Madison Community Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $22 million (2024)
• Success Rate: 20% of applications funded
• Decision Time: 6 months (April to October)
• Grant Range: $10,000 - $100,000 (Community Impact Fund)
• Geographic Focus: Dane County, Wisconsin
• Total Assets: $460 million
• Total Funds: 1,304

Contact Details

Website: https://madisongives.org

Address: 111 N Fairchild Street, Suite 260, Madison, WI 53703

Phone: (608) 232-1763

Toll-free: (888) 400-7643

Email: grants@madisongives.org

Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Overview

Founded in 1942, Madison Community Foundation (MCF) serves Greater Madison and Dane County, Wisconsin. With total assets of $460 million across 1,304 funds, MCF distributed $22 million to the community in 2024. The foundation's mission is to "engage Greater Madison in philanthropy to advance a more vibrant and equitable community." MCF operates through three main channels: grants directed by fundholders from donor advised funds, distributions to nonprofits from endowments and designated funds, and grants directed by MCF's Community Impact team from the Community Impact fund and 69 Field of Interest funds. MCF adheres to Community Foundations National Standards Board guidelines and positions itself as a trusted philanthropic leader enhancing quality of life in Greater Madison.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Impact Fund: $10,000 - $100,000 (annual competitive grant round)

• In 2025, awarded $1.4 million to 30 local nonprofits
• Application via Letter of Inquiry process starting in April
• Final decisions made by Board of Governors in October

A Fund for Women (AFFW): $5,000 - $15,000 (annual cycle)

• Focus on women's economic empowerment
• In 2025, awarded $146,000 to 13 organizations
• Multi-year grants considered at Advisory Committee's discretion
• Awards announced in September

Field of Interest Funds: Nearly 70 funds distributing approximately $800,000 annually

• Donor-directed focus areas
• In 2024, distributed $1.9 million in Community Impact and Field of Interest grants combined

Columbus Area Endowment: Grants for Columbus and Fall River communities

• Program grants (support new programs or expand existing programs)
• Capital grants (facilities, land, vehicles, equipment)
• One grant per 12-month cycle

Priority Areas

Five Focus Areas for Community Impact Grants:

1. Arts & Culture - Building Dane County's vibrant arts scene
2. Community Development - Advancing community vitality and equity
3. Environment - Supporting environmental initiatives and sustainability
4. Learning - K-12 academic achievement, out-of-school-time programs, GED-equivalent programs
5. Nonprofit Capacity Building - Strengthening nonprofit infrastructure and operations

Recent Grant Examples (2025):

• $100,000 to Wisconsin Foodshed Partnership for locally grown food distribution to address food insecurity
• $75,000 to create Renew the Blue Council for coordinated water quality action
• $50,000 to embed an Evaluation Specialist in Madison's schools to support Latinx students

A Fund for Women Priority Areas:

• Postsecondary education accessibility for underserved women
• Financial literacy skills development
• Reducing barriers to education and employment
• Advocacy for supportive policy changes
• Workforce development and mentorship programs

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, arrest or conviction record, or any other discriminatory basis prohibited by law
• Organizations outside Dane County (for Community Impact grants)
• Individual scholarships (though education programs are eligible)
• Activities contrary to MCF's mission, vision, and values
• Multiple applications per grant cycle (limited to one application per nonprofit per cycle)

Governance and Leadership

Leadership Team

Bob Sorge - President & CEO

• Career-long nonprofit professional focused on strategic planning and organizational development
• Leadership philosophy: "A supportive, motivational and inspiring leader, encouraging others to move the organization from 'Good to Great'"

Jeneen Hartley - Vice President of Community Impact

Carmen Jeschke - Vice President of Finance & Operations

David Koehler - Vice President of Advancement

• 20 years of experience serving donors
• Previously held leadership roles with Madison College Foundation, Agrace HospiceCare Foundation, and International Crane Foundation

Angela Davis - Director of Grantmaking

Andrew Davey - Director, Goodman Nonprofit Center

Becki Fiegel - Director of Communications

Alison Helland - Director of Research, Advocacy & Advisor Engagement

Caitlin Ryan - Director of Donor Engagement

Board of Governors

Anne Lucke - Chair, Vice President of Development at Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association

Noble Wray - Vice Chair, Former Madison Police Department Chief

Board Members:

• Nancy Boebel - Small business owner
• Anna Burish - First Vice President at UBS Financial Services
• Natalie Erdman - Retired City of Madison Planning Director
• Therese Gulbransen - Vice President of Sales and Marketing at American Printing
• Frances Huntley-Cooper - Former Social Worker and First African-American Mayor of Fitchburg
• Gloria Ladson-Billings - Former University of Wisconsin Professor
• Gary A. Mecklenburg - Retired Healthcare Executive
• Eugenia Podestá - Social Entrepreneur and Senior Director at Vital Voices Global Partnership
• E.G. Schramka - Retired CPA and Lawyer
• Tripp Widder - Retired Lawyer

