Community Impact Grant Level One: Engage - Community Lead Organization

Community Impact Grant Level One: Engage - Community Lead Organization

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: University of Wisconsin - Madison
Amount: Up to US $250,000
Last Updated: March 22, 2026

Summary

The Community Impact Grant Level One: Engage aims to enhance health equity in Wisconsin by supporting community partnerships that address social determinants of health. Open to Wisconsin-based organizations with less than $1 million in annual expenses, grants of up to $250,000 are available for three years. The program fosters collaboration among community leaders and aims to evaluate the impact of initiatives addressing health inequities, ensuring sustainable improvements in health outcomes for diverse populations.

Overview

Notes: Now Open! Applicants may submit a Letter of Intent at any time. The Opportunity Grant Program has a three-stage submission and review process.In the cycle, the Letter of Inquiry refers to the Letter of Intent which is open to all and can be sent any time. The Pre-proposal refers to the Full Application which is required if invited. The Full proposal refers to the Finalist Video Presentations which is through an invitation as well. Community Impact Grant Level One: Engage Goal and Description Social determinants of health — economic stability, social and community context, access to health services and healthcare, neighborhoods and the built environment and education — have a strong and scientifically proven impact on human health and well-being. The structures, policies, systems and environments that guide individual’s daily lives shape these determinants and thereby enhance or impede health. As such, many of the complex health issues are rooted in structural inequities that affect the health status of disproportionately affected populations. Through the Community Impact Grant Program, the Wisconsin Partnership Program’s Oversight and Advisory Committee (OAC) supports evidence-informed, community partnership initiatives that address the social determinants of health to advance health equity in Wisconsin’s urban, rural and tribal communities. These partnerships require substantial and authentic community leadership to make progress toward sustainability and a commitment to evaluation supported by the WPP evaluation team (see technical assistance), academic partner or evaluation consultant as applicable. Proposals must address health inequities and their root causes and be informed and implemented by those who are most affected by these inequities. In addition, proposals should focus on the services being delivered and the personnel providing those services. Community partnerships strengthen our ability to successfully address and influence health and advance health equity. Funding Scope and Duration The Community Impact Grant Level One: Engage awards are designed for small to medium-sized organizations with annual expenses less than $1,000,000. An academic partner is not required, although an existing partnership or goal of academic partnership development during the grant period should be described in the proposal. Awards are for up to $250,000 for up to three years. There are no renewals allowed at the end of the initial award; however, organizations may apply for a new award during the annual competitive application process of their final year. The OAC anticipates allocating up to five Level One: Engage awards during this grant cycle depending on the availability of funds. In addition to the funding through this grant, the Partnership Program offers a Learning Collaborative that provides in-person and virtual learning and networking opportunities for grant recipients alongside their academic and community partners to maximize the impact of collective efforts to address health and health equity and to optimize sustained success. Participants learn from, engage and problem-solve with each other as each grantee team works toward systems and structural changes for health equity. We believe that experiencing this work together — and looking for mutually beneficial opportunities — will increase the ultimate success and sustainability of these grants.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Community Lead Organization A Community Lead Organization is required and must be a Wisconsin-based organization within one or more of these categories:Nonprofit, IRS tax exempt, 501(c)(3) organizationNonprofit, IRS tax exempt, 501(c)(6) organizationNonprofit or public 4K-12 school or districtTribal, state or local government entityThe Community Lead Organization is responsible and accountable for leading and advancing the project as specified in the Memorandum of Understanding. A named employee from the Community Lead Organization must serve in a project specific, non-administrative role and must commit at least 10 percent annualized FTE directly to the project.The Community Lead Organization must have the fiscal and administrative capacity to oversee and manage the project.Community Lead Organizations must have annual expenses less than $1,000,000 and are required to provide a copy of their audited, reviewed or compiled financial statements, or a Form 990, issued less than 24 months prior to the Letter of Intent deadline.Community Lead Organizations are only eligible to apply once per Community Impact Grant cycle.Allowable and Unallowable ExpensesFunds must be used for project-related costs. These may include:Personnel expenses (i.e., salaries and benefits)Salary support for academic partners (if applicable)Consultant and contract services (e.g., training)TravelOffice supplies and participant incentives directly related to the scope of workServices that are not otherwise available or reimbursable

Ineligibility

Please note, the Wisconsin Partnership Program does not allow its funds to be used for lobbying activities and does not allow recipient organizations to regrant funds. Organizations serving as fiscal sponsors for an implementing organization will not be allowed. A fiscal agent/sponsor is defined as an organization which meets at least one of three criteria:Lends credibility of its 501(c)3 or nonprofit status and/or organization capacity to a smaller project partner or a for profit entityPerforms administrative functions for a project, typically for a feeProvides little to no programmatic oversight of the project and acts primarily as a passthroughCommunity Lead Organizations with a Community Impact Grant award that is active beyond June 30, 2026, are not eligible to apply. A Community Lead Organization is ineligible to apply if they have had a grant terminated by WPP in the past 48 months or have received a formal notice of suspension from WPP in the past 48 months.Funds may not be used for:Patient care with the sole purpose of providing clinical services related to treatment or follow-up for specific health conditions, such as funded or reimbursable clinical servicesGeneral overhead expenses (i.e., general administrative support, office space and cost-allocations for expenses not directly related to the project)GrantmakingLobbying (see terms and conditions)Pre-award or proposal costsCapital expenditures costing $5,000 or more with a useful life of one year or more; exceptions may be made for capital expenditures if such equipment is crucial to the primary objectives of the project; Wisconsin Partnership Program pre-approval is requiredProjects outside the state of Wisconsin