2027 Innovation and Impact Grants Program

2027 Innovation and Impact Grants Program

Overview: Donate Life Wisconsin (DLW) supports its mission through the Innovation and Impact Grants Program, which provides annual funding to support projects focused on organ, tissue, and eye donation and transplantation.

Geographic Scope: Wisconsin (multi-state organizations must limit funding to Wisconsin activities)

Project Focus Areas - Applicants may propose projects in any one or more of the following categories:

Public Awareness

• Increase public awareness in specific groups (e.g., male, female, populations more highly impacted by transplantation) or settings (e.g., community, workplace, schools)
• Address myths and misgivings around registry sign-up

Donor Availability

• Research or pilot projects to increase organ, tissue, and eye donor registry sign-up
• Projects to increase organ, tissue, and eye donor availability

Professional Education

• Collaborative training or continuing education to impact organ, tissue, and eye donation or donor registry sign-up

Primary Project Goals:

Increasing organ, tissue, and eye donor registry sign-up

Increasing the number of donated organs/tissues available for transplantation

Priority Population Data (2025):

Age Demographics: Less than 55% enrollment in 20-24 year old and 64+ year old age categories

Race/Ethnicity Demographics: Less than 30% enrollment among African American or Asian populations

Sex Demographics: Only 52.3% of men register as organ donors compared to 59.0% of women

Contact dhsdonorregistry@dhs.wisconsin.gov to discuss priority populations in your geographic area

Award Amount: $10,000 - $50,000 per project (requests outside this range will not be considered)

Eligibility:

Must be a 501(c)(3) exempt organization

Must be able to provide proof of charitable status in Wisconsin (if applicable)

Must be able to submit audited financial statement at conclusion of grant, if requested by DLW

Collaborative projects welcome; at least one organization must meet eligible organization criteria

Organizations providing services in multiple states must limit DLW funding to Wisconsin activities

Individuals are NOT eligible to receive grants

No limit to number of projects an eligible organization may submit

What They Fund:

Office supplies

Postage

Copying and printing

Contract, consultant, or staff time to implement project

Speaker-related expenses (honorarium, airfare, hotel, meals)

Indirect costs up to 10% of total direct costs

Events or trainings (cannot be specific to one recovery organization and immediate partners)

What They Do NOT Fund:

Costs or activities not directly related to project implementation

Event participant food, beverages (including alcohol), hotel rooms, or entertainment

Clinical care or costs associated with treatment or direct care

Direct or indirect lobbying activities or legal fees

Financial gifts (scholarships, aid, gift cards)

Expenses billed to/reimbursed from federal/state agencies or other entities (e.g., CMS)

Project Timeline:

All projects must be completed between January 1 and December 31, 2027 (no exceptions)

Organizations must have ability to begin project on or shortly after January 1, with or without signed agreement

Reporting Requirements:

Monthly reports on project progress, learnings, and expense reimbursement requests

Monthly financial reports with detailed use of grant funds and receipts documenting expenses

Possible audited financial statement at project conclusion

Contact: chuber@donatelifewisconsin.org