Cudahy Fund: General Community Grants

The Cudahy Fund offers general community grants focusing on social services, health, education, environment, and arts for under-resourced populations in Metropolitan Chicago and Wisconsin. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. The fund aims to support initiatives that enhance community well-being, providing safety nets for marginalized groups and promoting access to quality education and cultural experiences. This fund does not support individual grants or projects outside its geographic focus.

NOTE: LOI's are accepted year-round on a rolling basis; however, to guarantee that an LOI is received with enough time to be reviewed at the next meeting on the calendar, send it at least 3 months before the proposal due date for that meeting .
Social Services
Services that provide safety nets and supports for under-resourced, low-income communities. This includes programs that assist homeless or almost homeless people with immediate needs and/or future success; programs that provide help for marginalized communities such as veterans or people exiting the prison system; shelter/housing; food/anti-hunger programs; and employment programs.
Health and Human Services
Support for programs that provide subsidized, low cost or free healthcare for the uninsured and under-insured of all ages; access to mental health; access to low or free-cost dental services; healthcare outreach programs; assistance for disabled individuals or other populations with specific challenges; and services for the elderly.
Education
Funding for exceptional early childhood, school age, high school, and college programs; after school programs; adult continuing education; and educational opportunities for adults who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Our funding often goes toward scholarship programs so that low-income communities have access to the same high quality programs as their peers.
Art and Culture
Most grants are designated for arts/culture access for under-privilaged populations such as subsidized entry to museums or other cultural sites or events.

Eligibility

Applicants must be 501(c)3 tax-exempt nonprofit organizations.Our geographic focus is in Metropolitan Chicago and throughout the state of Wisconsin.

Ineligibility

The fund does not support:Organizations and projects primarily serving a local constituency outside of Wisconsin and the Chicago metropolitan area except for discretionary grants and special circumstancesOrganizations outside of the United States not represented by a United States 501(c)3 organization (nor do we accept LOI's for programs outside our geographic focus)Grants to individualsLoans or endowmentsCapital campaignsEvent sponsorships