Through our permanent endowment funds, project funds and grants, the Waukesha County Community Foundation meets local challenges and improves the quality of life in our community.
The Waukesha County Community Foundation’s grantmaking is anchored by a large local scholarship portfolio and repeated capital support for community institutions in Waukesha County. One clear example is its $4,097,000 grant to Journey21 Inc. for site development for an enrichment center, paired with a $1,615,950 award to Waukesha Civic Theatre for expansion project building costs. Those grants sit alongside a broad set of donor-supported scholarship funds, community grants, and emergency relief efforts that serve students, families, and nonprofit organizations in the county. The foundation uses permanent endowment funds, project funds, and discretionary grants to meet local needs through education, health and human services, arts and culture, community development, environment and conservation, and historical preservation. Its scholarship work is especially extensive: more than 80 scholarship opportunities are administered or supported for students living in or attending school in Waukesha County, including support for post-secondary study, technical and trade programs, and allied health fields. Recent gifts also show support for civic life and local nonprofits, including grants to public institutions, community-based service providers, and cultural organizations. The pattern is local, practical, and heavily tied to named funds and county-serving organizations.
Education is a major line of work. The foundation supports more than 80 scholarship opportunities, and recent awards include $448,000 to the Stowell Family Scholarship Fund for scholarships and $191,500 to the Menomonee Falls Scholarship and Education Foundation for scholarships. Health and human services appears in both general and issue-specific funding. In 2025, it gave $174,800 to Community Smiles Dental for general support, and $85,000 to the Medical College of Wisconsin for the Labahn Pancreatic Cancer Program (Dr. Evans). Community development and public spaces also receive attention. The foundation awarded $200,000 to Friends of Oconomowoc Parks and Trails Inc. for John and Lavinia Rockwell Park and $105,000 to the City of Oconomowoc for project expenses. Arts and culture is another consistent area, with a $1,615,950 grant to Waukesha Civic Theatre for expansion project building costs and a $266,500 title sponsorship to Mke Air and Water Show Inc.
$3M
$76.6M
$11.6M
$6.5M
Most grants fall between $8K and $25K, with a median of $12K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$12K
75th Percentile
$25K
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Typical grant sizes cluster in the low five figures: the 25th percentile is $8,000, the median is $11,500, and the 75th percentile is $25,000. The recent-grants list also shows some much larger project and capital awards, indicating a mix of smaller operating or program grants and larger infrastructure commitments. The foundation is a public charity, not a funder of individuals, and it does not make program-related investments. Its scholarship programs are administered through more than 80 opportunities, with many grants recurring through donor-named funds and annual cycles rather than one-off awards.
Giving is overwhelmingly local. Ninety-six percent of grants go to recipients in Wisconsin, and the grant list is concentrated in Waukesha County cities such as Waukesha, Oconomowoc, Menomonee Falls, Butler, Franklin, and Wales. Milwaukee also appears repeatedly among recipient locations, though the foundation’s giving scope remains local rather than regional or national. All recipient-country records in the data are in the United States.
The foundation supports arts and culture, health and human services, education, community development, environment and conservation, and historical preservation. Recent grants also show support for schools, libraries, parks and trails, health programs, and local nonprofit organizations serving Waukesha County.
Yes. It administers and supports more than 80 scholarship opportunities for students living in or attending school in Waukesha County. The scholarships cover post-secondary education, technical and trade programs, nursing and allied health, and some arts-related awards.
The grant-size distribution is centered in the low five figures. The 25th percentile is $8,000, the median is $11,500, and the 75th percentile is $25,000.
The foundation gives locally, with 96% of grants going to recipients in Wisconsin. Recent recipients are concentrated in Waukesha County communities such as Waukesha, Oconomowoc, Menomonee Falls, Butler, Franklin, and Wales.
Yes. The active scholarship programs and Community Grants Fund / Community Grants Cycle are marked as accepting unsolicited requests, and the community grants cycle is a competitive annual process for nonprofit organizations serving Waukesha County.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Waukesha County Community Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Only 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving Waukesha County are considered for funding. Requests are reviewed through a competitive grant cycle.
