Wisconsin Grants

This program provides financial support to destinations for hosting regional and national meetings or conventions, helping cover facility rental and transportation costs to boost local economies.

This program provides financial support to nonprofit tourism organizations, municipalities, and Native American tribes to help operate regional tourist information centers that promote statewide travel opportunities.

The Tourist Information Center (TIC) Grant Program supports nonprofit tourism organizations, municipalities, and Native American tribes that operate regional tourist information centers. This program provides financial assistance of up to $15,000 per organization per year, covering up to 50% of eligible expenses. Eligible expenses include staffing costs for the TIC, promotional materials, and standard display equipment like racks or shelving. The program emphasizes the importance of centers being accessible, staffed during high traffic times, including weekends, and equipped with knowledgeable staff who can provide reliable information about statewide travel opportunities. To apply, organizations must provide operation hours/dates, a listing of available publications, receipted vouchers, and a payroll register. Application deadline is July 1, covering expenses incurred in the preceding six months. Grant renewed every year. Grant Annual Summer deadline: July 1st

The 2025 Creation and Presentation Program (CPP) Grants are multi-year financial aids provided by the Wisconsin Arts Board to established nonprofit arts organizations in Wisconsin, aiming to enhance the state's cultural life by supporting their operations and artistic programs that demonstrate strong management, high artistic quality, and significant local, regional, or statewide impact.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for specialized training programs aimed at enhancing the skills and competencies of certified law enforcement officers in Wisconsin.

We support projects that provide education and information, build self-esteem, support solutions for critical issues, and are research-based and data-driven. COMMUNITY GRANTS IMPORTANT APPLICANT INFORMATION Grant due dates are the fourth Monday in March and the fourth Monday in September To apply, complete the Common Grant Application Form and Addendum W. Applicants should expect to be notified of the decision within 5 - 7 weeks of the application due date. All grantees are required to submit a Final Report at the completion of the project. Each charity is limited to one application per Community Grant cycle. However, charities may submit applications in successive grant cycles or to the other granting programs of the Community Foundation that might be open at the same time. Please Note: Addendum W - Priorities and Special Considerations Consistent with the mission of the Women’s Fund of Door County, priority will be given to projects that address the needs of women and girls as they provide education and information, build self-esteem and dignity, support solutions for critical issues, and provide solutions based on research and data. Please include specific data on the women and girls served through this project when possible. Additional special consideration may be given to projects that address one or more of the following areas: prioritize women and girls support those with fewer opportunities by removing barriers are inclusive and engage diverse populations are innovative and offer a new or unique approach to addressing women’s issues provide education and results in long-lasting impact. GENERAL GUIDELINES There is no minimum or maximum grant amount, but we anticipate awarding multiple grants during each Community Grant cycle typically averaging $5,000. The following activities do not qualify for a Community Grant: Retiring debt or budget deficits Loans or re-granting programs Multi-year commitments (charities may reapply in future cycles for the same program) Activities that advance a particular religious belief (religious organizations should contact the Commnity Foundation to discuss specific project ideas before applying) Individuals or groups that are not qualified public charities or units of government The Women’s Fund generally does not make grants to pay for activities that occur prior to the awarding of a Community Grant. Fundraising expenses, capital campaigns, and grants to an endowment are generally not supported by Community Grants unless the applicant can articulate special circumstances which make their request particularly important. SUBMIT THE APPLICATION The Chief Executive of your organization must review the entire Application Packet and sign the Application Form for consideration. (We will accept the typed name and email address of the Chief Executive as an “electronic signature” if the Application Packet is submitted by email. However, please note that if it is not an original signature, we may contact the Chief Executive listed on the form to confirm their electronic signature.) Once signed, please submit your completed Common Grant Application Form, and any other required supporting materials, to [email protected], by the application due date. You should receive an email confirmation within 3 business days of our receipt of your application. If you do not receive this confirmation within 3 business days, please call (920) 746-1786 to confirm that we received your application materials. Please contact the Community Foundation if you have any questions about the grant application process or would like to discuss your idea prior to the submission of your application. Grant renewed every year. Grant annual Spring deadline: Fourth Monday in March

This program provides funding to businesses and organizations for projects and events that improve tourism and community experiences in the Plover Area, with a focus on attracting overnight visitors.

