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Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$75.0M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.1M
Decision Time
3mo

Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $75 million (2024)
  • Discretionary Grants: $26.9 million (2024)
  • Total Assets: $1.3 billion
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $100,000 (capital grants)
  • Geographic Focus: Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, and Waukesha counties (Wisconsin)
  • Application Cycles: Three times per year
  • Typical Grant Range by Priority: $5,000 - $75,000

Contact Details

Website: https://www.greatermilwaukeefoundation.org

Phone: 414-272-5805

Fax: 414-272-6235

Email: grants@greatermilwaukeefoundation.org

Address: 2153 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Suite 4000, Milwaukee, WI 53212

Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Grant Portal: grantinterface.com

Contact for Application Questions: Michelle Burton

Overview

Established in 1915, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation is Wisconsin's largest and one of the oldest community foundations in the United States. With over $1.3 billion in assets and more than 1,500 charitable funds, the Foundation awarded approximately $75 million in grants in 2024, including $26.9 million in discretionary grants, with the remainder distributed through donor-advised, designated, and scholarship funds. The Foundation is guided by a North Star of racial equity and inclusion, with a strategic vision called "A Milwaukee for All" that aims to reshape the Milwaukee region as a place where everyone thrives. Under the leadership of new President and CEO Greg Wesley (who began in August 2024, succeeding Ellen Gilligan), the Foundation focuses on dismantling systemic racism and reversing disinvestment in Black and Brown communities through partnership, advocacy, and focused investments around interrelated community priorities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Competitive Grant Cycles (three times per year):

  • General Operating Grants: $5,000 - $50,000 - Cover ongoing expenses and day-to-day activities for nonprofit sustainability
  • Project/Program Support: $5,000 - $75,000 (varies by priority area) - Restricted funds for specific activities aligned with Foundation priorities
  • Capital/Facilities Grants: Up to $100,000 - Physical project costs including equipment purchases and building renovations
  • Multi-Year Funding: Up to $50,000 per year for up to three years (considered on case-by-case basis)

Application Method: Rolling three-cycle system per year through online Foundant portal

Typical Grant Ranges by Priority Area:

  • Workforce Development: $5,000 - $50,000
  • Early Childhood Care and Education: $10,000 - $50,000
  • Health and Mental Health: $5,000 - $75,000
  • Older Adult Health: $5,000 - $50,000
  • Small Business Support: $5,000 - $50,000

Community Connections Small Grants Program: Small grants for neighborhood beautification, safety initiatives, and health and wellness programs (over 160 grants totaling nearly $118,000 awarded in first 10 years)

Priority Areas

The Foundation's discretionary grantmaking supports projects and programs aligned with their strategic vision of creating "A Milwaukee for All." Priority areas vary by grant cycle but include:

Arts & Culture:

  • Fostering arts education programs for children and youth from birth to high school
  • Supporting creation and exhibition of art that engages the community and reflects diverse perspectives
  • Developing programming that cultivates appreciation of diverse cultures and art forms
  • Preserving cultural heritages
  • Integrating arts into community planning, development, and historical preservation

Health Equity:

  • Increasing transformative, community-led investments that support access to appropriate health services
  • Addressing Black maternal/child health disparities
  • Supporting transformative medical research to improve health outcomes
  • Mental health initiatives

Early Childhood Education:

  • Expanding access to quality, affordable early childhood care and education for Black and Brown families
  • Supporting Milwaukee Succeeds initiative

Economic Opportunity:

  • Entrepreneurship and small business development
  • Workforce development programs
  • Anti-displacement efforts

Environment: Environmental sustainability projects that benefit the four-county service area

Housing: Affordable housing and anti-displacement initiatives

All funding is guided by the Foundation's commitment to racial equity and inclusion, with priorities focused on dismantling systemic racism and reversing historic disinvestment in communities of color.

What They Don't Fund

  • Grants to individuals (through discretionary funds)
  • Contributions to general campaigns
  • Projects outside Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, and Waukesha counties
  • Organizations that do not meet the 10% board diversity requirement (must have board membership that is at least 10% people of color)
  • Organizations with multiple concurrent open grants (only one application per organization per grant cycle)

Governance and Leadership

President and CEO: Gregory M. Wesley, JD (began August 2024)

Greg Wesley became the Foundation's president and CEO in August 2024, succeeding Ellen M. Gilligan who retired after 14 years of leadership. Wesley previously served on the Foundation's Board of Directors and as co-chair of the ThriveOn Collaboration, representing the Medical College of Wisconsin where he spent eight years as senior vice president for strategic alliances and business development. Originally from Gary, Indiana, Wesley came to Milwaukee in 1997 and has deep roots in the community's legal and nonprofit sectors. Wesley views "the Foundation as a weaver to this community" and aims to "help our community deal with its problems but also make sure it remains strong and a place that people want to be."

Former President and CEO: Ellen M. Gilligan (2010-2024)

Under Gilligan's leadership, the Foundation's assets doubled to over $1 billion, and annual grant support more than tripled. She advanced racial equity and inclusion as the Foundation's North Star and launched the "A Milwaukee for All" strategic vision in 2020. She spearheaded major initiatives including Milwaukee Succeeds (2011) and the ThriveOn Collaboration with the Medical College of Wisconsin and Royal Capital.

