Madison Rotary Foundation: Innovation Grants Program

The Madison Rotary Foundation's Innovation Grants Program offers one-time grants up to $5,000 to inspire local non-profits in the Madison area to implement innovative solutions for community challenges. With approximately $50,000 available for grants, organizations are encouraged to explore new services, improve existing programs, and reach underserved demographics. This initiative aims to foster creativity and enhance the support provided to those in need, making a significant impact in the community.

Our Madison Rotary Foundation is transitioning to Innovation Grants this year which are one-time grants of up to $5,000 intended to encourage not-for-profit organizations within the greater Madison area to try new things, inspire change and creativity, and foster new approaches to community challenges. We encourage you to innovate ways to enable your organization to better serve those in need.
Innovations might include exploring the validity of potential new services, programs, efficiencies, alliances, or service areas; reaching new demographics, or improving the delivery of existing services. Other innovation types will also be considered.
Funding
The Foundation expects to award approximately $50,000 in community grants during the next year with each innovation grant awarded for up to $5,000.

Eligibility

The Madison Rotary Foundation, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Madison, invites proposals from 501(c)(3) or other tax-exempt charitable organizations in the Madison area for grant support.Only one grant will be awarded per organization per year.In the case of an application from a church or other religious organization, will consider an application only if its purpose is unrelated to a religious purpose and doesn’t promote a religion or sect.The foundation does not discriminate in the awarding of community grants on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, creed, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry or age, or any other basis prohibited by law. Recognizes that applicants may limit their services or opportunities to specific targeted populations within the community; however, any such limitations must be reasonably related to the effective provision of the services/opportunities.In the case of an income-generating organization (e.g., day care, summer camp, acting company, orchestra, private school), considers an application only if its purpose is to pay additional costs the organization will incur to permit participation of people who otherwise could not afford the organization’s program.