Waukesha County Community Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $8.5 million+ (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Approximately 3-4 months (July application to October announcement)
• Grant Range: $3,800 - $7,000 (typical Community Grants)
• Geographic Focus: Waukesha County, Wisconsin
• Assets: $80 million+ in endowed assets (2025)
• Community Grants: $175,250 awarded to 25 nonprofits (2025)

Contact Details

Address: 2727 N. Grandview Blvd., Suite 301, Waukesha, WI 53188

Phone: (262) 513-1861

Email: info@waukeshafoundation.org

Website: https://waukeshafoundation.org

Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

Director of Grants & Stewardship: Ben Dobner, bdobner@waukeshafoundation.org

Overview

Founded in 1999, the Waukesha County Community Foundation (WCCF) has grown from a simple goal of pooling funds to support nonprofits throughout Waukesha County into a major philanthropic force with more than $80 million in endowed assets. The foundation manages 450+ funds created by individuals, families, and organizations, all dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in Waukesha County. Since CEO Melissa Baxter joined in December 2021, the foundation's endowed assets have grown from $62 million to over $80 million. In 2024, WCCF awarded more than $8.5 million in grants and scholarships. The foundation achieved a historic milestone in 2025 by administering more than $1 million in scholarships to local students, their largest annual total to date. WCCF has earned a 4/4 Star rating on Charity Navigator with a score of 97%, reflecting strong financial health, accountability, and transparency.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Grants Cycle

• Annual competitive grant program
• Typical award range: $3,800 - $7,000 per grant
• Total annual distribution: $166,000 - $175,000
• Awards announced at annual Giving Forward Breakfast in October
• Application opens early July through online portal

Other Grant-Making Activities

• Donor-advised funds (additional $5.4 million+ in grants and scholarships beyond Community Grants in 2024)
• Scholarship programs (over $1 million awarded in 2025)
• Special purpose funds managed by individual donors

Priority Areas

The Community Grants program supports nonprofit organizations across five key areas:

• Education - Supporting learning and educational access
• Arts & Culture - Promoting cultural enrichment and artistic programs
• Health & Human Services - Addressing health and social service needs
• Environment & Conservation - Environmental protection and conservation efforts
• Community Development - Building stronger communities

What They Don't Fund

Explicit Exclusions:

• Organizations that do not serve Waukesha County
• Non-501(c)(3) organizations
• Organizations without a non-discrimination policy
• Consecutive year funding - Grants will not be repeated for the same organization in consecutive years
• Requests that would endanger the foundation's non-profit status
• Gifts without obvious charitable intent

Important Limitation:

• Discretionary funds available for Community Grants are currently limited, which may affect the number of grants awarded each cycle

Governance and Leadership

Executive Staff

Melissa Rigney Baxter - President & CEO (since 2021)

• Previously served as Director of Resource Development at Greater Milwaukee Committee (2019-2021) and Director of Foundation & Corporate Relations at Carroll University (2010-2019)
• On the Foundation's annual event: "The Giving Forward Breakfast is a time to recognize the power of philanthropy and to connect as a community. The community grant funding we announce each year is only possible because of the generosity of donors throughout the years."
• On community generosity: "People in Waukesha County have always been generous and supported a wide variety of needs in our communities... As we share long-term as well as urgent community needs, the response from the community is inspiring."
• On her role: "Connecting people is the most rewarding part of my role, whether connecting a donor to a nonprofit or connecting nonprofits to each other for collaboration."

Jim Moore - Vice President Operations

Ben Dobner - Director of Grants & Stewardship (joined October 2025)

• Brings background in grantmaking and skills in donor stewardship
• Primary contact for grant inquiries

Board of Directors

Recent board members include:

• Renee Ramirez - CEO Emeritus of Community Smiles Dental
• John Richter - Senior Director at Catalyst Construction
• Chuck Stadler - CFO at Wild Marketing Group
• Jennifer Vipond, MD - Pediatrician at ProHealth Care
• Anita Rodriguez Cordero - Leadership coach and principal of Knowing Deeper, Coaching and Consulting, LLC
• Matt Sauer - Vice President Engineering & Digital Product Management at Northwestern Mutual

The foundation operates with 8 staff members and 36 volunteers.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Two-Stage Application Process:

1. Letter of Intent (LOI)

   • Annual Community Grants Cycle opens in early July
   • Applicants must create an account through the foundation's online grant portal
   • Submit LOI form via portal by the determined deadline
   • All submissions reviewed by the Grants Review Committee

2. Full Proposal (By Invitation Only)

   • Only applicants invited by the Grants Review Committee advance to this stage
   • Full proposal must be submitted by the specified deadline
   • After extensive review and evaluation, recommendations are made to the Board of Directors

Required Documentation:

• Evidence of 501(c)(3) status
• Non-discrimination policy

Application Portal: Available at waukeshafoundation.org

Decision Timeline

Typical Timeline:

• Early July: Application cycle opens, LOI submissions accepted
• Mid-Summer: Grants Review Committee reviews LOIs
• Late Summer/Early Fall: Selected organizations invited to submit full proposals
• October (typically late October): Grant recipients announced at annual Giving Forward Breakfast
• Total Process: Approximately 3-4 months from application opening to announcement

Success Rates

While the foundation does not publish specific success rate statistics, recent data provides some context:

• 2025: 25 grants awarded from total applicant pool (not disclosed)
• 2024: 29 grants awarded
• 2023: 31 grants awarded

The foundation notes that discretionary funds for Community Grants are currently limited, suggesting a competitive process. The Grants Review Committee conducts extensive review before making recommendations to the Board of Directors.

