Universal Service Fund - Nonprofit Access Grant

Universal Service Fund - Nonprofit Access Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Wisconsin Public Service Foundation
Last Updated: November 28, 2025

Summary

The Universal Service Fund - Nonprofit Access Grant supports nonprofit organizations in obtaining partial funding for projects aimed at improving affordable telecommunications access. Targeting low-income households and individuals with disabilities, this program allocates up to $500,000 annually to help address high service costs in underserved areas. By facilitating essential telecommunications services, the grant fosters greater connectivity and support for vulnerable communities across Wisconsin.

Overview

Nonprofit Access Grant The Nonprofit Access Grant Program enables nonprofit groups to apply for partial funding of programs or projects that will facilitate affordable access to telecommunications (Wis. Admin. Code § PSC 160.125(2)). The project must assist low income households or people with disabilities or customers in areas of the state that have relatively high costs of services in obtaining affordable access to a basic set essential telecommunications services. The Commission may award up to $500,000 in grants under this program on a fiscal year basis.

Eligibility

We've imported the main document for this grant to give you an overview. You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website.

Application Details

PSC REF#:530655
Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
Universal Service Fund
Nonprofit Access Grant Program
Fiscal Year 2025
Grant Application Instructions
Docket 5-NF-2025
Application Deadline
March 6, 2025
1:30 P.M.
RECEIVED:
1/23/2025
2:55:01
PM
Public
Service
Commission
of
Wisconsin

Docket 5-NF-2025
Page 1
Table of Contents
Background...........................................................................................................................................................2
Eligible Applicants.................................................................................................................................................2
Grant Funds Available...........................................................................................................................................2
Matching/Contribution Funds - Requirement......................................................................................................2
Communication Regarding the Application..........................................................................................................3
Application Submission and Deadline..................................................................................................................3
Application Instructions (9 Steps).........................................................................................................................4
Narrative Tab (11 Questions)...............................................................................................................................6
Review and Selection Process..............................................................................................................................9
1. Initial Screening........................................................................................................................................9
2. Application Review and Merit Categories................................................................................................9
3. Final Decision on Grant Awards..............................................................................................................10
Grant Agreement, Reporting and Payment Process...........................................................................................10
False, Misleading, or Omitted Statements.........................................................................................................10
For further information or to request reasonable accommodations, contact:..................................................10

Docket 5-NF-2025
Page 2
Background
The Wisconsin Universal Service Fund (USF) was created to promote and assist with the
availability and affordability of telecommunications services in Wisconsin. Companies providing
telecommunications services in Wisconsin are required to contribute to the USF. The Public
Service Commission of Wisconsin (Commission) administers several programs funded by the USF,
including the Nonprofit Access Grant Program which provides funding to nonprofit groups to
facilitate affordable access to telecommunications services.
Under the requirements of the Nonprofit Access Grant Program, any nonprofit group
(defined as an IRS § 501(c)(3) organization) may apply for funding from the USF to cover up to
75 percent of total project or program costs to assist in providing access to telecommunications
services for low-income customers, and/or customers with a disability, and/or customers in
areas of the state that have relatively high costs of services, in obtaining affordable access to
a basic set of essential telecommunications services. There is no specified dollar limit for any
particular project as long as USF requested funding does not exceed 75 percent of total
project costs.
Eligible Applicants
Any nonprofit organization (IRS § 501(c)(3)) may apply for funding from the Nonprofit Access
Grant Program.
Grant Funds Available
In accordance with Wis. Admin. Code § PSC 160.125(2)(f), the maximum available funds of
$500,000 is anticipated to be awarded in 2025 by the Nonprofit Access Grant Program.
Matching/Contribution Funds - Requirement
Applicants are required to provide at least 25 percent matching funds toward the total cost of
the project or program (a three-dollar-for-one-dollar match).
Always start your calculation with the total cost of the project. Examples: For a project
with a total cost of $25,000, the applicant must provide $6,250 (25%) as match funds,
as no more than $18,750 (75%) can be funded from this grant program.
Total Project Cost Match funds % Match Grant Request Correct Match
(& %) (Y/N)
$25,000 $6,250 25% $18,750 (75%) Y - Correct match
$25,000 $5,000 20% $20,000 (80%) N - Incorrect match
Make sure you do not request grant funds amounting to more than 75 percent of the
total project cost. This may jeopardize grant award eligibility.

