Share

Share this page Make an impact for others

Copy link

Link copied

LinkedIn Facebook Email

Search Through Capacity Building Grants for Nonprofits in Wisconsin in the U.S.

The Creag Foundation, established in 2009 in Woodinville, Washington, provides funding to innovative 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations addressing social issues. Focused on smaller organizations, the foundation seeks to support those with unique approaches to improve the human condition. Eligible applicants must have held 501(c)(3) status for at least one year and present a new or previously unaddressed solution to societal challenges. Applications are by invitation only, encouraging creativity and passion in charitable work.

The J. J. Keller Foundation offers Challenge Match Grants to nonprofit organizations in Northeast Wisconsin, focusing on enhancing their fundraising capabilities. By matching donations from new or increased existing donors, the foundation aims to strengthen the financial sustainability of these organizations. This initiative reflects their commitment to building robust partnerships within the community. Nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charities are encouraged to apply and contribute positively to the lives of individuals in the region.

The LCCF Micro Grants aim to support nonprofit organizations in La Crosse County by providing funding between $250 and $3,000 for innovative projects. With a total allocation of $70,000 for this year, the La Crosse Community Foundation encourages applications from groups enhancing community life. Applications are ongoing until funds are exhausted, with approval notifications expected within three weeks. This initiative promotes growth and improved strategies to meet local needs.

The McKnight Foundation's Midwest Climate and Energy Grant focuses on funding initiatives that address the climate crisis while promoting equity in the Midwest. The foundation supports projects that transform energy systems, decarbonize transportation and buildings, and enhance community resilience. It aims to engage diverse populations and foster innovative solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and advance sustainable practices. Eligible organizations include nonprofits, governmental entities, and those in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa, with an emphasis on collaborative, impactful projects.

The Schlecht Family Foundation offers Capacity Building Grants aimed at enhancing organizational effectiveness and efficiency for nonprofits in Dane County and rural Wisconsin. These grants support innovative solutions to community challenges, focusing on meaningful work, character development for youth, and fostering connections to nature. Eligible organizations must be 501-C3 registered or have a fiscal sponsor and must not engage in lobbying or political activities. Grants are tailored to meet specific needs, promoting sustainable impact.

The Schlecht Family Foundation Inc offers Seed Grants aimed at nonprofit and social enterprise organizations in their startup phase, or established nonprofits launching new programs in Dane County and rural Wisconsin. These one-time grants support innovative ideas addressing community challenges and enhancing organizational effectiveness. The foundation seeks applicants dedicated to meaningful work, youth character development, and fostering connections to nature, ensuring a positive impact on the communities they serve.

The Tony Robbins Foundation Grant aims to empower individuals and organizations to improve the lives of marginalized communities, including youth, seniors, and the homeless. By providing financial support to aligned nonprofits, the foundation seeks to create impactful changes globally. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits or recognized international entities, with a mission statement that resonates with the foundation's goals. The foundation does not fund personal projects or startups.

The WEDC Capacity Building Grants aim to enhance local development efforts in Wisconsin by supporting nonprofit organizations and educational institutions. These grants facilitate the creation and expansion of cooperative initiatives, ensuring that communities have the resources needed to thrive. By addressing economic development challenges, the program fosters collaboration among various stakeholders, allowing for innovative solutions that benefit all Wisconsin residents. This flexible funding approach enables rapid responses to emerging needs and promotes sustainable growth.

The AmeriCorps State Competitive Program Grant in Wisconsin empowers organizations to engage AmeriCorps members in addressing critical community needs through service and volunteering. It focuses on enhancing community resilience by funding direct service and capacity-building activities. Priority is given to organizations serving marginalized populations and those focused on youth mental health, veterans' support, environmental stewardship, and reducing community polarization. This initiative fosters civic engagement and strengthens local communities across Wisconsin.

The Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants, offered by the St. Croix Valley Foundation, are designed to support organizations in enhancing their capabilities. These grants provide flexible funding for professional development, strategic planning, and implementation efforts to strengthen nonprofits. With a maximum grant size of $10,000, the program aims to empower nonprofits to meet community needs effectively while ensuring long-term sustainability and resilience in the St. Croix Valley region.

The St. Croix Valley Foundation offers Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants to enhance the effectiveness of local nonprofits in Minnesota and Wisconsin. These grants provide up to $100,000 to support organizations in areas such as systems implementation, strategic planning, and professional development. By investing in capacity building, the foundation aims to strengthen the sustainability and resilience of nonprofits, enabling them to better meet community needs and foster long-term growth.

The Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants: Planning Grant, offered by the St. Croix Valley Foundation, provides essential funding for nonprofit organizations in the St. Croix Valley region. Aimed at enhancing the operational capacity of established nonprofits, the program supports strategic assessments and planning efforts to ensure sustainability and growth. Eligible organizations must have a minimum of five years of operation, be located within the service area, and be recognized as 501(c)(3) entities. Grants can be up to $25,000.

The Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants from the St. Croix Valley Foundation aim to enhance the infrastructure of nonprofits serving the St. Croix River area. This initiative supports organizations with flexible funding to strengthen their operations, allowing them to grow, adapt, and sustain their impact. Grants of up to $250,000 are available for various capacity-building activities, including shared tools and collaborations that benefit the entire sector, ultimately fostering a resilient community.

The Community Opportunity Fund: Belonging Grant, offered by Boreal Waters Community Foundation, aims to foster inclusive spaces where all voices are valued. This grant supports community-driven projects that enhance collaboration and respect among diverse groups, particularly those from historically marginalized communities. It provides funding for program support, operating expenses, and capacity building to ensure lasting impact. By prioritizing equity and community ownership, this initiative seeks transformative change across northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin.