This funding opportunity supports non-profit organizations in Milwaukee to preserve and restore public art, enhancing the city's cultural heritage and community vibrancy.

Local units of government (LUGs) are eligible applications for four Stewardship grant programs and two related federal programs administered by DNR. Applications must be received or postmarked by 11:59 pm on May 1 to be considered. Per s. 990.001(4)(c), Wis. Stats., if any grant application deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or State Holiday, the deadline is moved to the next State working day.

The program offers assistance to targeted economic driver industries culminating over time in the development, diversification, competitiveness and growth in sectors that provide sustained high quality jobs, continued innovation and increase in GDP in Wisconsin. Applicants must be actively engaged in distinct industry or sector development or engaged in efforts to enhance cross-industry competitiveness, such as workforce development, market development, new investments, business attraction and acquisition of specialized competitive assets or facilities. These investments are generally intended to support strategic industry initiatives and investments, develop shared-use infrastructure, help fund industry-related pilot projects, expand successful initiatives, increase geographic reach or allow for expansion of consortia efforts.

Environmental Cleanup & Brownfields Redevelopment. The RR Program accepts applications for traditional petroleum grants and loans year-round. There is no application deadline. We recommend that anyone interested in applying for funding first discuss your project with DNR staff. Please contact Gena Larson to discuss your project. In order to be eligible for funding, a site must meet the following criteria. The site must meet the federal definition of an eligible brownfield, which is "real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant." The site or costs must be ineligible for the Petroleum Environmental Cleanup Fund Award (PECFA) reimbursement. The grant or loan recipient must not have contributed to contamination, and there are no persons responsible for the contamination that are both subject to an environmental enforcement action and able to pay for the cleanup. There must be no federal enforcement action under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), obligation under the federal Oil Pollution Act (OPA), or use of federal leaking underground storage tank (LUST) funds at the site. The DNR can help make this determination.

The EMG program provides early-stage technology-based companies with services and funding to support their efforts in obtaining significant federal grant funding. Additionally, Business Planning services rendered by the Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) increase the entrepreneurial proficiency of state entrepreneurs and small business owners. WEDC provides funding to the Center for Technology Commercialization (CTC) to deliver microgrants to clients for the services below: • Small Business lnnovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Assistance program, providing up to $4,500 for assistance to prepare and submit an SBIR/STTR or other federal funding proposal. Applicants awarded federal funding may receive an additional $1,000 funding bonus through the program. • Commercialization Planning Assistance, providing individual and small business applicants up to $4,500 for assistance in completing business validation activities and a comprehensive market study or business plan or commercialization plan to procure Phase ll SBIR/STTR funding or to prepare for angel or venture capital funding. Applicants must utilize an eligible professional services provider. • Entrepreneurial Training Program, providing a grant of up to $750 to entrepreneurs upon successful completion of start-up coursework provided by the SBDC in the University of Wisconsin-System. Eligible applicants must provide at least a $250 match. Eligible coursework may focus on either business modeling or business planning.

This funding opportunity supports Wisconsin businesses in certain industries by covering up to 75% of the costs for hiring an independent expert to develop a comprehensive business or commercialization plan, particularly for those seeking a Phase II SBIR/STTR grant.

Recreational boating facility projects. Past projects have included ramps and service docks to gain access to the water, purchase of aquatic weed harvesting equipment, navigation aids and dredging waterway channels. These grants may be used by counties, towns, cities, villages, tribes, sanitary districts, public inland lake protection and rehabilitation districts and qualified lake associations for recreational boating facility projects. FOR GRANT REQUESTS IN EXCESS OF $250,000: Applications for RBF grants exceeding $250,000 are encouraged to be submitted to your regional DNR grants specialists in time for the June 1st, or September 1st, application deadlines. These larger grant requests take extra processing time and therefore are highly recommended for earlier evaluation, in the first two quarters of the fiscal year. Contact your regional DNR grants specialist as soon as possible, if you have a larger project and you are planning to apply for a RBF grant. DNR grants specialists can help with scheduling and grant processing.