Docket 5-NF-2025
Page 3
Matching funds provided as cash or in-kind contributions are acceptable. Matching funds may
not include items purchased with USF grant dollars from prior years, nor may the in-kind match
items be used to meet the grant match requirement for more than one USF grant award.
Matching/contribution funds listed on an application may not be used to meet the grant match
requirement for other non-USF grant applications.
To meet the cash matching requirement, any non-USF funding sources, including federal, state,
and private foundations, can be used. To meet the in-kind matching requirement, in-kind
contributions may be professional services that are donated or discounted by the donor.
Matching funds, both cash and in-kind contributions, must relate to the proposed project.
In the Grants System, matching funds are noted as contributions funded, and must be indicated
as cash or in-kind on the note column of the budget form.
The application must identify the source and amount of matching funds. If the source of the
match is not the applicant, documentation that matching funds are committed must be provided
with the application or before a grant agreement will be issued. If the source is the applicant, a
statement of commitment of matching funds or documentation of in-kind funds must be
provided with the application before a grant agreement will be issued.
Communication Regarding the Application
The posting of these Application Instructions to the Commission’s Electronic Records Filing (ERF)
System in docket 5-NF-2025 will serve as ‘official notice’ of the opening of a new grant round.
The ‘official notice’ is the means by which the Commission will provide information related to the
application(s) in docket 5-NF-2025. Interested parties must proactively subscribe to the docket
on ERF to ensure they receive timely information related to the process. Parties may subscribe at
ERF-EZ Subscriptions or go to Subscribing Instructions for more information.
Application Submission and Deadline
All applicants are required to submit an application using the Commission’s online grant
application system. The PSC Grants System will automatically upload the application to the
appropriate ERF account when the application is submitted. The PSC Grants System will not
permit late applications. Applicants are encouraged to start early and leave plenty of time to
work with the grant application and system.
Applications are due and must be submitted on the PSC Grants System no
later than, Thursday, March 6, 2025, by 1:30 p.m. CST.
Please note the earlier time.
The deadline is final. The PSC Grants System does not permit late applications and cannot accept
any application submissions after the deadline.

Docket 5-NF-2025
Page 4
Application Instructions (9 Steps)
The instructions for completing a Nonprofit Access Grant application have two components, both
available on the PSC website.
The first component of the instructions is the PSC Grants System User’s Guide for Grant
Applicants and Recipients. The User’s Guide is the primary resource an applicant should consult
to use the PSC Grants System and enter their application. The User’s Guide provides step by step
instructions to create a system account, navigate the online grant application, validate their
application, and submit the complete application.
If awarded a grant, the PSC Grant account will also provide grant recipients with access to the
online form and filing process to request reimbursement.
The second component of the instructions is this document, the Grant Application Instructions.
This document provides step-specific guidance for completing an application for the FY 2025
Nonprofit Access Grant. An applicant should use this document to understand what information
is requested for each page and each question in the grant application form.
These instructions also describe in detail the questions in the Narrative section tabs of the
application form.
Step 1: Open the PSC Grants System, and navigate to the login page. For the first instance of
logging in, an applicant will need to create a system account. (Steps are outlined in the
User’s Guide section: Getting Started .) An applicant must remember their username and
password. For all subsequent instances, an applicant will use this username and
password.
You also need your individual ERF account. Make sure to have at hand your ERF Login ID
and password. If you forgot your ERF Login ID or your ERF password, go here for resetting.
If you don’t have an individual ERF account, go to the PSC ERF System and create one.
Step 2: On the Grant System page titled Available Grants, find the row for the 2025 Nonprofit
Access Program, and click on the ‘Apply’ button. (Information at User’s Guide section:
Grant Applicant Landing Page.) The first page you will fill out is the ‘Grant Application
Details’ page. Enter the information requested and click 'Create' (button on the bottom
left) to save and continue your Grant application. (Information at User’s Guide Section:
Grant Application Details tab ). Application data must be validated before moving to the
next page/tab. Once create it, you will see a ‘Save’ button to continue to subsequent page.

