2025 grant guidelines cycle 2

The Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s discretionary grantmaking supports projects and programs that align with priorities that support our strategic vision of creating a Milwaukee for all. Learn more about our second grant cycle timeline, priorities, guidelines and the appropriate program officer to contact with any questions.

Cycle 2

Important dates

Open office hours with portfolio managers: June 13, 2025 
Location: Greater Milwaukee Foundation 
2153 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Suite 4000  
Parking information   

Application opens: June 16, 2025

Application closes: July 11, 2025

Community Investment Committee meeting: September 2025

Board meeting: September 2025

 

Area served  

Milwaukee, Ozaukee,  Washington  and Waukesha counties 

 

Who can apply 

Grants are made to 501(c) (3) organizations that have boards consisting of at least 10 percent people of color. The executive director of the organization should not be included in that calculation. The term "people of color" refers to African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic/Latino and all other persons who are not categorized as white by the U.S. Census. 

Nonprofits must have at least four unrelated board members. 

 

Grant amount  

Requests for up to $50,000 per year for up to three years will be considered. Organizations are encouraged to apply for the funds and length of award necessary.  

 

Grantmaking framework 

Our grant investment framework aims: to ultimately support policies that benefit communities of color; to increase diverse representation (reflective of the racial and ethnic composition of communities served) in the decision-making bodies of institutions; and to change rules of engagement so that power is built, shared, and wielded equitably in order to produce just and sustainable outcomes. 

 

Priorities and guidelines

Select the portfolio most aligned to your work to learn more about additional grantmaking guidelines: