Foundations that fund environmental groups in Wisconsin
These 25 foundations made grants to environmental groups in Wisconsin in the most recent IRS filing I have for each. None of them ticked the box for giving only to preselected organizations, and each filing gives application instructions or a website. That doesn't prove a foundation takes applications, and some on this list may not. The text below is copied from the filings, most of them for tax year 2024, so check a foundation's website or call before you apply.
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John C Bock Foundation
- $40,000 to Door County Land Trust Inc, Sturgeon Bay: Environmental conservation
- $20,000 to Northeast Wisconsin Land Trust Inc, Appleton: Environmental conservation
- $10,000 to Gathering Waters Inc, Madison: General operating support
How to apply: See website located at www.bockfoundation.org
Deadlines: May 31st
Restrictions: Primary focus is on old growth forests in the state of wisconsin. See website for more information.
Madison Gas and Electric Foundation Inc
- $24,766 to Clean Lakes Alliance, Madison: General support
- $15,000 to Olbrich Botanical Society, Madison: General support
- $15,000 to Aldo Leopold Nature Center, Madison: General support
How to apply: Complete the application for funding and provide a copy of irs determination letter, current financial statements or copy of most recent audit report, project or program budget, and copy of minutes authorizing grant proposal.
Restrictions: Grants are generally awarded to 501(c)(3) exempt organizations located within madison gas and electric's service territory.
Green Bay Packers Foundation
- $4,500 to Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance Inc, Madison: Nature-based education for kids from low-income families
- $4,250 to Baird Creek Preservation Foundation Inc, Green Bay: Interactive educational art sculptures in the baird creek greenway
- $4,000 to Olbrich Botanical Society Inc, Madison: Education program & transportation scholarships
How to apply: Application is available online during the application period of may 1 to july 1.
Deadlines: July 1 of each year
Restrictions: The organization must be a recognized non-profit for a minimum of two years and be located in the state of wisconsin.
The Brookby Foundation
- $100,000 to Urban Ecology Center, Milwaukee: Imagine Campaign
- $90,000 to Urban Ecology Center, Milwaukee: Imagine campaign
- $70,000 to Wisconsin Conservation Voices, Madison: General support
How to apply: Grant requests are reviewed three (3) times each year. All grant requests shall be initiated with a letter of inquiry (loi) using the online grant portal. A review of the loi will determine if the request aligns with our grantmaking strategies. Loi should be submitted by the...
Deadlines: Spring (before 2/15); summer (before 5/15); winter (before 9/15)
Restrictions: May request funding once per calendar year
Arie and Ida Crown Memorial
- $250,000 to Clean Wisconsin, Madison: General operating
- $100,000 to River Alliance of Wisconsin Inc, Madison: General operating
- $100,000 to Wisconsin Conservation Voices Inc, Madison: General operating
How to apply: Visit https://www.crownfamilyphilanthropies.org to apply online
Deadlines: Visit https://www.crownfamilyphilanthropies.org for more information
Restrictions: Visit https://www.crownfamilyphilanthropies.org for more information
James E Dutton Foundation Inc C/O Dean W Fenske
- $10,000 to Milwaukee Riverkeeper, Milwaukee: Water Quality Monitoring Program
- $10,000 to Door County Land Trust, Sturgeon Bay: Indoor/Outdoor Classroom and Troop House at Camp Cuesta
- $10,000 to Aldo Leopold Nature Center, Monona: CompanionCare Hub Program
How to apply: There is no formal application form. Grant requests should include 1) description of organization and its mission, 2) description of project/program for which a grant is being requested, and 3) grant budget and time schedule. Grants may extend over two years or more dependent on...
Restrictions: Projects/programs that benefit wildlife, animal causes, environmental preservation and outdoors education. Once a grant is awarded grantees will be required to provide additional information about their organization and to file a grant...
