This Madison-based foundation concentrates its giving on local, direct-service organizations that serve youth and families, with an emphasis on workforce readiness, literacy, and youth civic engagement. Funding patterns show multi-year, repeat support to a small set of community organizations delivering hands-on programs rather than broad policy or national initiatives. Grants skew toward practical, place-based investments that strengthen pathways to employment, literacy, and healthy community spaces for underserved populations.
Concentrated, local giving with a small number of repeat mid-sized grants; the foundation tends to renew support for core community partners rather than spread many small awards nationally.
2nd Market Capital Economic Opportunity Foundation Inc. repeatedly backs a small set of Madison and Dane County nonprofits with multi-year general operating support, and its largest recent grants show that pattern clearly: $30,000 to Simpson Street Free Press in both 2024 and 2025, and $25,000 to Operation Fresh Start in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The foundation’s grants are built around local educational and economic opportunity, especially for children, youth, and families. Its recent awards also show support for literacy services, young-parent stability, and community space through organizations such as Literacy Network, Mellowhood Foundation, Rooted Inc, and Madison Parks Foundation. The foundation’s funding style favors unrestricted or general support, often paired with matching grants, rather than highly fragmented project funding. That approach appears across its active grant programs, which are designed to support fundraising campaigns as well as general operations for Dane County nonprofits. Recent awards consistently go to Madison-based organizations working in hands-on service delivery, not statewide or national intermediaries. The pattern points to a funder that prefers to strengthen established local groups already serving youth and families through practical programs tied to education, workforce readiness, civic engagement, and neighborhood well-being.
Education and workforce readiness are central to the foundation’s grantmaking. In 2025, it awarded $25,000 to Operation Fresh Start for general operating support, matching its stated focus on career and workforce readiness for young people. A separate stream supports literacy and basic skills: Literacy Network received $10,000 in 2023 and another $10,000 in 2025, both for general operating support. The foundation also funds youth civic engagement and family stability. Simpson Street Free Press received $30,000 in both 2024 and 2025 for general operating support, aligning with youth media and journalism. Mellowhood Foundation received $10,000 in 2023 and $10,000 in 2024 for general operating support, showing support for young parents and early-childhood family stability. Community space appears in the portfolio too, with Madison Parks Foundation receiving $10,000 in 2023.
$220K
$804K
$48K
$68K
Most grants fall between $10K and $25K, with a median of $18K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$18K
75th Percentile
$25K
About 100% of grants go to recipients in WI.
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Notable grantees: Simpson Street Free Press, Operation Fresh Start, Literacy Network, Mellowhood Foundation, Madison Parks Foundation
The typical grant size sits at $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $17,500 at the median, and $25,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards cluster in a narrow band around those figures, and the largest disclosed grants are $30,000. The foundation’s recent record shows repeat support to the same organizations across multiple years, which is consistent with its multi-year grant programs. It is a private foundation that does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Several active programs accept unsolicited applications and emphasize matching funds plus general support, with some restricted program grants also available.
Grantmaking is entirely local and concentrated in Wisconsin, with 100% of recent grants going to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Madison appears repeatedly in the recent-grants list, including Simpson Street Free Press, Operation Fresh Start, Literacy Network, Mellowhood Foundation, Rooted Inc, and Madison Parks Foundation. The active programs point to Dane County as the main service area, with Madison named alongside it in several program descriptions. No non-U.S. recipient countries appear in the recent-grants data.
It funds Dane County nonprofits working on education, youth development, and economic opportunity for children, youth, and families. Active program descriptions highlight pre-K through K-12 education, afterschool and summer programs, high school and college completion, and career and workforce readiness.
Yes. The recent-grants list shows multiple awards for general operating support, including $30,000 to Simpson Street Free Press and $25,000 to Operation Fresh Start. Its active programs also describe multi-year, unrestricted matching grants and general support grants.
Yes. Several active programs accept unsolicited applications. The program descriptions say the foundation provides matching grants and occasional program-restricted grants to Dane County nonprofits.
Its grant-size distribution centers on modest local awards: $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $17,500 at the median, and $25,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent-grants list also includes $30,000 awards.
Yes. The recipient-country distribution shows 12 grants, all in the US, and 100% of recent grants went to recipients in Wisconsin. The active programs are also framed around Dane County and Madison.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from 2nd Market Capital Economic Opportunity Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Nonprofits with program proposals that align with the foundation's education and youth-focused priorities and can demonstrate specific outcomes.
Who can apply: Local nonprofit organizations working directly with underserved children and youth in education, youth development, or career and workforce readiness programs, primarily in Dane County, Wisconsin. The foundation does not fund legislation or political campaigns, endowments, capital campaigns, or religious organizations.
Deadline: No specific deadline stated; ongoing inquiry accepted.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simpson Street Free Press | Madison, WI | $30,000 | 2025 | General Operating Support |
| Operation Fresh Start | Madison, WI | $25,000 | 2025 | General Operating Support |
| Literacy Network | Madison, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | General Operating Support |
| Simpson Street Free Press | Madison, WI | $30,000 | 2024 | General Operating Support |
| Operation Fresh Start | Madison, WI | $25,000 | 2024 | General Operating Support |
| Mellowhood Foundation | Madison, WI | $10,000 | 2024 | General Operating Support |
| Operation Fresh Start | Madison, WI | $25,000 | 2023 | General Operating Support |
| Simpson Street Free Press | Madison, WI | $25,000 | 2023 | General Operating Support |
| Mellowhood Foundation | Madison, WI | $10,000 | 2023 | General Operating Support |
| Rooted Inc | Madison, WI | $10,000 | 2023 | General Operating Support |
| Literacy Network | Madison, WI | $10,000 | 2023 | General Operating Support |
| Madison Parks Foundation | Madison, WI | $10,000 | 2023 | General Operating Support |
Simpson Street Free Press
$30,000General Operating Support
Operation Fresh Start
$25,000General Operating Support
Literacy Network
$10,000General Operating Support
Simpson Street Free Press
$30,000General Operating Support
Operation Fresh Start
$25,000General Operating Support
Mellowhood Foundation
$10,000General Operating Support
Operation Fresh Start
$25,000General Operating Support
Simpson Street Free Press
$25,000General Operating Support
Mellowhood Foundation
$10,000General Operating Support
Rooted Inc
$10,000General Operating Support
Literacy Network
$10,000General Operating Support
Madison Parks Foundation
$10,000General Operating Support