Mission


The West Bend Mutual Insurance Company’s Charitable Fund was established to better the greater West Bend Area and improve the lives of its citizens.

Grants from the Fund address broad fields of interest, such as education, the arts and the environment. Organizations interested in applying for funding should refer to the following guidelines, and direct specific questions to Danielle Breen at 414.336.7072.

Area Served

The Fund primarily awards grants to nonprofit organizations within the greater West Bend area or otherwise serving residents of the greater West Bend area.

Eligible Organizations

Grants are made only to nonprofit organizations exempt from federal taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.



Grantmaking priorities


The Fund awards grants for new programs, capital projects or operating support. Multiple-year projects may be made for capital projects or projects requiring several years of development.

Priority is given, but not limited, to applications in the following areas:

  • Arts and Culture
  • Education 
  • Family, Youth, and Elderly
  • Health and Human Services
  • Community Development
  • Historic Preservation

The Fund does not ordinarily support:

  • Sectarian religious purposes 
  • Debt reduction
  • Governmental entities
  • Endowments
  • Campaigns to elect candidates
  • Third party reimbursements
  • Individuals

In addition, the Fund will normally not consider standard project applications that have been previously declined, unless expressly permitted by the Fund’s advisors.


Decision making criteria

Among the criteria which will be used in judging applications are the following:

  • Clarity of the application and of the significance of the project to the West Bend area
  • Capacity of the agency (governing body, staff, financing) to respond to the problem(s)
  • New or expanded projects or programs
  • Agencies where a West Bend Mutual Insurance Company associate is actively involved
  • In addition, the Fund encourages collaborative projects that improve organizational capacity of the participating agencies and which lead to enhanced community service. Collaborative projects may include: 
    • Sharing management, financial, informational technology, and other administrative functions or staff
    • Joint purchasing of supplies, insurance and other products and services where quantity buying reduces costs and affords access
    • Sharing facilities or co-locating offices
    • Joint marketing, public relations and promotion activities 
    • Joint program planning, client outreach, and service delivery in common fields 
    • Joint fundraising efforts or events


When to Apply


The Fund’s advisors meet two times per year, in June and in December, to determine grant awards. Please review the grant calendar for application deadlines for each meeting. Only under extraordinary circumstances will the advisors consider grant requests outside the normal funding cycles.


Application Process

Please review the steps in the How to Apply for a Grant section under the Grant Seekers menu and then click on the “Grants Portal Access” button at the bottom of the page. You will be taken to a page where you can log on to Foundant to complete your application.

Once the agency’s information is entered in the Grants Portal, it may submit an online application. The Fund’s advisors will review proposals and make recommendations. All applicants receive written notification of the advisors’ action.


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Grants Portal Access

Contact us

For questions about the application process contact Danielle Breen.