The Wisconsin Assessment Monies (WAM) program provides funding to address brownfields sites where contamination impedes economic redevelopment. Administered by the DNR's Remediation and Redevelopment Program, it offers contractor services awards for Phase I and Phase II assessments and community-managed subgrants. Eligible applicants include local governments, tribes, and private entities. Properties must meet the federal definition of a brownfield. Ineligible sites include those with responsible party contamination, on the National Priorities List, or subject to certain regulatory orders. Application involves demonstrating eligibility, completing required forms, and submitting materials to Gena Larson. If awarded, the DNR provides support throughout the assessment project. Contact Gena Larson for more information.

The Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Program aims to construct, renovate, and maintain facilities for transient recreational vessels at least 26 feet long. Funding is available at both state and national levels, with applications due annually by June 1. Eligible activities include various infrastructure projects, informational materials specific to BIG, but exclude certain activities like law enforcement support or land acquisition. Grants require a minimum 25% matching funds, with the federal share not exceeding 75% of total costs. Contact the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for more information.

The surface water grant program provides cost sharing grants for surface water protection and restoration. Funding is available for education, ecological assessments, planning, implementation, and aquatic invasive species prevention and control. With many different projects eligible for grant funding, you can support surface water management at any stage: from organization capacity development to project implementation.

The Ready for Reuse program will only be funding sites that are READY to begin cleanup activities, and have enough secured funding to finish the cleanup. The RR Program accepts applications for traditional hazardous substance grants and loans year-round. There is no application deadline. We recommend that anyone interested in applying for funding first discuss your project with DNR staff. Please contact Gena Larson to discuss your project. Loan and grant funds can be used for eligible costs incurred during the grant or loan agreement period for cleanup of contamination from hazardous substances or hazardous substances commingled with petroleum.

The Dam Removal Grant Program provides reimbursement for 100 percent of eligible project costs up to a maximum of $50,000 for any owner who wishes to remove a dam. Applications are accepted on a continual basis. Awards are made on a first come first served basis until all of the funding is obligated. Applications are accepted continually. To be considered for funding, applications must be complete and meet basic eligibility criteria. Funding decisions will be made on a first-come, first-served basis based on the application receipt date.

In 2007, the Wisconsin Legislature made changes to the Knowles Nelson Stewardship program (s. 23.0953, Wis. Stats.) allowing counties with lands entered under the County Forest Program (s. 28.11, Wis. Stats. [exit DNR]) to compete for land acquisition funding under Stewardship. Grant applications are evaluated jointly by a ranking panel consisting of staff from DNR Forestry and the Wisconsin County Forests Association (WCFA) and selected for funding based on ranking criteria and priorities set forth in s. NR 51.960, Wis. Adm. Code [exit DNR]. Eligible Projects Fee simple acquisition of lands that meet the requirements for entry into County Forest as stipulated in s. 28.11(4), Wis. Stats. The following must be true for a parcel to be eligible for grant funding. The county must have land entered into county forest law pursuant to s. 28.11 Stats. The county must enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with DNR for land acquisition through Stewardship fund. The property must be free of restrictions or covenants preventing the property from being managed for the purposes set forth in s. 28.11(1) Stats. The property cannot have been purchased more than one year prior to the date DNR receives the grant application. The current use of the property must be something other than a licensed game farm, fur farm, deer farm, shooting preserve, forest nursery or experimental station. The property must be free of commercial or industrial uses inconsistent with the purposes of the county forest law under s. 28.11(1), Stats. The property must be free of perpetual easements for uses inconsistent with the purposes of the county forest law set forth in s. 28.11(1), Stats. The county must have a real estate offer to purchase or a letter of intent signed by the seller for the parcel to be acquired.