Docket 5-NF-2025
Page 5
Step 3: The PSC Grant System will now display the ‘Grant Type’ page of Grant Application form,
which is arranged in a series of tabs along the top of the form.
Each tab must be completed (tab-specific instructions listed below). Before leaving any
page of the form, the applicants must save their work using the ‘save’ icon at the bottom
of the page. If not saved, any unsaved entries will be lost.
Step 4: Next, select the ‘Contacts’ tab and completes the information required. (Information at
User’s Guide section: Contacts Tab page.) Applicant must provide at least one Primary
Contact and one Authorized Representative contact (the person legally authorized to sign
the Award Grant Agreement); if it is the same person please repeat it in both categories.
Additional contacts can be added by selecting Add New Contact and assign the contact
type. (If the applicant receives a grant, a grant recipient can use this page to update the
Contacts for the grant if needed.). Click save.
Step 5: Then, select the ‘Contributions’ tab and fills in the required information.
Contributions mean Match in the system. The contributions/match amount must be at
least 25 percent of the total project cost. (Information at User’s Guide section:
Contributions Tab page.) There is an automatic validation step built-into this tab; for
entries be saved here, they must agree with the data entered earlier on the Details page.
Click save. If there is any discrepancy, the system will display a warning, so you can fix it.
Then clicked save to continue.
Step 6: Next, select the ‘Budget’ tab and completes the required information. (Information at
User’s Guide session: Budget Tab Page.) The budget numbers must be entered rounded to
the whole dollar amount.
There is another automatic validation step in this tab; entries must agree with the data on
both the Details tab AND the Contributions tab.
The Budget page requires applicant to enter for each of the budget category, the total cost
of all items that will be purchased for the related category.
For each budget category, the form requires the applicant to split the total amount
between the part that will be funded by a potential grant and the part covered by their
contributions/match.
If no costs are associated with a budget field, applicants must enter zero. No empty fields
are allowed. Click save.
Step 7: Then, select the ‘Communities’ tab and completes the required information. (Information
at User’s Guide Session: Communities Tab page) Click save.

Docket 5-NF-2025
Page 6
Step 8: Then, select the ‘Narrative’ tab and fills in the required information. (Information at
User’s Guide session: Narrative Tab Page.) The Narrative consists of 11 questions. All 11
questions are important. The applicant must answer every question and save their work
before advancing to the next page of the Narrative. No empty questions are allowed.
Applicant is allowed to write in ‘n/a’ and move on to the next question, but that means
the applicant is passing on a question that either, determines the applicant’s eligibility to
apply for a grant, or contributes to increase the overall merit of the application. (See
details below for each question in this tab.)
Narrative Tab (11 Questions)
Make sure to SAVE each answer, before moving to the next question.
1. Eligibility: Is the applicant a nonprofit organization as defined by the IRS in section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code? Answer: Yes or No.
The applicant must be a nonprofit to be eligible.
If an applicant answers “no,” the application will not be eligible.
2. Applicant Overview: Briefly describe the applicant organization(s) including the history,
mission and programs or services. Answer: Open-ended.
Briefly describe the applicant organization(s).
3. Project Purpose: Describe how the project meets at least one of the purposes of the
Universal Service Fund? Answer: Open-ended.
Describe how the project meets at least one of the following purposes of the Universal
Service Fund:
• To assist customers located in areas of the state that have relatively high costs of
telecommunication services in obtaining affordable access to a basic set of
essential telecommunication services.
• To assist low-income customers to obtain affordable access to a basic set of
essential telecommunication services.
• To assist customers with disabilities to obtain affordable access to a basic set of
essential telecommunication services.
4. Project Need: Describe a public need that is not currently being met, which will be
targeted by the project. Describe how this need was identified and defined. Answer:
Open-ended.
Describe the population that this project will reach, provide data or information on their
need.

