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HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Our office is closed Thursday and Friday. READ OUR LATEST TECHNOLOGY OUTAGE UPDATE.

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Grant Opportunities

Get help addressing community needs through grants available to nonprofit organizations in our service area.

Update November 24, 2021:

During a technology system upgrade one month ago, our internal databases used by staff and our online giving and donor portals became unavailable. This was not caused by a breach in security. We’re glad to let you know we are making progress!

In the meantime, here’s what you need to know:

Our staff is caught up on recording and distributing contributions and grants.

  • Grant approvals that were made between October 8 and November 11 will be mailed to nonprofit recipients on November 19. Grant approvals made November 11-24 will be mailed to nonprofit recipients by December 3. If you are expecting a grant payment and have concerns about the timing of when it will be received, please contact the appropriate staff member or the Community Foundation office.

If your organization has an agency fund with us, we are able to generate fund financial statements upon request. Please direct those requests to your donor services manager.Access to our online grant application portal You may now access the Grant Portal Here.

Where does the money come from?

Generous donors have created a variety of charitable funds with the Community Foundation to help strengthen the Fox Valley Region for current and future generations. These funds provide grants to nonprofit organizations working to enhance all aspects of community life. Some grants are awarded through application processes. These grant opportunities are listed below.

Bright Idea Fund Grants

This permanent fund seeks to fulfill community needs and advance well-being for all in Calumet, Outagamie, Shawano and Waupaca and the Neenah-Menasha area of Winnebago counties. Our Bright Idea Fund combines dollars from generous donors who believe in giving in ways that address ever-changing community needs together. The Foundation awards grants from the fund through application and review processes that align with focus areas, using the help of community volunteers representing diverse professional, personal and community backgrounds. 

Donor-Directed Grants

Most grants awarded from within the Community Foundation come from charitable funds created by donors to fulfill their personal giving today and for generations to come. However, some donor-directed funds, like these listed below, accept grant requests from charitable organizations.

Read the grant guidelines and apply by clicking on each fund:

Click to read the Basic Needs Giving Partnership​’s grant guidelines and apply.

Grant Deadline: 4 p.m. Dec. 31. The grant application opens on October 1. If October 1 lands on a weekend, the application will open on the following Monday.
Click to read the Capital Credit Union​’s grant guidelines and apply.

Click to read the Frank C. Shattuck Community Fund​’s grant guidelines and apply.

Proactive granting. Click to read the Infant Welfare Circle’s grant guidelines and apply.

Grant Deadline: 4/1, 10/1. Click to read the Robert & Patricia Endries Family Foundation​’s grant guidelines and apply.

Grant Deadlines: 3/1, 6/1, 9/1, 12/1. Click to read the Jewelers Mutual​’s grant guidelines and apply.

We have realigned our grant-making from the the Environmental Stewardship Fund. Environmental grant requests are now simply handled through the Bright Idea Fund grant process. Requests of up to $2,500 for events or $5,000 for programs can be submitted as Spark grant requests. Larger requests can be submitted under the Bright Idea Fund’s Environment focus area. All grant money generated by the Environmental Stewardship Fund will support only environmental grant request through the Bright Idea Fund. 

Click to read the John & Sally Mielke Early Years Fund​’s grant guidelines and apply.

Grant Deadline:

Spring Cycle: Inquiry deadline no later than Mar. 1, Applications due Mar. 18, Decisions by early May.
Fall Cycle: Inquiry deadline no later than Sept. 1, Applications due Sept. 13, Decisions by early-November.

Click to read the Mielke Family Foundation​’s grant guidelines and apply.

Grant Deadlines: 3/31, 6/30, 9/30, 12/31. Click to read the Prospera Foundation​’s grant guidelines and apply.

Grant Deadline: 11/1. Click to read the SAC Developmental Disabilities​’ grant guidelines and apply.

Grant Deadline: Every month on the 1st (or the following Monday if the 1st is a Sunday). Click to read the SECURA Insurance Companies Charitable Fund​’s grant guidelines and apply.

Click to read the Sikora Family Memorial Fund‘s grant guidelines and apply.

Click to read the The Violet and Ruben Laack Memorial Fund​’s grant guidelines and apply.

Grant Deadline: 3/1, 6/1, 9/1, 11/1. Click to read the Water Right Charitable Fund‘s grant guidelines and apply.

Grants from Families of Funds

We partner with groups seeking to provide grants benefiting specific causes or geographic areas. Each group has its own grant application process:

Partners and Regional Affiliates

Click to apply:

Grant Deadline: 11/1. Read the ​Appleton Education Foundation‘s grant guidelines before applying.

Grant Deadline: 1/6. Read the Women’s Fund for the Fox Valley Region​’s grant guidelines before applying.

Click on Brillion Area Family of Funds to learn more.

Grant Deadline: 1/31. Read the Chilton Area Community Foundation​’s grant guidelines before applying.

Grant Deadline: 12/1. Read the Clintonville Area Foundation​’s grant guidelines before applying.

Grant Deadline: 10/1. Read the Shawano Area Community Foundation ​’s grant guidelines before applying.

Grant Deadline: 6/10. Read the Waupaca Area Community Foundation ​’s grant guidelines before applying.

If you’re seeking a grant, stay informed by subscribing to our monthly e-blast, and be sure to share with a friend!

Find out what’s happening in the Fox Valley Region through the Community Foundation. Get in The Loop or Invite a friend to get in The Loop