MCF benefits from a large and diverse Board of Governors that sets policy for the organization.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Community Impact Fund:

1. Letter of Inquiry - Submit in April
2. Staff Review - MCF staff reviews to ensure eligibility and mission fit
3. Full Application - Organizations with approved Letters of Inquiry are invited to submit full grant applications
4. Committee Review - MCF's Community Impact Committee reviews applications and forwards recommendations to Board of Governors
5. Final Decision - Board of Governors makes final funding decisions in October

A Fund for Women:

1. Letter of Inquiry - Submit during open application cycle
2. Advisory Committee Review - AFFW Advisory Committee and MCF staff review for eligibility
3. Full Application - Approved organizations invited to apply
4. Awards Announced - September

Application portals and specific deadlines are posted on the MCF website at madisongives.org.

Decision Timeline

• Letters of Inquiry open: April
• Full applications invited: Summer
• Final decisions: October
• Total timeline: Approximately 6 months from Letter of Inquiry to final decision

Success Rates

• Community Impact Fund: Approximately 20% of applications are funded
• Not all funded proposals receive the full requested amount
• In 2025, 30 organizations received Community Impact Fund grants from a larger pool of applicants
• MCF expects organizations to seek additional funding sources beyond their grant

Reapplication Policy

• Eligible nonprofits are limited to one application per grant cycle
• Grant recipients must submit a final report before being eligible for future funding
• Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly documented; contact grants@madisongives.org for clarification

Application Success Factors

Grantmaking Criteria - MCF looks for proposals that demonstrate:

1. Long-term impact on Dane County residents and/or environments
2. Meaningful and measurable outcomes with clear evaluation plans
3. Innovative approaches to community challenges
4. Strengthening community assets and building on existing strengths
5. Building self-sufficiency beyond the grant period
6. Use of partnerships and collaborations to maximize impact
7. Sustainability beyond grant scope with plans for continued funding

Alignment with MCF's Values:

• Integrity - Transparent operations and ethical practices
• Generosity - Supporting philanthropic culture
• Effectiveness - Results-oriented programming
• Sustainability - Long-term community benefit
• Equity - Advancing a more equitable community

Strategic Focus:

• Projects serving Dane County communities
• Initiatives advancing MCF's five focus areas (Arts & Culture, Community Development, Environment, Learning, Nonprofit Capacity Building)
• Programs with track records or strong potential for success
• Organizations demonstrating fiscal responsibility and board governance
• Proposals that address community needs identified through MCF's research and community engagement

For A Fund for Women applicants:

• Focus specifically on women's economic empowerment
• Address barriers faced by underserved women
• Include measurable outcomes for educational or employment advancement
• Consider advocacy and systems-change approaches

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Start with a Letter of Inquiry - This two-stage process allows MCF staff to provide early feedback on alignment before you invest time in a full proposal
• Emphasize long-term sustainability - MCF expects you to seek additional funding sources and demonstrate how your project will continue beyond their grant
• 20% funding rate requires strong differentiation - With only one in five applications funded, your proposal must clearly demonstrate innovation, measurable impact, and alignment with MCF's strategic priorities
• Dane County focus is non-negotiable - All Community Impact grants must serve Dane County; geographic eligibility is a threshold requirement
• Collaboration strengthens applications - MCF explicitly values partnerships and collaborative approaches; highlight existing or planned partnerships
• Plan for 6-month timeline - From Letter of Inquiry in April to final decisions in October, factor this timeline into your project planning and cash flow needs
• One chance per year - With only one application allowed per grant cycle, ensure your strongest, most aligned project is submitted

References

1. Madison Community Foundation official website - https://madisongives.org (accessed January 2026)
2. "About" page - https://madisongives.org/about/ (accessed January 2026) - Information on history, mission, assets, and annual giving
3. "Community Impact Fund Grants" page - https://madisongives.org/community-impact/grant-opportunities/community-impact-fund-grants/ (accessed January 2026) - Grantmaking criteria and application process
4. "Current Grants From the Community Impact Fund" - https://madisongives.org/community-impact/current-ci-grants/ (accessed January 2026) - 2025 grant examples and amounts
5. "Staff and Board" page - https://madisongives.org/about/staff-and-board/ (accessed January 2026) - Leadership and governance information
6. "AFFW Grants" page - https://madisongives.org/community-impact/grant-opportunities/affw-grants/ (accessed January 2026) - A Fund for Women program details
7. GuideStar Profile - https://www.guidestar.org/profile/39-6038248 (accessed January 2026) - EIN verification and organizational data
8. "Contact Us" page - https://madisongives.org/about/contact-us/ (accessed January 2026) - Contact information
9. Bob Sorge LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobsorge/ (accessed January 2026) - Leadership philosophy