2024 grant guidelines

Early childhood education

Background  

High quality early childhood care and education is the key to giving every child the start in life they need and deserve. It has been shown to have a significant impact on a child’s long-term academic, social, and developmental success, and enables parents to participate in the workforce. Furthermore, research supports that physical learning environments matter. Facilities and the child-centered spaces within them can enhance children’s development by inspiring a range of social and cognitive learning experiences, as well as encouraging the development of gross motor skills. Indoor and outdoor spaces can increase students in a variety of hands-on learning experiences, collaboration, exploration, and play. For the well-being of our children and the future of our economy, we need to act now. That is why the Greater Milwaukee Foundation is prioritizing early childhood care and education. 

Area Served

Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington counties. 

Who may apply 

Grants are made to 501(c) (3) organizations that have board membership that comprises at least 10 percent people of color. 

Grantmaking focus 

Workforce and professional development

Grant amount 

The typical grant range is $10,000 to $50,000. 

Contact Jeannie Fenceroy to learn more about this priority area.

Mental health

Background  

Mental health outcomes are impacted by the ongoing harm of racial disparities in our health care system. Access to appropriate mental health services and improvement of mental health outcomes are this portfolio's main priorities. Our grant investment strategy aims to shift power, representation and policy toward racial equity. 

Area served 

Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington counties. 

Who may apply 

Grants are made to 501(c) (3) organizations that have board membership that comprises at least 10 percent people of color.  

Grantmaking focus 

• Projects/organizations which provide community-based and culturally reverent mental health support 
• Projects/organizations advancing an integrative approach to well-being  
• Restorative justice 
• Projects/organizations which build solidarity and collaboration among service providers and community in their sector/work  
• Projects/organizations which build narrative and actual power for oppressed communities 
• Projects/organizations engaged in advocacy efforts, including anti-racist organizational development which transforms influence in their sector/work 
• Projects/organizations addressing health impacts of racial inequity, particularly interventions that are disproportionately underfunded 

• Projects/organizations that provide community-based, culturally reverent, and responsive mental health support and clinical services

• Projects/organizations advancing an integrative approach to well-being, especially evidence-based interventions not typically funded by health insurance  

• Patient empowerment and clinical/training process improvement. 

• Local manifestations or solutions of/for racial disparities in health outcomes 

• Culturally reverent researchers and methods

Grant amount 

The typical grant range is $5,000 to $75,000. The maximum request for a capital grant is $100,000. 

Contact Benjamin Porter to learn more about this priority area.

Medical research

Background  

Medical research is impacted by the ongoing harm of racial disparities in health outcomes. Access to appropriate health services and improving health outcomes are this portfolio's main priorities. Our grant investment strategy aims to shift power, representation, and policy toward racial equity. 

Area served 

Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties 

Who may apply 

Grants are made to 501(c) (3) organizations that have board membership that comprises at least 10 percent people of color. 

Grantmaking focus 

• Patient empowerment and clinical/training process improvement  
• Expressions of racial disparities in health outcomes 
• Projects/organizations that build solidarity and collaboration among service providers and community in their sector/work 
• Projects/organizations that build narrative and actual power for oppressed communities 
• Projects/organizations engaged in advocacy efforts, including anti-racist organizational development which transforms influence in their sector/work 
• Projects/organizations addressing health impacts of racial inequity, particularly interventions that are disproportionately underfunded 

Grant amount 

The typical grant range is $5,000 to $75,000. The maximum request for a capital grant is $100,000. 

Contact Benjamin Porter to learn more about this priority area.

Workforce development

Background 

Investments in this grant portfolio aim to support job creation, job training, job placement and other workforce strategies in our region. 

Area Served 

Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties  

Who can apply 

Grants are made to 501(c) (3) organizations that have board membership that comprises at least 10 percent people of color.  

Grantmaking focus 

• Programs and projects that provide creative job creation strategies 
• Job training programs that help get people into jobs that pay a living wage 
• Workforce programs and projects that offer supports to people & employers 

Grant amount 

The typical grant range is $5,000 to $50,000. The maximum request for a capital grant is $100,000. 

Contact Theresa Scott to learn more about this priority area.