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The goal of the YCAF is to activate youth-led initiatives and address urgent climate challenges in La Crosse. All projects must fit within the strategies of the City’s Climate Action Plan. These ideas may include Youth-led awareness, education, research, and development initiatives, including youth-led climate education programs, youth climate hackathons; youth-developed climate surveys and research youth-informed clubs or curriculum; and youth-designed public art and awareness campaigns. Youth-driven climate mitigation and adaptation projects, including youth-led community gardening, tree planting, reforestation, and urban farming campaigns; youth-managed recycling and waste reduction programs; and youth-produced climate resilience workshops and disaster preparedness programs. Co-governed youth climate action plans, including partnerships between city leaders and youth groups to inform climate-related policy ideas, decisions, actions, or the formation of youth climate ambassadors or advisory boards. This program can fund any youth-led (15-24 years of age) project that is focused on sustainability and climate change that directly benefits La Crosse. Example projects can include school community gardens, waste collection programs, road/waterway cleanups, renewable energy projects, tree plantings, energy efficiency projects, sustainable transportation projects, murals, etc. Additionally, projects could also include hosting events or organizing online or in-person activities Funding Information Grants ranging from $1,000 – $5,000. Eligibility Criteria Open to applicants between the ages of 15-24 years old who reside in, or whose initiatives directly benefit, the city of La Crosse. If youth-led groups are not incorporated entities, they may partner with one that serves as the micro-grant recipient and fund administrator.  Entities must have a formal incorporation or status of some kind (not necessarily an NGO or charity), a bank account in its name, and an ability to manage the funds. For more information, visit City of La Crosse.

The Oshkosh Area United Way is seeking applications for its 2025 Community Investment Grant. Donor Name: Oshkosh Area United Way State: Wisconsin County: Winnebago County (WI) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 06/28/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Each year, the Community Investment Application is available to organizations in Southern Winnebago County that offer programming in the following focus areas: Youth-Focused Education: Providing access to high-quality childcare and education is one of the smartest investments they can make. OAUW funds programs that give parents and children tools for early childhood development and overall school and career readiness. Mental Health: In the Oshkosh area, there is a need to support mental health that grows every day. OAUW funds programs that connect residents to health and human services, and healing and crisis intervention. Financial Stability: Oshkosh Area United Way supports efforts to create stable, self-sufficient households. OAUW do this by supporting programs that improve skills for gainful employment, reduce transportation barriers, and offer basic needs like food and shelter. Eligibility Criteria  OAUW will consider funding for organizations that: Provide programs supporting youth-focused education, access to mental health, and financial stability. Demonstrate their program’s benefit to local residents, whether the service is an independent agency or part of a national group.  Measure and track positive results clients and consumers achieve with the services provided by the agency. Nonprofit organizations the IRS recognizes as 501(c)3, or have a similar tax exemption, such as a school district or unit of county or local government. Maintain records and monitor the use of United Way funds. Are in compliance with anti-terrorist funding in accordance with the USA PATRIOT Act. Organizations that welcome diversity in the selection of board and staff and practice non-discrimination in the delivery of services. Programs that support residents in at least one of these zip codes: 54901, 54902, 54903, 54904, 54906, 54927, 54963, 54964, 54980, 54985, 54986. OAUW will NOT consider funding for: Individuals. Religious organizations if their activities serve only members or promote a particular religion or denomination. Lobbying efforts meant to influence legislation. Direct support for travel by individuals or groups unless it is a critical component of an eligible program, such as transportation for the elderly and disabled. Advertising other than that which makes the public aware of available services. Endowment or capital campaigns. Athletic associations or teams. Fundraising, testimonial events or dinners and related activities like silent auctions, raffles, or telethons. For more information, visit OAUW.

This funding opportunity provides up to $4,000 to nonprofit organizations in Wisconsin that promote community engagement and cultural sharing through public humanities programs.

The City of Milwaukee has launched a new round of grant funding for 2024 focusing on healthy food access in the communities. Donor Name: City of Milwaukee State: Wisconsin City: Milwaukee Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/27/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Fresh Food Access Fund (FFAF) provides financial support to activities that increase fresh food access in underserved communities. Goals The Milwaukee Fresh Food Access Fund (FFAF) aims to financially support activities that increase the access of underserved communities to healthy food choices, partner with community organizations, businesses, and other government entities with a fresh food component, and address the issues identified in the Milwaukee Fresh Food Access Report. Funding Information Grant applicants are required to provide a full budget for the proposed project, identifying the sources and uses of all funds. FFAF grants can cover up to 50% of the cash expenditure required to implement a project, up to a maximum of $25,000. Awards of less than $5,000 may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Eligible uses of Fresh Food Access Fund grants FFAF grants may only be used for capital expenditures related to the establishment, expansion, or improvement of a food-related business that increases access to fresh, healthy food for underserved residents. For example, the following could be considered eligible uses: Purchase of equipment to store and/or prepare healthy food Purchase of furniture, fixtures, and start-up inventory for a healthy food business Build-out of space to house or expand a food retail or production operation Purchase of vehicles to transport healthy food Improvements to the exterior and signage of a fresh food retail operation Construction or equipment activities related to community gardens Soft costs that are specifically necessary to carry out another eligible use of funds. Eligible Projects  The FFAF provides 1:1 matching grants to projects that advance one or more of the following strategies: Attract grocery stores and mobile market stops to underserved neighborhoods Develop other retail outlets in underserved neighborhoods as sources of fresh foods Increase the stock of fresh foods in corner stores Increase the amount of locally grown food that is available to Milwaukee consumers Meet the fresh food needs of populations with special dietary requirements Improve transportation to grocery stores and farmer’s markets for individuals who live in underserved areas. Eligibility Criteria  Applications will be accepted from not-for-profit organizations with current 501(c)3 registration with the US Internal Revenue Service, and for-profit businesses. Other types of entities may be considered on a case-by-case basis. For more information, visit City of Milwaukee.

The United Way of Jefferson & North Walworth Counties is seeking applications for its 2024 Pillar Grant Program. Donor Name: United Way of Jefferson & North Walworth Counties State: Wisconsin County: Jefferson County (WI), Walworth County (WI) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/20/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Purposes for which Pillar Grants may be requested: Proposals must be aimed at improving early intervention care, mental health/AODA treatment, barriers to self-sufficiency, or diversity/equity/inclusion within the communities served by United Way of Jefferson & North Walworth Counties (Jefferson County & the City of Whitewater). Proposals should be creative, innovative, address community needs and provide a strong, positive impact in the communities served. Projects/programs are expected to be accomplished (or started, if related to an ongoing program) within a specific period of time, generally not more than one year. Eligibility Criteria Applicants may be a part of an organization, local business, community club or individuals. The applicants and proposed project must be serving a public purpose and must align with United Way’s mission to fight for the health, education and financial stability of every person in our communities. Applicants do NOT need to be affiliated with a 501(c)3 organization. Applicants must be focused on work that aligns with United Way’s strategic plan, specifically projects and/or programs that address early intervention care, mental health/alcohol & other drug addiction (AODA) treatment, barriers to self-sufficiency, and/or diversity, equity & inclusion. For more information, visit UWJNWC.