Funding Amount

Varies

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Grant Type

Foundation

Can we apply?

Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.

Eligible organizations

  • Organizations that provide programs/projects that support Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties.

Required status

  • 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
  • An organization that is not a 501c3 may be eligible to apply if it is able to secure a fiscal sponsor agreement with an otherwise eligible organization.
  • View our fiscal sponsor agreement for more information.

Other requirements

  • Eligible nonprofits must have board membership that is at least 10 percent people of color.
  • The term “people of color” refers to African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans and all other persons who are not categorized as white.
  • Type of funding available:Project support
  • General operating support

Not eligible / not funded

  • Not eligible: Individuals
  • Not eligible: For-profit organizations
  • Not eligible: Partisan activities
  • Not eligible: Debt reduction or agency endowments
  • Not eligible: Sectarian organizations for religious purposesFor-profit organizations
  • Not eligible: Partisan political activities

Overview

The Greater Milwaukee Foundation Grant Cycle 1 supports projects and programs that align with priorities for creating a Milwaukee for all. Funding is available for arts, basic needs, housing, and physical health initiatives. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations and governmental agencies, with specific requirements for board diversity. The foundation does not fund individuals, for-profit organizations, or partisan activities. The grant cycle accepts one application per organization.

NOTE: Here are the pages for Cycle 3, Cycle 2 - Project Support, Cycle 2 - General Operating Support and Cycle 2 - Capital Support.
The Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s discretionary grantmaking supports projects and programs that align with priorities that support our strategic vision of creating a Milwaukee for all.
Funding Priorities
Arts and Culture – Visual, performing, and multidisciplinary arts, and arts educationBasic Needs – Food access and distribution and temporary shelter supportHousing – Quality affordable housing, pathways to homeownership, and eviction preventionPhysical Health – Access to affordable, culturally responsive integrative care that fulfills unmet health needs.

Eligibility

Who may apply: 501(c)(3) organizations and, on occasion, governmental agencies An organization that is not a 501c3 may be eligible to apply if it is able to secure a fiscal sponsor agreement with an otherwise eligible organization. Eligible nonprofits must have board membership that is at least 10 percent people of color. The term “people of color” refers to African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans and all other persons who are not categorized as white. Organizations that provide programs/projects that support Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties.Type of funding available:Project support General operating support Capital supportFor the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s grant cycles, we only accept one application per organization per grant cycle.

Ineligibility

Debt reduction or agency endowments Sectarian organizations for religious purposesFor-profit organizations

What Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc actually gave

Source: IRS Form 990, 2024

Grants in 2024
838
Total given
$66.78M
Median grant
$28K
Range
$5,017–$4.56M
  • By dollars: Wisconsin 88%, Nebraska 3%, Ohio 2%. Top recipient cities: Milwaukee, WI; Madison, WI; Wauwatosa, WI.
  • 17% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
  • 23% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.

Example grants

  • Community Development Alliance Inc · Milwaukee, WI

    Unrestricted

    $4.56M

  • Schwab Charitable Fund · Omaha, NE

    Martha e. parker and peter h. thermansen charitable fund

    $2.05M

  • Uwm Foundation · Milwaukee, WI

    Shaw scientist program

    $1.77M

  • The Medical College of Wisconsin Inc · Wauwatosa, WI

    Impacting pc knowledge and screening in black men

    $1.53M

  • American Endowment Foundation · Hudson, OH

    Fbl louie and sue andrew charitable fund a24011

    $1.1M

IRS Form 990, 2024. Amounts as reported by the funder. Full 990 history →

Focus Areas & Funding Uses

Fields of Work

  • Nonprofits
  • Arts
  • Food security
  • Housing
  • Healthcare
  • Diversity

Categories

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