The Community Opportunity Fund: Resilience Grant, offered by Boreal Waters Community Foundation, supports transformative projects in northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. It aims to enhance community resilience by funding initiatives that foster adaptation and recovery from challenges. Eligible applicants include established nonprofits and grassroots organizations focused on equity and sustainability. The grant emphasizes collaborative solutions that address pressing issues like housing stability and food security, ensuring a lasting impact for historically marginalized communities.

The Herzfeld Foundation's Small Arts Organization Project Grant aims to enhance the sustainability of small and medium-sized arts organizations in Wisconsin, especially in the Greater Milwaukee area. This grant supports projects that provide meaningful arts experiences to underserved communities, with a focus on capacity-building and innovative audience engagement. Grants range from $5,000 to $25,000, prioritizing collaborative proposals that promote public access to the arts and strengthen organizational stability.

The LCCF Mini Grants program, offered by the La Crosse Community Foundation, provides funding between $1,000 and $15,000 to nonprofit organizations in La Crosse County. With a total allocation of $100,000 for the year, the program seeks to support result-oriented projects that address community needs. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) charities or have a fiscal sponsor and serve the local community, promoting engagement and social capital.

The Wausau Marathon County Impact Grants support innovative projects that enhance the quality of life in the greater Wausau area and Marathon County. Funded by the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin, these grants focus on the arts, education, health and human services, and resource preservation. They aim to provide long-term, tangible benefits to the community, encouraging nonprofits to propose impactful solutions to pressing needs.

The LCCF Nonprofit Capacity Building Grant Program, funded by the La Crosse Community Foundation, aims to enhance the sustainability and effectiveness of nonprofit organizations in La Crosse County. With $300,000 available, grants of $50,000 to $90,000 will support infrastructure investments, especially for those addressing disparities in historically marginalized communities. This program emphasizes ongoing technical assistance, fostering partnerships, and sharing best practices among grantees to build a more equitable community.

The Dubuque Racing Association Core Grants aim to enhance community betterment through non-profit initiatives focused on population growth and tourism. These grants prioritize capacity building alongside material purchases, supporting organizations that align with the mission to foster economic vitality in the tri-state area. Eligible applicants include non-profits with specific IRS designations, emphasizing projects that strengthen local resources and improve quality of life while adhering to strict funding guidelines.

The Grow, Invest, Gather (GIG) Fund Grant provides flexible financial support ranging from $2,000 to $4,000 for arts and culture organizations in the Midwest. This grant aims to enhance the capacity of these organizations, fund artist engagements, and promote community building. Eligible applicants include 501c3 non-profits and tribal organizations with annual expenses under $1 million. Priority is given to new applicants, and organizations must demonstrate matching funds on a 1:1 basis.

The Old National Bank Foundation offers grants to nonprofit organizations for community impact initiatives across Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Focused on four key areas—Affordable Housing, Workforce Development, Economic Development, and Financial Empowerment—the foundation prioritizes programs that support underrepresented communities. Organizations must have 501(c)(3) status and align with the foundation’s funding priorities to qualify for grants, which can be applied for every two years.

The Herzfeld Foundation is currently accepting applications for its Early Childhood Education Grant, aimed at licensed nonprofit childcare providers in Milwaukee. Grants ranging from $15,000 to $60,000 will support initiatives that enhance educational quality, expand capacity, improve educator retention, and foster collaboration among providers. The foundation encourages innovative proposals that strengthen financial stability and sustainability, ultimately benefiting the community's children and families.

The Community Capacity Grant Program, established by the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, aims to support Wisconsin-based organizations dedicated to advancing health equity and addressing social determinants of health. With grants of up to $20,000, this initiative encourages innovative projects that enhance organizational capacity without covering core operating expenses. By fostering partnerships and mentorship, the program seeks to empower smaller nonprofits to effectively achieve their missions and improve community health outcomes.

The PRISM Fund Grant, offered by PFund Foundation, aims to enhance equity within LGBTQ+ communities in the upper Midwest. It focuses on supporting rural LGBTQ+ organizations through grants, training, and collaboration. The program prioritizes communities disproportionately affected by discrimination, such as queer people of color, gender-expansive individuals, and LGBTQ+ residents of North and South Dakota. By addressing unique regional challenges, the PRISM Fund fosters resilience and connectivity among these underserved populations.

Enterprise Community Partners

Enterprise Community Partners (Enterprise) is a national nonprofit that exists to make a good home possible for the millions of families without one. We support community development organizations on the ground, aggregate and invest capital for impact, advance housing policy at every level of government, and build and manage communities ourselves. Since 1982, we have invested $80.9 billion and created 1 million homes across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands – all to make home and community places of pride, power and belonging.

Midwest Asset Management University Program

Operating, maintaining, and preserving affordable housing is complex and requires a specialized set of skills and a deep organizational commitment to asset management. Today, affordable housing providers face a variety of economic, operational, and compliance challenges, including rising operating costs, rental arrears, staffing shortages, and an aging portfolio.

Enterprise is launching its first Asset Management University (AMU) Program in the Midwest (Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri, and/or Minnesota) in March 2026 to support mission-aligned, affordable housing providers in meeting these challenges in their efforts to provide housing stability to residents and preserve the long-term affordability of properties.

The Midwest AMU is a comprehensive, five-month training program that seeks to strengthen the asset and property management capabilities of participating housing providers, improving organizations’ capacity to oversee the financial, physical, and operational health of their housing portfolios.

Midwest Asset Management University Cohort 

Enterprise is excited to offer this application for participation in the Asset Management University (AMU) Cohort (the “Cohort”). Up to fifteen (15) eligible organizations will be selected for this Cohort and will receive access to online training offered by the Consortium of Housing and Asset Management (CHAM), peer learning opportunities, and post-training technical assistance.