To establish and manage permanent endowment funds whose income supports grants to local nonprofit organizations and scholarships to deserving students, responding to Kenosha County's evolving needs and creating lasting community impact.
Kenosha Community Foundation channels permanent endowment income into local grants and scholarships for Kenosha County, using annual competitive processes and donor-established scholarship funds to meet changing community needs. The foundation’s grantmaking shows a strong hometown orientation: most grants go to recipients in Wisconsin, and the recent record includes repeat support for community institutions and education-focused organizations in Kenosha. Among the larger recent awards, the foundation gave $133,275 to Cesa 6 for the KTEC Program, and $100,000 to Shoreland Lutheran Hs for annual distribution. It also backed Bethany Lutheran Church with $100,000 for special program funding, showing that it funds both institutional support and designated programs. Youth-serving organizations also appear in the record, including the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha, which received multiple grants across recent years. The foundation’s scholarship activity is a major part of its identity. It administers several scholarship programs for Kenosha County students, including support for high school seniors, current college students, and adult learners. Its named scholarship funds include donor-established awards with competitive applications and recurring annual cycles.
Education is a central theme in the foundation’s recent grants. It gave $100,000 to Shoreland Lutheran Hs for annual distribution and $17,200 to Carthage College for annual distribution, alongside scholarship programs for Kenosha County students. Youth development also receives consistent support. The Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha received $25,315 for annual distribution in 2025, following earlier grants of $25,400 in 2024 and 2023, reflecting ongoing support for youth services in the county. Health and basic needs appear in the record as well. Kenosha YMCA received $22,885 for annual distribution, Brookside Care Center received $21,081 in 2025, and Gods Kitchen of Kenosha received $25,186 for an approved grant. Arts, nature, and environment programming is another stated priority. The Creativity by Kids small grants program supports projects across Kenosha County in arts, culture, nature, and the environment.
Typical grants cluster in the five-figure range, with a p25 of $7,138, a median of $9,275, and a p75 of $12,130. The recent record also includes larger awards at $100,000 and above, alongside many smaller operating and program grants. This is recurring grantmaking rather than one-off support: organizations such as Brookside Care Center and the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha appear across multiple years, and the foundation runs annual cycles for both competitive grants and scholarships. It is a mixed community foundation, with both donor-advised and community foundation characteristics, and it accepts unsolicited applications in several active programs.
$805K
$17.1M
$3.6M
$1.5M
Most grants fall between $7K and $12K, with a median of $9K.
25th Percentile
$7K
Median
$9K
75th Percentile
$12K
DAVE GEERTSEN
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Grantmaking is tightly concentrated in Kenosha County and Wisconsin. About 86% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s home state, and the recent list is almost entirely in the United States. Kenosha appears most often, including awards to Kenosha-based recipients such as the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha, Kenosha YMCA, Brookside Care Center, and Carthage College. Outside Kenosha, the recent record reaches Oshkosh through Cesa 6, Mequon through Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, and Alexandria, Virginia through Salvation Army.
The foundation supports a wide mix of local nonprofits and scholarship programs. Its stated focus areas include arts and culture, education and scholarships, environment and nature, health and community health, youth services, women and children, and general community development or unrestricted grants.
Yes. Several active programs accept unsolicited applications, including Fund for Kenosha, the OMC Legacy Fund, Kenosha Community Foundation Scholarships, the Creativity by Kids small grants program, and the scholarship cycle administered by the foundation.
Typical grant sizes are modest and concentrated in the five-figure range: the p25 is $7,138, the median is $9,275, and the p75 is $12,130. The recent record also includes awards of $100,000 and larger, especially for annual distributions and program funding.
The scholarship programs serve Kenosha County high school seniors, current college students, and adult learners. Some scholarship funds are also open to selected surrounding counties, and certain named scholarships have specific eligibility criteria.
Most grants go to Wisconsin recipients, and 86% of grants are awarded in the foundation’s home state. The recent grant list is almost entirely domestic, with recipients centered in Kenosha and a smaller number in places such as Oshkosh, Mequon, and Alexandria, Virginia.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Kenosha Community Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Uses an annual competitive grant process guided by a volunteer committee and Board; specific applicant criteria not stated on the page.
