Herzfeld Foundation: Small Arts Organization Project Grant

Herzfeld Foundation: Small Arts Organization Project Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Richard & Ethel Herzfeld Foundation Inc.
Amount: US $5,000 - US $25,000
Last Updated: January 29, 2026

Summary

The Herzfeld Foundation's Small Arts Organization Project Grant aims to enhance the sustainability of small and medium-sized arts organizations in Wisconsin, especially in the Greater Milwaukee area. This grant supports projects that provide meaningful arts experiences to underserved communities, with a focus on capacity-building and innovative audience engagement. Grants range from $5,000 to $25,000, prioritizing collaborative proposals that promote public access to the arts and strengthen organizational stability.

Overview

History It was the wish of Richard and Ethel Herzfeld that, upon their deaths, their assets would be added to their Foundation dedicated to Wisconsin but with emphasis on the greater Milwaukee area. Since Ethel's death in 1997, the Foundation translated that wish into an investment of many millions of dollars in the community with more to come in the future. Richard and Ethel lived in Milwaukee and on Pine Lake for most of their lives. Richard’s father was the founder of a company that bought and managed the Boston Store from 1906 to 1948. There, after serving in World War I and graduating from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, Richard worked his way up from stock boy in 1920 to president in 1940. Boston Store was sold to Federated Department Stores, Inc. in 1948. Ethel Ann Davis Herzfeld was born in Chicago and attended Milwaukee-Downer College. She received her B.A. degree from Wellesley College in 1920. Her mother, Emma J. Davis, resided on Marietta Avenue in Milwaukee. Richard and Ethel were active in the Milwaukee community and contributed significant time and resources to enriching cultural life in the city. Sparked by a spirit of innovation and recognizing the need to adapt to an ever-changing world, both took a lively interest in all aspects of the greater Milwaukee area and ways to enhance the quality of life of its institutions and citizens. What We Support Arts & CultureEducationCivic Improvement (On a limited basis and by invitation only) Small Arts Organization Project Grant Grants are intended to help strengthen the capacity and build the sustainability of small- and medium-sized arts and cultural organizations; and support programs or projects that create opportunities for individuals to have meaningful arts-related experiences, particularly in underserved communities. While we will consider grants to support general operations, priority will be given to applications that propose use of grant monies in ways that enhance capacity-building and long-term organizational fiscal stability for the applicant(s) and that demonstrate innovation in audience-building, revenue enhancement, or financial/organizational management. For applications to support specific programs or projects, priority will be given to proposals that demonstrate or promote collaboration among two or more arts or community-based organizations and expand public access to and awareness of the arts. Funding Maximum grant is $25,000, minimum grant is $5,000

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The Herzfeld Foundation awards grants to non-profit organizations that are tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.Grant recipients must have 501c(3) nonprofit status or must have a fiscal agent that has such status. Arts and cultural organizations with operating budgets of $750,000 or less are eligible for general operating grants or project-specific grants; any non-arts organization is eligible to apply for support for a new community-based arts program or project.Funding is restricted to Wisconsin-based organizations with an emphasis on those that benefit the people of the Greater Milwaukee area.

Ineligibility

Entities that receive an arts education grant from the Herzfeld Foundation this year are not eligible to receive a grant under this category.This program does not fund capital campaigns or fundraising/gala events.