Herb Kohl Philanthropies Homegrown Grants

The Herb Kohl Philanthropies Homegrown Grants support local initiatives aimed at strengthening communities in Wisconsin. These grants are designed for organizations that empower children and youth, promote financial stability, and provide essential resources. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with federal tax-exempt status that actively engage with their communities. The program emphasizes innovative solutions to local needs, ensuring funds are used effectively to enhance well-being and skills. Collaboration with local partners is encouraged to maximize impact.

This grant program aims to help make communities stronger. We provide general support in the form of a homegrown grant to local people, inclusive organizations and innovative ideas striving to solve, rather than serve a need.
For example, a teacher is growing the school's farm and agricultural courses and would like to add a cow to the farm. Or a community health clinic is coping with an increase in patients and is in dire need of basic medical equipment. Lastly, a local community center would like to provide financial literacy classes for young adults and would like to send one of its employees to a specific training for the program. In both situations, the organizations are seeking to address a need facing their local communities and would be considered candidates for the Homegrown Grants.
Homegrown Grant proposals should focus on:
Helping children and youth achieve their potential through education, building family well-being, helping families and individuals become financially stable and self-sufficient, or providing a direct, safety net resource or basic need. Collaboration with local partners is encouraged. The proposal or organization must do the following:

• Invest in people - increase skills, abilities, knowledge, and/or well-being.Engage people it serves.Strengthen community connections and/or resources.

Eligibility

Applicants must apply online through our application portal.Proposals that serve K-12 or early childhood do not need to be school-based.If recommended for funding, the organization must provide electronic payment information to complete the approval process. All grants are disbursed through electronic payment.Grants are made only to nonprofit organizations that have federal tax-exempt status, or if they fall under the umbrella of a parent nonprofit with tax exempt status as a section 501(c)(3) public charity. The applicant must provide services within Wisconsin communities and funding requested may only be used to benefit Wisconsin residents.An organization may only receive one grant per 12-month period.Organizations must comply with all regulations of the local, state and federal government pertaining to proper licensing, health and safety requirements, and operate in the State of Wisconsin.

Ineligibility

These grants are not for after-the-fact support, or operating deficits.Funding exclusions include: organizations that deny service, membership or other involvement on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, veteran, or disability status.