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Madison Rotary Foundation: Innovation Grants Program

Madison Rotary Foundation

Funding Amount

Up to US $5,000

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Grant Type

foundation

Overview

Madison Rotary Foundation: Innovation Grants Program

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Madison Rotary Foundation
Amount: Up to US $5,000
Last Updated: June 21, 2025

Summary

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.

Overview

Innovation Grants Program 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

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. 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.

What Madison Rotary Foundation actually gave

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, 2025

Grants in 2025
6
Total given
$214K
Median grant
$33K
Range
$14K–$71K
  • By dollars: Wisconsin 100%. Top recipient cities: Madison, WI.
  • 20% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.

Example grants

  • Urban League of Greater Madison · Madison, WI

    Comprehensive array of youth empowerment programming

    $50K

  • Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Dane County Inc · Madison, WI

    Expanding, enhancing 2 school based mentoring programs

    $40K

  • One City Schools · Madison, WI

    Volunteer tutoring program

    $25K

  • Simpson Street Free Press Inc · Madison, WI

    Stipends to students, admin & operating costs

    $14K

  • Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras (Wyso) · Madison, WI

    Growing and enriching its music makers ensemble programs

    $14K

IRS Form 990-PF, 2025. Amounts as reported by the funder. Full 990 history →

Focus Areas & Funding Uses

Fields of Work

nonprofitscommunity-development

Categories

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