Alliant Energy Foundation Inc
- $10,500 to Clean Lakes Alliance Inc, Madison: 2024 program support
- $5,000 to Sauk Prairie Conservation Alliance Inc, Baraboo: Advancing prairie restoration and conservation education on the sauk prairie
- $3,850 to Driftless Area Land Conservancy Inc, Dodgeville: Matching gift
How to apply: Giving for good grant request: -identification of nonprofit organization applying for funding -description of project, including funding details, timeline, and goals of project -description of the problem or opportunity the project is addressing
Fred C and Katherine B Andersen Foundation
- $95,000 to Riverwood Nature Center Inc, Star Prairie: Program or project
- $40,000 to Philadelphia Community Farm Inc, Osceola: General operating
- $30,000 to Wild Rivers Conservancy of the St Croix & Namekagon, Osceola: General operating
How to apply: The foundation mission, funding priorities, and application can be found at fkandersen.org
Deadlines: March 30, june 30, and october 30
Restrictions: Organizations seeking funding must be 501(c)(3) public nonprofit organizations. Endowment funding does not fall within the guidelines of the foundation. The foundation also does not provide funding to individuals, political campaigns,...
Antonia Foundation Incco F Michael Arnow
- $175,000 to Urban Ecology Center, Milwaukee: To support neighborhoodenviro ed project/prairie restoration
- $85,000 to Mequon Nature Preserve, Mequon: To support fellowsprogram & waterquality & ag progs
- $10,000 to The Aldo Leopold Nature Center, Monona: To support growing pridein wisc educ initiative& w.o.w. Project
How to apply: Submit grant information to address in 2a
Restrictions: Animal and wildlife conservation, nature education, and habitat protection. Food security.
Plan Foundation C/O Bessemer Trust Company Na
- $20,000 to Friends of Schlitz Audubon Center, Bayside: General / exempt purposes
- $20,000 to Ozaukee-Washington Land Trust, West Bend: General / exempt purposes
- $12,000 to Waukesha County Land Conservancy Inc, Brookfield: General / exempt purposes
How to apply: In accordance with its governing trust instrument, plan foundation's purpose is to make charitable grants to organizations described in section 509(a)(1) , (2) and (3) of the internal revenue code. The trustees of the trust will consider grant applications from any of the...
Restrictions: See 2b
Prairie Springs Paul Fleckenstein Charitable Trust
- $22,000 to Taliesin Preservation, Spring Green: Land restoration
- $15,000 to Milwaukee Parks Foundation, Wauwatosa: General operations
- $2,500 to Harbor District, Milwaukee: General operations
How to apply: Use of the wisconsin common grant application form, available from the funding information center at marquette university raynor library, is recommended.
Restrictions: Grants are awarded in the areas of conservation, environmental protection, ecological technology and wildlife preservation.
Thomas A Fox Charitable Trust
- $6,650 to Gathering Waters, Madison: Nature
- $5,550 to Door County Land Trust, Sister Bay: Nature
- $5,250 to Landmark Conservancy, Menomonee: Nature
How to apply: Applicants should include their mission and financials.
Deadlines: No submission deadlines
Restrictions: Charitable nature, wildlife, and aids are the areas that will be considered.
Cleary-Kumm Foundation Inc
- $10,000 to Mississippi Valley Conservancy, La Crosse: Access Easement to Cliffwood Bluff
- $2,000 to Urban Ecology Center, Milwaukee: Donation - Kristine Cleary Peter Coffey
- $1,000 to Clean Wisconsin, Madison: Donation from Russell Heise
How to apply: Letter outlining organizations needs and tax exempt qualifications and a brief resume of organizations past qualifying activities
Restrictions: None - except contributions are not made directly to individuals
Generac Foundation Inc
- $5,000 to Urban Ecology Center Inc, Milwaukee: Support NEEP Program 2024/2025 school year
- $5,000 to Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful Inc, Milwaukee: Every VOLT counts program
- $1,250 to Midwest Renewable Energy Association Inc, Custer: Grow Solar educational outreach fund
How to apply: generacgives@generac.com
Deadlines: No
Restrictions: No
The Joyce Foundation
- $385,000 to Clean Wisconsin Inc, Madison: Environment
- $105,000 to Wisconsin Conservation Voices Inc, Madison: Democracy
- $75,000 to Milwaukee Water Commons Inc, Milwaukee: Environment
How to apply: See attachment
Restrictions: See attachment
The Mcknight Foundation
- $250,000 to Renew Wisconsin Inc, Madison: for general operating support
- $200,000 to Clean Wisconsin Inc, Madison: for general operating support
- $100,000 to Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association Inc, Madison: for general operating support
How to apply: Please see the end of the return for the additional attachments containing the information for Lines 2b - 2d.