Docket 5-NF-2025
Page 7
5. Project Impact: Identify up to three realistic, measurable goals and outcomes expected to
result from the implementation of the proposed project (please number them). Answer:
Open-ended.
Identify realistic, measurable goals and outcomes expected to result from the
implementation of the project. Anticipated outcomes should relate to the Project Need
and Purpose described in the application. These goals and outcomes will be used to
evaluate the success of the project.
6. Unduplicated People: Provide the number of different individuals projected to be served
by the proposed project during the two-year performance period (July 1, 2025 – June 30,
2027). Count each person only once. Answer: Numeric.
Only a whole numeric value will be accepted.
7. Project Implementation -A: For each goal, describe the activities, providers, equipment,
and project/programs approach, to be implemented throughout the performance period
to address the needs and achieve the goals.
Answer: Open-ended.
• Describe the activities to be performed throughout the timeframe of the project,
including priorities, sequence and necessary materials, equipment, or contracts.
• Identify providers for each portion of the services or equipment needed for the
project.
• Explain the approach to the problem, plan of work, and why this approach was
selected.
8. Project Implementation -B: Describe any partnerships, community support or other
collaborations with individuals or organizations that will be involved in the proposed
project. Answer: Open-ended.
The applicant can indicate N/A if this does not apply.
9. Project Evaluation: Explain how the identified project goals and outcomes will be
evaluated. Describe the performance measurement tools, such as pre- and post-testing,
surveys, reports, and qualitative interviews that will be used to determine the extent to
which the project meets each of its goals.
Answer: Open-ended.
10. Budget Detail: Provide justification for the budget, in narrative form. For each category
listed in the budget tab, describe the item, and provide additional detail. Explain how the
proposed project meets the desired public need in a least-cost manner. Answer: Open-
ended.

Docket 5-NF-2025
Page 8
Rent for general administrative purposes may not be included as a grant-funded
expense; however, it can be included for matching purposes as a contribution-
funded in-kind cost.
For each budgeted expense please provide a short narrative of cost details.
• If the budget contains labor costs of $10,000 or more, the applicant must
provide position details including the position title(s), the amount of time
anticipated on the project, and the rate of pay. For example, Digital
Navigator, 0.25 FTE, $22/hr.
• If the project will be done by existing staff, explain why that approach was chosen.
• Identify the providers of the telecommunications services or equipment
and provide a specific description of the components of the project.
• Administrative costs should only include costs directly attributable to the
project. If a percentage of the organization’s overhead is used to determine
administrative costs, the amount and what is included in that percentage must
be described.
11.Additional Information: For applicants that received previous awards, discuss past
performance and how this application relates to previous awards. For new applicants,
provide any additional information on the organization or the proposed project.
Answer: Open-ended.
For applicants that received funding in previous cycles of the Nonprofit Access Grant
Program, reference previous successes and provide statistics describing the previous
award and how this application builds on that success. SAVE.
Step 9: Finally, select ‘Submit’ tab and follow the instruction. A manual validation step is built-
into this page to help you to check that all information and questions on each tab have
been completed. (Information at User’s Guide session: Submit Tab page.) Once
validation is completed and applicant has fixed any error, a ‘Submit Application’ button
will appear. Click the ‘Submit Application’ button.
Once your application is submitted in the PSC Grants System, no change can be made by the
applicant. After the submission of an Application, Commission staff may request additional
information or a correction through email or through the PSC Grants System.
All applications become the property of the Commission, and are subject to Wisconsin’s open
records laws. Applications will be available for the public to review on the Commission’s
website by searching under docket 5-NF-2025 in ERF. Only saved, but not submitted
applications are not visible to the public.