Reapplication Policy

Important Restriction: Grants will not be repeated for the same organization in consecutive years.

This means organizations that receive a Community Grant in one year are ineligible to apply the following year. Organizations should plan accordingly and consider whether a single year of funding aligns with their project timeline.

Application Success Factors

Direct Guidance from the Foundation

According to the Foundation's Grants Manager: "It's not necessarily the flashiest requests that appeal to the Committee, but rather the most thoughtful."

This suggests that applicants should focus on:

• Thoughtful presentation over flashy proposals
• Clear articulation of community needs being addressed
• Strong alignment with one or more of the five priority areas
• Demonstrated service to Waukesha County residents
• Evidence of organizational capacity and non-discrimination practices

Recent Grant Recipients as Examples

The foundation has funded diverse organizations including:

• ACAP, Inc.
• Best Buddies Wisconsin
• Broadscope Disability Services
• Carroll University
• Chosen Inc of Wisconsin
• Christmas Clearing Council of Waukesha County
• Elmbrook New Berlin Senior Taxi, Inc.
• GPS Education Partners, Inc.
• Habitat for Humanity of Waukesha & Jefferson Counties
• Humane Animal Welfare Society (HAWS) of Waukesha County
• Journey21
• La Casa de Esperanza, Inc.
• LifeStriders Inc.
• Literacy Services of Wisconsin
• Oconomowoc Silver Streak, Inc.
• Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Waukesha County
• The Women's Center
• Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Metropolitan Milwaukee
• Family Promise of Waukesha Co.
• Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan
• Wisconsin Masonic Home

This diverse list demonstrates the foundation's broad interpretation of priority areas and willingness to fund both large established organizations and smaller specialized service providers.

Strategic Considerations

Key Success Factors:

1. Geographic focus: Projects must clearly serve Waukesha County residents
2. Sector diversity: The foundation supports various fields—don't assume your sector is too crowded or too niche
3. Community connection: The foundation values connecting donors, nonprofits, and community needs
4. Thoughtful over flashy: Substance and clear thinking matter more than presentation bells and whistles
5. Evidence-based need: Demonstrate actual community needs and how your organization addresses them
6. Multi-year planning: Since consecutive year funding is prohibited, consider requesting support for a specific project phase or capacity building rather than ongoing operations

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Plan for the timeline: Applications open in July with announcements in October—begin preparing well in advance of the July opening
• One shot every two years: Since you cannot receive grants in consecutive years, make your request count and consider multi-year project planning
• Thoughtfulness wins: The foundation explicitly values thoughtful proposals over flashy ones—focus on substance and clear logic
• Geographic specificity matters: Clearly articulate how your work serves Waukesha County residents; this is a strict requirement
• Typical grant size: Plan for requests in the $4,000-$7,000 range based on recent awards
• Diverse funding sources: While Community Grants are competitive and limited, the foundation manages 450+ funds that support various causes—building relationships could lead to other funding opportunities
• Relationship building: CEO Melissa Baxter emphasizes connecting people as the most rewarding part of her role—consider attending the Giving Forward Breakfast or other foundation events to network

References

• Waukesha County Community Foundation Official Website. https://waukeshafoundation.org (Accessed February 2026)
• Community Grants Cycle page. https://waukeshafoundation.org/grants/communitygrants/ (Accessed February 2026)
• "Waukesha County Community Foundation awards over $175,000 in grants." The Freeman (gmtoday.com), October 2025. https://www.gmtoday.com/the_freeman/news/waukesha-county-community-foundation-breakfast/article_9eadb541-794c-5183-8c1d-0a06c7b9c9fe.html
• "Waukesha County Community Foundation president, CEO uses storytelling to create change." The Freeman, 2025. https://www.gmtoday.com/the_freeman/news/waukesha-county-community-foundation-president-ceo-uses-storytelling-to-create-change/article_061f220d-ce24-5441-bfbf-8705d967368d.html
• "Waukesha County Community Foundation Announces 2023 Community Grant Recipients." WCCF Press Release. https://waukeshafoundation.org/waukesha-county-community-foundation-awards-grants-2/
• History page. https://waukeshafoundation.org/about/history/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Our Team page. https://waukeshafoundation.org/about/our-team/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Charity Navigator Rating for Waukesha County Community Foundation Inc. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/391969122 (Accessed February 2026)
• Cause IQ Profile. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/waukesha-county-community-foundation,391969122/ (Accessed February 2026)
• GuideStar Profile. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/39-1969122 (Accessed February 2026)
• "Memorable Moments from 2025." WCCF. https://waukeshafoundation.org/memorable-moments-from-2025/ (Accessed February 2026)