The United Way Foundation exists to support United Way's mission of improving lives and strengthening Dane County.
United Way of Dane County Foundation Inc supports United Way’s mission in Dane County through endowed named funds, loaned-executive grants, micro-investments, and competitive impact grants tied to the Plan for Community Well-Being. The foundation’s recent record shows large support flowing to United Way of Dane County Inc in Madison, including a $1,158,149 grant in 2025 and a $836,157 grant in 2023. Those awards sit alongside a broader set of local programs that back youth opportunity, financial security, healthy community, community resiliency, and affordable housing loans. The foundation also operates as a grantmaker with multiple entry points for local nonprofits and community groups. Some programs are designed for established 501(c)(3) organizations through workplace-giving affiliation or competitive investment cycles, while others are built for grassroots groups, faith-based organizations, and immediate-needs responses. Across the programs listed, the common thread is a Dane County focus and support for work that strengthens community conditions, from employment-related activities and re-entry resources to food, shelter, and school-based mental health. The structure suggests a funder that combines long-term endowed support with shorter-term, targeted local investments.
Youth engagement is a recurring theme. The 2026 Micro-Investments program offers one-time grants for summer and fall 2026 activities that build constructive youth engagement, strengthen community connection, or increase residents’ sense of safety in a specific community. A separate 2026 Micro-Investment Grants Initiative also supports youth engagement ages 12-18, community building, and neighborhood safety. Basic needs and stability are another clear priority. Through the Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Fund: Dane County, the foundation administers grants for food, shelter, low-income healthcare clinics, disability services, and school-based mental health. Community Resiliency Pilot Funds add support for food assistance, shelter assistance, and utility assistance. Workforce and re-entry support appear in the United Way Foundation Loaned Executives Grants program, which funds professional development, job training and retention assistance, re-entry resources, and equipment or materials. Those program details show a local portfolio organized around practical community services rather than broad, undifferentiated giving.
$1.2M
$34.6M
$4.2M
$1.3M
Most grants fall between $735K and $802K, with a median of $769K.
25th Percentile
$735K
Median
$769K
75th Percentile
$802K
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Typical grant size is large in the foundation’s core distribution pattern: p25 is $734,799, median is $768,585, and p75 is $802,371. The recent grants list also shows repeat support to United Way of Dane County Inc across multiple years, including awards in 2023, 2024, and 2025, which points to recurring support rather than isolated one-off gifts. The foundation is a public charity, not a funder of individuals, and it does not make program-related investments. Some programs are unsolicited, including micro-investments and community-responsive funds, while named funds are handled through endowed giving rather than open applications.
Giving is entirely local and entirely in Wisconsin: 100% of grants go to recipients in WI, and Dane County is the operating geography across the active programs. Recent grants landed in Madison, including the three largest listed awards to United Way of Dane County Inc. Program language also names Dane County, Wisconsin repeatedly for impact grants, micro-investments, workplace-giving affiliation, and community-responsive funding. The recipient country distribution is fully domestic, with 3 grants in the US.
The foundation supports youth opportunity, financial security, healthy community, community resiliency, and affordable housing loans. Program descriptions also show support for food, shelter, disability services, school-based mental health, workforce development, job training and retention, re-entry resources, and community-building activities.
Its typical grant-size distribution is large: p25 is $734,799, the median is $768,585, and p75 is $802,371. Some program-specific grants are much smaller, such as $0–$5,000 for Loaned Executives Grants and $0–$22,450 for 2026 Micro-Investments.
No. The programs include competitive grantmaking for local agencies and nonprofits, affiliation for eligible 501(c)(3) organizations in workplace giving campaigns, and micro-investments for grassroots organizations, including community groups and faith-based organizations. Named funds are handled through endowed gifts as part of the foundation’s long-term support.
Yes. The geographic scope is local, and all recorded grants go to recipients in Wisconsin. The active programs are also described as serving Dane County, Wisconsin, including Madison-based and countywide initiatives.
Several programs do. Impact Grants (Investment Cycle), the Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Fund: Dane County, 2026 Micro-Investments, the 2026 Micro-Investment Grants Initiative, and the Community Resiliency Pilot Funds all accept unsolicited requests. The United Way Foundation Named Funds distributions do not.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from United Way of Dane County Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Projects must be generated, planned and implemented by youth groups and benefit youth across Dane County. Annual priorities are set by the BYFY committee.
Deadline: Applications open in December annually; proposal deadline is generally mid-December.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Way of Dane County Inc | Madison, WI | $1,158,149 | 2025 | Supporting Organization |
| United Way of Dane County Inc | Madison, WI | $701,013 | 2024 | Supporting Organization |
| United Way of Dane County Inc | Madison, WI | $836,157 | 2023 | supporting Organization |
