The Couillard Solar Foundation concentrates philanthropy on expanding solar energy access and renewable-energy education in Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest, funding organizations that install solar for community benefit and that advocate/train for clean energy adoption. They prioritize projects that combine technical deployment (school and community solar installs) with public education and policy/advocacy to create safer, healthier communities through clean energy. Recipients tend to be mission-aligned regional organizations and programs rather than broad national charities.
Couillard Solar Foundation Inc’s grantmaking is centered on solar energy projects that combine community benefits with education and advocacy in Wisconsin. A large share of its recent support flows through two program names: Solar for Good and Solar on Schools. The foundation’s highest-dollar recent award went to Solar for Good in EAU CLAIRE, WI, and the same program appears repeatedly across multiple years, showing an ongoing role in its portfolio. Solar on Schools also receives repeated support, including grants tied to school settings in OREGON, WI and to educational facilities such as Owen-withee High School. Beyond installation work, the foundation also backs renewable-energy outreach and policy efforts, including regional organizations in Madison and Custer. The pattern points to a funder that favors mission-aligned Wisconsin organizations working on clean-energy deployment, technical assistance, public education, and collaboration around solar adoption. Its recent grants are concentrated in local organizations rather than broad national charities, and the recipient names show a consistent emphasis on community-serving solar infrastructure and learning programs.
Two program areas define the foundation’s recent giving. In community solar work, it awarded $308,702 in 2025 to Solar for Good in EAU CLAIRE, WI for “the promotion of a safe, healthy and caring community,” and the same program also received $287,684 in 2023 and $271,966 in 2024. In school-based renewable energy, Solar on Schools received $189,368 in 2023 and $157,829 in 2025, both in OREGON, WI, supporting solar projects tied to educational settings. The foundation also funds renewable-energy education and advocacy through groups such as Midwest Renewable Energy Assoc in CUSTER, WI and Renew Wisconsin in MADISON, WI. Those grants are described as supporting renewable-energy advocacy, education, and collaborative initiatives, which aligns with the foundation’s emphasis on public outreach and coalition work alongside installation projects.
Typical grant size is mid-five figures: the 25th percentile is $39,634, the median is $60,176, and the 75th percentile is $139,684. Recent awards range from smaller support near $7,926 to larger program grants above $300,000. The foundation shows a recurring pattern rather than one-off giving, with Solar for Good, Solar on Schools, Midwest Renewable Energy Assoc, Renew Wisconsin, and Owen-withee High School appearing across more than one year. It functions as a grantmaking foundation, not an individual-giving vehicle, and it does not make program-related investments. The active programs listed, Solar for Good and Solar on Schools, both accept unsolicited applications and are limited to Wisconsin.
$587K
$4.3M
$699K
$1M
Most grants fall between $40K and $140K, with a median of $60K.
25th Percentile
$40K
Median
$60K
75th Percentile
$140K
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Concentrated, strategic giving: relatively few, sizeable grants concentrated among repeat grantees. Multiple grants to the same regional organizations indicate multi-year or continuing program support rather than one-off gifts.
Notable grantees: Solar for Good, Solar on Schools, Midwest Renewable Energy Association, Renew Wisconsin
Grantmaking is entirely in the United States, and every recent recipient in the list is in Wisconsin. EAU CLAIRE, OREGON, MADISON, CUSTER, and MARSHFIELD all appear as recipient locations. The strongest concentration is in Wisconsin organizations and institutions, including solar and education programs in EAU CLAIRE and OREGON and advocacy or outreach groups in MADISON and CUSTER. The grant geography matches the foundation’s local scope of giving and its repeated focus on Wisconsin-based clean-energy projects.
Its recent grants support solar installation and solar education work in Wisconsin. Examples in the data include community solar through Solar for Good, school solar through Solar on Schools, and renewable-energy advocacy and education through organizations such as Renew Wisconsin and Midwest Renewable Energy Assoc.
Yes. Solar on Schools appears multiple times in the recent grants list, including awards of $189,368 in 2023, $39,639 in 2024, and $157,829 in 2025. The program is described as supporting Wisconsin educational facilities from elementary schools to universities and community colleges.
The typical grant size is centered in the mid-five figures. The 25th percentile is $39,634, the median is $60,176, and the 75th percentile is $139,684.
Its giving is local and entirely in Wisconsin. The recipient country distribution shows 15 grants in the US, and 100% of grants went to recipients in Wisconsin.
