John and Sally Mielke Early Years Fund for the Fox Valley Region Grant Program

The John and Sally Mielke Early Years Fund supports innovative programs for children from birth to age five in the Fox Valley Region. This fund, established to honor the Mielkes' commitment to community welfare, prioritizes grants that enhance early childhood experiences through direct services, advocacy, and education. Eligible organizations include public charities and government units, with a focus on collaborative and preventative solutions. Applications are accepted biannually, fostering impactful initiatives for families and caregivers.

NOTE: Grants will be made at least annually. In general, grants will be for single year. Applications begin with a conversation. After reviewing the Community Foundation’s general grant policies, if you have a potential idea or project fitting the guidelines, call the staff representative.
Purpose
To support innovative ideas and programs serving the needs of children and their families from birth to five years of age.
Rationale: Research demonstrates the importance of early childhood experiences on cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development and on outcomes for children, families and the community.
Background: The community established this fund to honor the contributions of both John and Sally Mielke to the overall health and welfare of all community members. This endowment fund carries on their legacy by focusing on the earliest years of a child’s life.
What We Fund
We provide grants that support children prenatal to five and the family members, caregivers and other caring adults who can help get them off to the best possible early start in life. Direct service, systems-level work, and advocacy will all be considered.
Examples of things we've funded:

• Outreach and advocacy about the importance of early childhood
• Equipment, supplies or technology to better serve children, improve curriculum, or engage families
• Programs providing better access to effective prenatal care
• Continuing education or trainings for early childhood caregivers and educators, as well as parents
• Projects with a research component focused on identifying and sharing best practices
• Strategic planning for early childhood organizations or initiatives
• Developmental screening

Deadline: Accepting applications: March 1 - March 31 AND September 1 - September 30. An organization may apply to only one of the two grant cycles.

Eligibility

Organizations Eligible To Receive GrantsOrganizations eligible to receive grants from the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region are those determined by the IRS to be public charities. This encompasses most charitable, scientific, social service, educational and religious organizations described in § 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(1), (a)(2), or (a)(3) of the tax code, and private operating foundations. Grants may also be made to units of government (this includes Native American tribal governments) for public purposes. Organizations that are not public charities may apply through a fiscal sponsor. Organizations must serve residents of the Foundation's service area including Outagamie, Calumet, Shawano, Waupaca and/or northern Winnebago counties. Eligibility for Units of Government (city, county, township, etc.)
The Foundation will consider funding for units of government when the request for support is judged to be an effective means to address a priority issue. A grant from the Foundation may help draw attention to a new issue, leverage additional funding, offer more flexible funds than are typically available in a governmental budget, or provide seed money until program funding can be included in the governmental budget.Eligibility for Schools
The Foundation will consider funding for public, charter and private/parochial Pre-K-12 schools and post-secondary educational institutions, when the request for support is judged to be an effective means to address a priority issue, particularly when the issue addresses the needs of a substantial or underserved portion of the community. Requests will only be considered if they are unique and community-oriented, or for pilot programs with potential to be sustainable and replicable.

Ineligibility

Previously incurred expenses
Membership feesThe Foundation’s grant programs will not support annual fund drives, fund-raising events or endowment-building campaigns.
The Foundation will not consider requests to support community-based research for the advancement of medicine.The Foundation will not normally make grants to private non-operating foundations. The Foundation will not typically issue grants for the general operating support of a government program.The Foundation typically will not issue grants for the general operating support of a school system, school or school program.