Kohler Foundation Grant

Kohler Foundation Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Kohler Foundation
Amount: Up to US $10,000
Last Updated: July 31, 2025

Summary

The Kohler Foundation Grant focuses on preserving art environments and cultural heritage in Wisconsin and beyond. Grants up to $10,000 support innovative projects by tax-exempt public charities and institutions. With a preference for Sheboygan County, the Foundation encourages STEAM initiatives and programs enhancing access to the arts. Recent preservation efforts include notable sites like the Garden of Eden sculpture park and Pasaquan. The Foundation believes in impactful investments that foster lasting community benefits.

Overview

Preservation Kohler Foundation is committed to the preservation of art environments and important collections, as well as Wisconsin culture and heritage. In the past, Kohler Foundation’s preservation efforts were focused almost entirely in the state of Wisconsin. However, the Foundation is committed to expanding its preservation efforts nationwide. In some cases, artists have transformed their homes and/or their yards into powerful and unique works of art; some have built chapels and grottos, while others created literally hundreds of life-size or over-life-size sculptures and murals that cover entire buildings. Kohler Foundation has initiated and completed many major restorations, among them: The Painted Forest at Valton, Wisconsin; Wisconsin Concrete Park in Phillips, Wisconsin; Paul and Matilda Wegner Grotto at Cataract, Wisconsin; Prairie Moon Sculpture Garden and Museum near Cochrane, Wisconsin; Nick Engelbert’s Grandview in Hollandale, Wisconsin, Hartman Rock Garden in Springfield, Ohio; Tellen Woodland Sculpture Garden in Sheboygan, Wisconsin; and Kenny Hill's Chauvin Sculpture Environment in Chauvin, Louisiana. Kohler Foundation's most recent site preservation projects include the Garden of Eden sculpture park in Lucas, Kansas, Pasaquan in Buena Vista, Georgia, and the Langlais Preserve in Cushing, Maine. Many of our Wisconsin sites are included in Wandering Wisconsin, a consortium of art environments in the state. At the Kohler Foundation, we believe the power of small investments, thoughtfully made, creates a lasting impact. Grants of up to $10,000 will be available with preference given to new projects and programs. Eligible grant applicants must be classified as tax-exempt public charities (Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) or public institutions such as schools or governmental entities.) Our geographic funding preference is Sheboygan County, but we consider applicable programs throughout rural Wisconsin. We award grants primarily within the state of Wisconsin. Funding Priorities Kohler Foundation makes grants to tax-exempt public charities described under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Service Code or public institutions such as schools or governmental entities. Kohler Foundation is organized to engage in, advance, support, promote, and administer educational and artistic activities primarily within the Sheboygan County region. While our focus remains local to this area, we also support arts and education programs in rural communities in the state of Wisconsin, particularly those that have already been the recipients of KFI investment through its other program areas (e.g. Art Preservation), and rural areas where there is little other philanthropic capital available. Programs within the fields of arts and education are of special interest to KFI’s grant committee, including:STEAM initiatives (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics); Increasing access to the arts (e.g. transportation, visiting artists/distance learning, rural outreach, technology); Programs which have a specific plan to create an impact of greater proportion than a small grant might initially reflect.Requests for technology and equipment may receive funding occasionally, but not on an ongoing basis.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Eligible grant applicants must be classified as tax-exempt public charities (Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) or public institutions such as schools or governmental entities.

Ineligibility

KFI does not fund grant requests that are solely for general operating support (e.g. salaries, overhead). KFI also does not generally make grants to projects outside of Wisconsin or in metro areas outside Sheboygan County. Finally, Kohler Foundation grants are not awarded for fundraising drives, capital campaigns or building projects, or event sponsorships.