Community Vision Fund

What We Fund 

Focus Areas
The Community Vision Fund’s focus areas are influenced by the Vital Conditions for Health and Well-Being and the  Imagine Fox Cities’ community vision. Grantmaking will typically focus on the following areas:   

• Arts and Culture 
• Financial Stability and Well-being 
• Community and Neighborhood Development 
• Environment 
• Nonprofit Effectiveness 

Grantmaking Approach
As we consider inquiries matching these focus areas, we place importance on the following:  

• Investing in under-resourced and/or historically excluded communities and organizations 
• Investing in rural communities 
• Investing in systems change efforts and systems thinking 
• Investing in organizations or programs led by people with lived experience (or those in closest proximity) to the issues we’re trying to address 
• Applying a diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism lens to all requests  

Range of Grantmaking
Grant awards typically range between $2,500-$25,000 depending on the type of grant and scope of the request. In most cases grants will be for one year or less, however, multi-year grants may be considered for projects or initiatives that will take more than one year to implement and are in strong alignment with our focus areas and strategies.  

Types of Grants
Requests for programs, projects, events, planning, training, capacity building, and operations (including technology) are all eligible.  

Deadlines
Grant inquiries are accepted on a year-round basis with rolling deadlines. Inquiries must be submitted through our grant portal at least 60 days prior to the start of an event, program or when funds are needed. Our staff will typically respond to inquiries within 2-4 weeks regarding next steps, which may include submitting a full grant application.   

To Apply 

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Our new grant portal is now open!  
See more details here.  

If you submitted an application for a Community Vision Fund grant prior to Jan. 31 in our old Grant Portal, we will continue to reference your application there. If you were awarded a grant, and have progress or final reports due associated with that grant, you will complete these reports in the new Grant Portal.  

Application Instructions 

1. Please read the Community Foundation’s general grant policies to ensure you are eligible to apply.
   
   
2. Go to our new Grant Portal landing page where you will find information on registration, new features, FAQ’s, and helpful tutorials. (Plan ahead to ensure your inquiry is received at least 60 days prior to the start of your event, program, etc. or when funds are needed.) 
   
   
3. Once you’re in the new Grant Portal, you can complete and submit the Community Vision Fund LOI (Letter of Inquiry) inquiry form. Inquiries will typically be reviewed within 2 weeks.
   
   
4. Eligible inquiries will advance to submit a full grant application. After the application is complete you will typically hear from staff with a decision within 2-4 weeks.