Yes for the foundation’s active programs: both Solar for Good and Solar on Schools accept unsolicited applications. Both programs are limited to Wisconsin.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOLAR FOR GOOD | EAU CLAIRE, WI | $308,702 | 2025 | FOR THE PROMOTION OF A SAFE, HEALTHY AND CARING COMMUNITY |
| SOLAR ON SCHOOLS | OREGON, WI | $157,829 | 2025 | FOR THE PROMOTION OF A SAFE, HEALTHY AND CARING COMMUNITY |
| MIDWEST RENEWABLE ENERGY ASSOC | CUSTER, WI | $60,000 | 2025 | FOR THE PROMOTION OF A SAFE, HEALTHY AND CARING COMMUNITY |
| RENEW WISCONSIN | MADISON, WI | $60,000 | 2025 | FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY ADVOCACY. EDUCATION AND COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVES |
| SOLAR FOR GOOD | EAU CLAIRE, WI | $271,966 | 2024 | FOR THE PROMOTION OF A SAFE, HEALTHY AND CARING COMMUNITY |
| MIDWEST RENEWABLE ENERGY ASSOC | CUSTER, WI | $60,176 | 2024 | FOR THE PROMOTION OF A SAFE, HEALTHY AND CARING COMMUNITY |
| RENEW WISCONSIN | MADISON, WI | $60,000 | 2024 | FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY ADVOCACY. EDUCATION AND COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVES |
| SOLAR ON SCHOOLS | OREGON, WI | $39,639 | 2024 | FOR THE PROMOTION OF A SAFE, HEALTHY AND CARING COMMUNITY |
| OWEN-WITHEE HIGH SCHOOL | EAU CLAIRE, WI | $7,926 | 2024 | FOR THE PROMOTION OF A SAFE, HEALTHY AND CARING COMMUNITY |
| SOLAR FOR GOOD | EAU CLAIRE, WI | $287,684 | 2023 | FOR THE PROMOTION OF A SAFE, HEALTHY AND CARING COMMUNITY |
| SOLAR ON SCHOOLS | OREGON, WI | $189,368 | 2023 | FOR THE PROMOTION OF A SAFE, HEALTHY AND CARING COMMUNITY |
| MIDWEST RENEWABLE ENERGY ASSOC | CUSTER, WI | $90,000 | 2023 | FOR THE PROMOTION OF A SAFE, HEALTHY AND CARING COMMUNITY |
| RENEW WISCONSIN | MADISON, WI | $90,000 | 2023 | FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY ADVOCACY. EDUCATION AND COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVES |
| OWEN-WITHEE HIGH SCHOOL | EAU CLAIRE, WI | $39,629 | 2023 | FOR THE PROMOTION OF A SAFE, HEALTHY AND CARING COMMUNITY |
| DEERFIELD FIRE DEPARTMENT | MARSHFIELD, WI | $36,725 | 2023 | FOR THE PROMOTION OF A SAFE, HEALTHY AND CARING COMMUNITY |
SOLAR FOR GOOD
$308,702FOR THE PROMOTION OF A SAFE, HEALTHY AND CARING COMMUNITY
SOLAR ON SCHOOLS
$157,829FOR THE PROMOTION OF A SAFE, HEALTHY AND CARING COMMUNITY
MIDWEST RENEWABLE ENERGY ASSOC
$60,000FOR THE PROMOTION OF A SAFE, HEALTHY AND CARING COMMUNITY
FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY ADVOCACY. EDUCATION AND COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVES
SOLAR FOR GOOD
$271,966FOR THE PROMOTION OF A SAFE, HEALTHY AND CARING COMMUNITY
MIDWEST RENEWABLE ENERGY ASSOC
$60,176FOR THE PROMOTION OF A SAFE, HEALTHY AND CARING COMMUNITY
FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY ADVOCACY. EDUCATION AND COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVES
SOLAR ON SCHOOLS
$39,639FOR THE PROMOTION OF A SAFE, HEALTHY AND CARING COMMUNITY
OWEN-WITHEE HIGH SCHOOL
$7,926FOR THE PROMOTION OF A SAFE, HEALTHY AND CARING COMMUNITY
SOLAR FOR GOOD
$287,684FOR THE PROMOTION OF A SAFE, HEALTHY AND CARING COMMUNITY
SOLAR ON SCHOOLS
$189,368FOR THE PROMOTION OF A SAFE, HEALTHY AND CARING COMMUNITY
MIDWEST RENEWABLE ENERGY ASSOC
$90,000FOR THE PROMOTION OF A SAFE, HEALTHY AND CARING COMMUNITY
FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY ADVOCACY. EDUCATION AND COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVES
OWEN-WITHEE HIGH SCHOOL
$39,629FOR THE PROMOTION OF A SAFE, HEALTHY AND CARING COMMUNITY
DEERFIELD FIRE DEPARTMENT
$36,725FOR THE PROMOTION OF A SAFE, HEALTHY AND CARING COMMUNITY
Current and upcoming funding from Couillard Solar Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Wisconsin public schools are eligible, from elementary schools through universities and community colleges. The program is intended for public schools and educational facilities.
Deadline: Year round
Administered by Renew Wisconsin
Who can apply: Applicants must be a nonprofit organization, Tribal entity, or community-serving institution located in Wisconsin; demonstrate that the project will serve the greater community rather than solely provide private or internal organizational benefit; have a project ready to move forward within the proposed timeline; and use a contractor that is an active RENEW Wisconsin member in good standing at the time of application. Applicants must provide a project proposal and proof of tax-exempt status. Organizations can apply for one project per grant cycle. Projects must be completed and interconnected within 12 months of the award. Priority is given to projects serving low-to-moderate-income communities, partnering with or led by Tribal communities, supporting or led by BIPOC communities, and providing measurable community benefits.
Fall grant cycle opens October 1 and closes October 31 annually.
Who can apply: Mission-based nonprofits and houses of worship in Wisconsin may apply. The program awards up to 50% of the panels needed for the project. Applicants must meet program requirements and conditions in the MOU.
Deadline: April and October
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