The Lori and David Nicholas Family Foundation Inc
- $125,000 to Reflo Inc, Milwaukee: General support.
- $25,000 to Gathering Waters Inc, Madison: General support. To strengthen land trusts to protect wi's special places & grow healthy,...
- $15,000 to Ozaukee Washington Land Trust Inc, West Bend: Landscape restoration school summer program scholarships.
How to apply: Type written letter with history and purpose of organization
Restrictions: To 501 (c)(3) exempt organizations and government units
Rockwell Automation Charitable Corp
- $75,000 to Urban Ecology Center, Milwaukee: General Operating, Education support
- $40,000 to Harbor District Inc, Milwaukee: General Operating Support
- $10,000 to Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful, Milwaukee: Program support
How to apply: Applications should be submitted at the following web address: https://www.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/news/articles/giving-guidelines.html
Deadlines: Application deadlines are November 1 for payment in March and May 15 for payment in September.
Restrictions: Restrictions or limitations are listed at https://www.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/news/articles/giving-guidelines.html
Mutschler Family Foundation Inc
- $4,500 to Clean Wisconsin, Madison: Environment
- $2,500 to Riveredge Nature Center, Saukville: Education Environment
- $1,000 to Mississippi Valley Conservancy, Lacrosse: Environment
How to apply: Open Letter Format
The Kresge Foundation
- $155,000 to Milwaukee Water Commons Inc, Milwaukee: Project support grant focused on environmental and climate resilience efforts in...
- $105,000 to Milwaukee Water Commons Inc, Milwaukee: Project support to aid milwaukee water commons' efforts to increase climate and water...
How to apply: See www.kresge.org or email grantsmanagement@kresge.org
Deadlines: See www.kresge.org or email grantsmanagement@kresge.org
Restrictions: See www.kresge.org or email grantsmanagement@kresge.org
Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation
- $50,000 to Geneva Lake Conservancy, Fontana: General operations
- $10,000 to Kettle Moraine Land Trust, Elkhorn: General operations
How to apply: Organizations apply for grants using an online system linked from the gaylord and dorothy donnelley foundation's website (www.gddf.org).
Deadlines: 11:59pm et on the deadlines posted on the foundation's website.
Restrictions: See website for more information.
The Clarence Wallace & Dolores Lynch Wallace Family Foundation
- $20,000 to Riverview Gardens, Appleton: General support
- $1,500 to Riveredge Nature Center, Newburg: General support
How to apply: Deadlines fluctuate as the board meets at various times during the year. Grant requests are due typically one month before the meeting. A grant request form and details of the requirements are available by request through the foundation's consultant mary harp-jirschele. An...
Deadlines: Applications are due one month before the meeting.
Restrictions: The board has determined that it will not make grants which are intended to serve as pass-through funding - wallace family foundation will not grant monies to a public charity whose intent is to distribute the money onto another nonprofit...
Maihaugen Foundation Inc Agency 1045002262
- $10,000 to Urban Ecology Center, Milwaukee: Education
- $10,000 to Door County Land Trust Inc, Sturgeon Bay: Natural resouce
How to apply: Proposal letter not exceeding two pages. Write to above address for brochure outlining grant process.
Restrictions: Primarily organizations in door county and milwaukee, wi focusing on historic preservation, cultural activities and environmental issues.
Cornerstone Foundation of Northeastern Wisconsin Inc
- $15,000 to Green Bay Botanical Garden, Green Bay: Children & family program/exhibit/wps garden of lights
- $1,500 to Trees for Tomorrow, Green Bay: Scholarships
How to apply: Applicants are encouraged to call prior to submitting an application.
Deadlines: Applications may be submitted at any time
Restrictions: Grants are made to organizations in northeastern wisconsin with primary focus in brown county.
Bert L and Patricia S Steigleder Charitable
- $7,500 to Mequon Nature Preserve, Mequon: General operating
- $5,000 to Urban Ecology Center, Milwaukee: General operating
How to apply: Inquiries and applications should be in writing
Restrictions: See footnote for guidelines and restrictions and limitations on awards.
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