We want to help seed your good deed! Here’s what you need to know before applying.

Thank you!

Our grants are designed to:

1. Support the ideas of changemakers, activists, and visionaries in Northeast Wisconsin who see and work to address needs in their community that have gone unmet.

2. Provide funding for seed grants of between $1,500 and $5,000 that will support early-stage projects creating a more compassionate, just, and sustainable Northeast Wisconsin where a small amount of money will go a very long way. Due to this reason, we support projects with total budgets of $50,000 or less.

3.  Support grassroots projects proposed by:

   1. Individuals, as opposed to existing 501C3 non-profit organizations, unless the non-profit has existed less than five years.

   2. Students, under age 18. Students will need additional parental/guardian signatures and/or school administration signatures and support if the project is specifically for their school.

4. Encourage individuals who are creating projects and programs in the following (but not limited to) areas:

   • Human Services & Basic Needs

   • Youth Leadership & Development

   • Support for Indigenous & Emerging Populations

   • Human Rights, especially for LGBTQ+ Communities

   • Innovative Programs for Seniors & Elderly

   • Arts & Culture

   • Mental Health & Wellness, especially in the areas of trauma, depression & suicide prevention

   • Environmental Sustainability & Stewardship

   • Animal Rights & Welfare

   • Economic Empowerment

5. Fund projects occurring in these 12 Northeast Wisconsin counties: Brown, Calumet, Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, Sheboygan, and Winnebago.

6. Cover costs such as supplies, program materials, website design, discounted professional services, printing, copying, promotional costs, technical support. We do not cover expenses that have incurred prior to the date that grantees have signed their contracts if their project has been accepted.

7. Support projects with a clear target audience, and a compelling plan to reach and impact an audience in a positive way. 

8. Support projects where income will be used for a purely charitable effort or ones that don’t expect to earn a profit. 
   
   

We are unable to fund:

1. We do not support projects that directly conflict with our mission and values.

2. We do not make grants to projects that have well-established funding sources. Projects with total budgets of $50,000 or less are eligible. We only grant to the

   same individual or organization every other year.

3. We do not make grants to projects where the primary benefit is to the grantee or any one individual.

4. We cannot support projects that influence the outcome of any specific election for candidates to public office, inducing or encouraging violations of law or public policy or causing any improper private benefit to occur.

5. We do not support projects that support religious worship, instruction or proselytization.