Deadline: Annual grant cycle; specific deadline not stated on the page.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRANTS LESS THAN 5000 | KENOSHA, WI | $173,281 | 2025 | — |
| NEW LIFE LUTHERAN | KENOSHA, WI | $100,000 | 2025 | APPROVED GRANT |
| SHORELAND LUTHERAN HS | KENOSHA, WI | $100,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION |
| HYSLOP FOUNDATION | KENOSHA, WI | $100,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF KENOSHA | KENOSHA, WI | $25,315 | 2025 | ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION |
| GODS KITCHEN OF KENOSHA | KENOSHA, WI | $25,186 | 2025 | APPROVED GRANT |
| KENOSHA YMCA | Kenosha, WI | $22,885 | 2025 | ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION |
| BROOKSIDE CARE CENTER | KENOSHA, WI | $21,081 | 2025 | — |
| WISCONSIN LUTHERAN SEMINARY | MEQUON, WI | $20,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION |
| KENOSHA ACHIEVEMENT CENTER | KENOSHA, WI | $19,250 | 2025 | APPROVED GRANT |
| CARTHAGE COLLEGE | KENOSHA, WI | $17,200 | 2025 | ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION |
| SALVATION ARMY | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $17,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION |
| KAFASI | KENOSHA, WI | $17,000 | 2025 | APPROVED GRANT |
| MILWAUKEE RESCUE MISSION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $15,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION |
| CAL FARLEYS | AMARILLO, TX | $15,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION |
| BOYS TOWN | BOYS TOWN, NE | $15,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION |
| KENOSHA LITERACY COUNCIL | KENOSHA, WI | $14,150 | 2025 | APPROVED GRANT |
| KENOSHA COUNTY FOOD BANK | Kenosha, WI | $10,200 | 2025 | ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION |
| THE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE | ARLINGTON, VA | $10,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION |
| KENOSHA COMMUNITY SC | KENOSHA, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | APPROVED GRANT |
| RACINE VOCATIONAL MINISTRY | RACINE, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION |
| KENOSHA COMMUNITY MEDIA | KENOSHA, WI | $8,100 | 2025 | ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION |
| KENOSHA CREATIVE SPACE | Kenosha, WI | $7,731 | 2025 | APPROVED GRANT |
| KENOSHA MUSEUM FOUNDATION | KENOSHA, WI | $7,250 | 2025 | APPROVED GRANT |
| PEACE LEARNING CIRCLES | KENOSHA, WI | $6,586 | 2025 | APPROVED GRANT |
| CUSH | KENOSHA, WI | $6,000 | 2025 | APPROVED GRANT |
| ELCA URBAN OUTREACH | KENOSHA, WI | $6,000 | 2025 | APPROVED GRANT |
| SPONSORSHIPS LESS THAN 5000 | KENOSHA, WI | $5,600 | 2025 | — |
| GRANTS LESS THAN 5000 | KENOSHA, WI | $152,516 | 2024 | — |
| CESA 6 | OSHKOSH, WI | $133,275 | 2024 | KTEC PROGRAM |
| HYSLOP FOUNDATION | KENOSHA, WI | $100,000 | 2024 | ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION |
| BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH | KENOSHA, WI | $100,000 | 2024 | ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION |
| SHORELAND LUTHERAN HS | KENOSHA, WI | $100,000 | 2024 | ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION |
| SHORELAND LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL FED | KENOSHA, WI | $100,000 | 2024 | ED. PROGRAM FUNDING |
| BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH | KENOSHA, WI | $100,000 | 2024 | SPECIAL PROGRAM FUND |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF KENOSHA INC | KENOSHA, WI | $25,400 | 2024 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| GREENRIDGE CEMETERY | Kenosha, WI | $21,642 | 2024 | — |
| BROOKSIDE CARE CENTER | — | $20,678 | 2024 | SENIOR CARE/HEALTH |