Docket 5-NF-2025
Page 9
Review and Selection Process
1. Initial Screening
Commission staff will conduct an initial screening of all applications. The applications
will be screened for: a) eligibility of applicant as a nonprofit organization, b) addressing
the Universal Service Fund Purpose, c) the commitment of at least 25 percent matching
funds, and d) application completeness.
Applications not meeting the initial screening requirements may not be considered for funding,
and may be excluded from the review process.
2. Application Review and Merit Categories
Application passing the initial screening, will be reviewed by a panel of technical or program
professionals. The review panel provides review and expertise. Reviewers will also use a
rating checklist that determines the relative merit of each application based on the
grant application criteria described above and in the below table. Results of this analysis
and review will be reported in a memorandum to the Commissioners and posted on ERF.
Reviewers Evaluation Summary
Merit criteria and Rating
Scoring
Merit Category and Value assessed
range
1. Project Purpose and Need: Applicant’s proposal meets at least one of the
purposes of the Universal Service Fund. The proposed project describes how it 1 - 10
will address a public need that is not currently being met.
2. Project Impact: Applicant has identified up to three realistic, measurable goals
or outcomes expected to result from the implementation of the proposed 1 - 10
project
3. Project Implementation: Applicant’s proposal describes project approach,
activities involved and partnerships or other collaborations with individuals or 1 - 10
organizations that will be involved in the proposed project.
4. Evaluation: Applicant’s proposal explains how the project goals or outcomes
1 - 10
identified will be evaluated.
5. Budget: Applicant’s proposed budget is feasible given the scope, details, and
timeline of the proposed activities. The budget meets the desired public need 1 - 10
in a least-cost manner.
Final Assessment: Overall project merit score across all five categories. 5 - 50
Commissioners are not bound by the above merit criteria or resulting recommendations from
the panel, which are intended for advisory purposes only. The Commissioners utilize their
experience, technical competence, and specialized knowledge. The Commissioners, as the
finder of fact and decision makers, are charged with evaluating all available information and
applying any relevant statutory criteria, as well as the below criteria and any pertinent
others, to reach well-reasoned decisions.

Docket 5-NF-2025
Page 10
3. Final Decision on Grant Awards
After the screening and review process is complete, the Commission will decide which projects
to award a grant. The Commission makes its decisions in Open Meetings. The Commission will
notify all grant applicants of its decision by adopting an Order awarding grants that will be
posted to the docket.
In addition to the merit categories above, the Commission may consider other factors in its
decision-making such as: analysis provided by staff, analysis of the review panel, geographic
distribution of the proposed grants, diversity of needs addressed by the proposed grants, the
number of previous USF grants awarded to the applicant, cost of the project relative to the
number of individuals receiving benefits, past performance on previous grants and
availability of funds.
Grant Agreement, Reporting and Payment Process
There is a two-year performance period for these grants from July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2027.
An executed Grant Agreement will be required of all Grant Recipients. Grantees will submit
reimbursement requests via the online PSC Grants System. Interim and Final Reports will be
submitted in the manner indicated by the Commission.
Each approved grant applicant will be required to enter into a grant agreement with the
Commission. The Commission order awarding grants and the grant agreement, including
any amendments, will together constitute the entire agreement of the state and the
applicant, and will supersede any representations, commitments, conditions, or agreements
made orally or in writing prior to the issuance of the order.
False, Misleading, or Omitted Statements
False or misleading statements, or omissions that render the information provided on an
application to be false or misleading, are grounds for rejection of an application, for denial, or
for termination of funding. In addition, the Commission reserves the right to take any other
action allowed by law.
For further information or to request reasonable accommodations, contact:
Milena Bernardinello, Universal Service Fund and Digital Opportunity Director
Phone: (608) 267-6919
Email: Milena.Bernardinello@wisconsin.gov
Web: PSC Nonprofit Access Grant (wi.gov)
For questions concerning the Commission’s PSC Grants System, contact Staci Wilk by email at
staci.wilk@wisconsin.gov.
Public Service Commission of
Wisconsin North Tower, 6th Floor
Hill Farms State Office Building
4822 Madison Yards Way
Madison, WI 53705