West Bend Community Foundation
Background
West Bend civic leaders Cliff Nelson and R. Douglas Ziegler believed that people ought to give back to the community in which they live. In 1999, the two men put their words into action by launching the West Bend Community Foundation, a Greater Milwaukee Foundation supporting organization that is a permanent charitable endowment serving the greater West Bend area.
Area served
Greater West Bend area
Who can apply
Grants are made only to 501(c) (3) nonprofit organizations within the greater West Bend area or otherwise serving area residents.
Grantmaking focus
The West Bend Community Foundation provides grants for operating support, special projects or capital projects to nonprofit organizations representing a broad field of interest, including but not limited to:
- Arts and culture
- Education (limited to scholarship organizations)
- Environment
- Family, youth and elderly
- Health and human services
- Community development
Preference will be given to requests for new or expanded projects/programs and to cases where the foundation's funds will make a significant impact. The board will not normally consider applications outside the normal funding cycle.
Grant amount
- Multi-year grants will be considered, but generally not for more than three years
- Organizations may only apply for one grant of any type per year
- Grants cover operating support, special projects or capital projects
Evaluation criteria
- Significance of the problem(s) addressed to the people of the greater West Bend area
- Capacity of the agency (governing body, staff, financing) to respond to the problem(s)
- Number of greater West Bend area residents expected to benefit
- Urgency of need for support
2025 Timeline
Jan. 28, 2-4 p.m. - Grant Information Session at Museum of Wisconsin Art, 205 Veterans Ave, West Bend, WI 53095
Feb. 17 - Application opens
March 21 - Application closes
June 12 - Decision date (Please note that it can take two weeks for your organization to be notified after grant decision is made.)