| CARTHAGE COLLEGE | KENOSHA, WI | $16,500 | 2024 | ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION |
| WISCONSIN LUTHERAN SEMINARY | — | $16,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| KENOSHA LITERACY COUNCIL | KENOSHA, WI | $12,130 | 2024 | ADULT LITERACY |
| FLEEING ARTISTS THEATRE | KENOSHA, WI | $12,086 | 2024 | THEATRE PROGRAM |
| THE SALVATION ARMY OF KENOSHA | KENOSHA, WI | $12,000 | 2024 | FOOD AND SHELTER |
| BOYS TOWN | BOYS TOWN, NE | $12,000 | 2024 | ED/FAMILY DEVELOP |
| CAL FARLEY'S | AMARILLO, TX | $12,000 | 2024 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| WISCONSIN LUTHERAN SEMINARY | MEQUON, WI | $12,000 | 2024 | ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION |
| MILWAUKEE RESCUE MISSION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $12,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PROGRAM FUND |
| KENOSHA VOCATIONAL MINISTRY | Kenosha, WI | $11,537 | 2024 | — |
| KENOSHA COUNTY FOOD BANK | Kenosha, WI | $11,000 | 2024 | — |
| KENOSHA PUBLIC MARKET LLC | — | $9,700 | 2024 | HEALTH/AGRICULTURE |
GRANTS LESS THAN 5000
$173,281NEW LIFE LUTHERAN
$100,000APPROVED GRANT
SHORELAND LUTHERAN HS
$100,000ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION
HYSLOP FOUNDATION
$100,000ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF KENOSHA
$25,315ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION
GODS KITCHEN OF KENOSHA
$25,186APPROVED GRANT
KENOSHA YMCA
ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION
BROOKSIDE CARE CENTER
$21,081WISCONSIN LUTHERAN SEMINARY
$20,000ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION
KENOSHA ACHIEVEMENT CENTER
$19,250APPROVED GRANT
CARTHAGE COLLEGE
$17,200ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION
SALVATION ARMY
$17,000ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION
KAFASI
$17,000APPROVED GRANT
MILWAUKEE RESCUE MISSION
$15,000ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION
KENOSHA LITERACY COUNCIL
$14,150APPROVED GRANT
KENOSHA COUNTY FOOD BANK
$10,200ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION
KENOSHA COMMUNITY SC
$10,000APPROVED GRANT
KENOSHA COMMUNITY MEDIA
$8,100ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION
KENOSHA CREATIVE SPACE
$7,731APPROVED GRANT
KENOSHA MUSEUM FOUNDATION
$7,250APPROVED GRANT
PEACE LEARNING CIRCLES
$6,586APPROVED GRANT
CUSH
$6,000APPROVED GRANT
ELCA URBAN OUTREACH
$6,000APPROVED GRANT
SPONSORSHIPS LESS THAN 5000
$5,600GRANTS LESS THAN 5000
$152,516CESA 6
$133,275KTEC PROGRAM
HYSLOP FOUNDATION
$100,000ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION
BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH
$100,000ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION
SHORELAND LUTHERAN HS
$100,000ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION
SHORELAND LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL FED
$100,000ED. PROGRAM FUNDING
BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH
$100,000SPECIAL PROGRAM FUND
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF KENOSHA INC
$25,400YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
GREENRIDGE CEMETERY
$21,642BROOKSIDE CARE CENTER
$20,678SENIOR CARE/HEALTH
CARTHAGE COLLEGE
$16,500ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION
WISCONSIN LUTHERAN SEMINARY
$16,000EDUCATION
KENOSHA LITERACY COUNCIL
$12,130ADULT LITERACY
FLEEING ARTISTS THEATRE
$12,086THEATRE PROGRAM
THE SALVATION ARMY OF KENOSHA
$12,000FOOD AND SHELTER
WISCONSIN LUTHERAN SEMINARY
$12,000ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION
MILWAUKEE RESCUE MISSION
$12,000GENERAL PROGRAM FUND
KENOSHA COUNTY FOOD BANK
$11,000KENOSHA PUBLIC MARKET LLC
$9,700HEALTH/AGRICULTURE