Investment Committee: A volunteer group of financial experts oversees the selection and performance of investment managers, including:

  • Thomas W. Florsheim Jr. (Chair) - Chairman and CEO, Weyco Group, Inc.
  • Naryan Leazer (Vice Chair) - Financial Adviser, North Star Resource Group
  • David Ells - Managing Director-Structured Credit, Ares Management, L.P.
  • Gregory S. Marcus - President and CEO, The Marcus Corporation
  • Mary Ellen Stanek - President, Baird Funds; Chief Investment Officer, Baird Advisors
  • Derek Tyus - Executive Vice President and CFO, Versiti, Inc.

Board of Directors: Volunteer Board includes leading civic and community leaders dedicated to the Foundation's vision for a vibrant region.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Create Profile: All applicants must create and maintain a complete, visible profile on Foundant, the Foundation's online grants management system (grantinterface.com)

  2. Verify Eligibility:

    • Must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
    • Must serve people in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, and/or Washington counties
    • Board membership must be at least 10% people of color (executive director not included in calculation)
    • Must have at least four unrelated board members
    • Cannot have multiple concurrent open grants

  3. Select Grant Cycle: Review the three annual grant cycles and their specific priority areas. Each cycle may focus on different priorities.

  4. Submit One Application: Organizations may only submit one application per grant cycle through the online portal

  5. Program Officer Review: Foundation staff review each submitted application and may contact applicants for more information or site visits

  6. Board Review: Staff recommend proposals for Board consideration and final approval

Pre-Application Support: Program officers are available for consultation. Office hours are sometimes offered before application deadlines to help applicants with questions.

Decision Timeline

  • Application Cycles: Three competitive grant cycles per year (quarterly)
  • Review Process: Program officers review applications and present recommendations to the Community Investment Committee
  • Board Meetings: Quarterly board meetings make final decisions
  • Notification: All applicants receive notification of the Board's action following quarterly meetings
  • Example Timeline (2024 Cycle 3): Application closes August 23; Community Investment Committee meeting in November 2024

Estimated Decision Time: Approximately 2-3 months from application deadline to decision notification

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly disclosed. However, with $26.9 million in discretionary grants distributed annually through three competitive cycles and serving a four-county region, competition is meaningful.

Reapplication Policy

The Foundation accepts one application per organization per grant cycle. Organizations with an open grant may apply when the current grant ends. Specific policies regarding reapplication after denial are not publicly documented; applicants should contact the Foundation directly for guidance on reapplication timing.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Foundation's documented priorities and guidance, successful applications should demonstrate:

Strategic Alignment with Racial Equity: The Foundation's grantmakers "seek to understand the authentic needs of the community by honoring the expertise and lived experiences of the individuals impacted by unjust systems." Grants prioritize "immediate community needs and the redress of historic and persistent racial harm." Applications should clearly articulate how the proposed work addresses racial equity and centers the voices of communities of color.

Proven Effectiveness: The Foundation looks for "activities that have been proven effective through a valid outcome evaluation." Include data and evidence demonstrating your approach works.

Board Diversity Compliance: Meeting the 10% board diversity requirement is mandatory. This reflects the Foundation's commitment to ensuring nonprofit leadership reflects the communities served.

Clear Connection to Priority Areas: Each grant cycle has specific priority areas. Applications must align with at least one priority area for that cycle. Review cycle-specific guidelines carefully.

Focus on Systems Change: The Foundation's strategic vision emphasizes transformational change and dismantling systemic barriers. Frame your work in terms of long-term community impact, not just immediate services.

Community-Centered Approach: Demonstrate how your organization centers community voice and leadership, particularly from Black and Brown communities. The Foundation values authentic community engagement and lived experience.

Geographic Specificity: Clearly demonstrate how the project serves residents of Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, or Waukesha counties. Projects must "significantly improve the lives of people living in" these counties.

Collaboration and Partnership: The Foundation's own major initiatives (Milwaukee Succeeds, ThriveOn Collaboration) model collective impact approaches. Highlight partnerships and collaborative approaches where relevant.

Type of Support Selection: Choose the grant type (general operating, project/program, or capital) that best fits your needs. General operating support is available, recognizing nonprofit sustainability requires core funding.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Racial equity must be central: This is non-negotiable. The Foundation's North Star is racial equity and inclusion, and every application should demonstrate clear understanding of and commitment to addressing racial disparities and systemic racism.

  • Meet the 10% board diversity threshold: This is an eligibility requirement, not a preference. Ensure your board composition meets this standard before applying.

  • Align with cycle-specific priorities: Priority areas may vary by cycle. Review the specific guidelines for the cycle you're applying to and align your proposal accordingly.

  • Apply early in the relationship-building process: While no formal pre-application is required, consider reaching out to program officers for consultation, especially if you're a first-time applicant. Attend office hours when offered.

  • Think systems change, not just services: Frame your work in terms of transformational impact and addressing root causes of inequity, not just providing services.

  • One application per cycle only: Be strategic about which cycle to apply to and which project to propose, as you only get one opportunity per cycle.

  • Geographic focus is strict: The Foundation serves a specific four-county region. Make the local impact crystal clear.

  • Multi-year funding is possible: If your project would benefit from sustained support, don't hesitate to request multi-year funding (up to three years, up to $50,000 per year).

References

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