Deadline: 2026 cycle: Letter of Intent due July 31, 2026.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKE AIR AND WATER SHOW INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $266,500 | 2025 | TITLE SPONSORSHIP |
| FRIENDS OF OCONOMOWOC PARKS AND TRAILS INC | OCONOMOWOC, WI | $200,000 | 2025 | JOHN AND LAVINIA ROCKWELL PARK |
| POLISH HERITAGE ALLIANCE INC | FRANKLIN, WI | $177,384 | 2025 | ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION |
| COMMUNITY SMILES DENTAL | WAUKESHA, WI | $174,800 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WAYLAND ACADEMY | BEAVER DAM, WI | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WOMEN AND GIRLS FUND OF WAUKESHA COUNTY INC | WAUKESHA, WI | $107,400 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY | CAROL STREAM, IL | $91,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN | MILWAUKEE, WI | $85,000 | 2025 | LABAHN PANCREATIC CANCER PROGRAM (DR. EVANS) |
| SHARP LITERACY INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $60,750 | 2025 | WAUKESHA COUNTY EXPANSION OF SHARPS STEAM-BASED PROGRAM |
| ST AUGUSTINE PREPARATORY ACADEMY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $51,351 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY UPPER PLAINS REGION | DETROIT, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WISCONSIN FOUNDATION AND ALUMNI ASSOCIATION | MADISON, WI | $46,300 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MOUNT CALVARY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH AND SCHOOL | WAUKESHA, WI | $44,400 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LAKE AREA FREE CLINIC | OCONOMOWOC, WI | $39,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DONALD J DRIVER FOUNDATION INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $38,250 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SIXTEENTH STREET COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS | MILWAUKEE, WI | $36,500 | 2025 | CATHY JACOBSON ROAST ON NOVEMBER 19, 2024 |
| HOOVES OF MY HEART EQUINE RESCUE LTD | WAUKESHA, WI | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER MILWAUKEE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $34,850 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CRISTO REY JESUIT CORPORATE WORK STUDY PROGRAM INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $34,000 | 2025 | THE CRISTO REY JESUIT CORPORATE WORK STUDY PROGRAM |
| NAMI SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN | WAUKESHA, WI | $33,450 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNITED WAY OF GREATER MILWAUKEE AND WAUKESHA COUNTY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $31,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WCTC FOUNDATION INC | PEWAUKEE, WI | $30,700 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WORLD BICYCLE RELIEF | CHICAGO, IL | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GREEN BAY PACKER HALL OF FAME INC | GREEN BAY, WI | $30,000 | 2025 | 2024 SPONSORSHIP OF THE ANNUAL INDUCTION BANQUET AND GOLF CLASSIC OUTING |
| CARROLL UNIVERSITY | WAUKESHA, WI | $29,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FAMILY PROMISE OF WAUKESHA COUNTY | WAUKESHA, WI | $26,147 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OKAUCHEE LIONS CLUB | OKAUCHEE, WI | $25,150 | 2025 | OKAUCHEE LIONS DAYS 2024 |
| THE WOMEN'S CENTER INC | WAUKESHA, WI | $25,100 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LA CAUSA INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $25,000 | 2025 | LA CAUSA CRISIS NURSERY |
| YOUNG AMERICA'S FOUNDATION | RESTON, VA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PRESBYTERIAN HOMES FOUNDATION | WAUKESHA, WI | $20,100 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PRAIRIE HILL WALDORF SCHOOL | PEWAUKEE, WI | $20,000 | 2025 | TUITION ADJUSTMENT FUND |
| THE FOOD PANTRY SERVING WAUKESHA COUNTY | WAUKESHA, WI | $19,950 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| YMCA OF METROPOLITAN MILWAUKEE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $19,250 | 2025 | 2025 DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. CELEBRATION EMPOWER SPONSORSHIP |
| LAD LAKE INC | DOUSMAN, WI | $17,100 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HUNGER TASK FORCE | WEST MILWAUKEE, WI | $16,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SUSAN G KOMEN BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION | DALLAS, TX | $15,700 | 2025 | MORE THAN PINK WALK |
| PEARLS FOR TEEN GIRLS | MILWAUKEE, WI | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BETTY BRINN CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | MILWAUKEE, WI | $15,000 | 2025 | WSB EXHIBIT (PAYMENT THREE OF FIVE) |
| NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE OF MILWAUKEE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $15,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GRANT TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MPS |
| UNITY LUTHERAN CHURCH | BROOKFIELD, WI | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LIFESTRIDERS INC | WAUKESHA, WI | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TEAM UP WITH FAMILIESKATY'S KLOSET | WAUKESHA, WI | $14,000 | 2025 | IN MEMORY OF TED FERRARA |
| VERSITI WISCONSIN INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $13,591 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WISCONSIN HERO OUTDOORS INC | DELAFIELD, WI | $13,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WAUKESHA CIVIC THEATRE | WAUKESHA, WI | $12,780 | 2025 | ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE FOX VALLEY | APPLETON, WI | $12,500 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN SUPPORT TO BUILD A NEW BOYS & GIRLS CLUB IN NEENAH (SPONSORSHIP OF THE "SOUND SYSTEM" IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,000 PAYABLE OVER A FOUR-YEAR PERIOD) |
| HOPE CENTER | WAUKESHA, WI | $12,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHILDREN'S WISCONSIN FOUNDATION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $12,400 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HEBRON HOUSING SERVICES | PEWAUKEE, WI | $12,150 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
MKE AIR AND WATER SHOW INC
$266,500TITLE SPONSORSHIP
FRIENDS OF OCONOMOWOC PARKS AND TRAILS INC
$200,000JOHN AND LAVINIA ROCKWELL PARK
POLISH HERITAGE ALLIANCE INC
$177,384ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION
GENERAL SUPPORT
MOUNT CALVARY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH AND SCHOOL
$44,400GENERAL SUPPORT
LAKE AREA FREE CLINIC
$39,500GENERAL SUPPORT
DONALD J DRIVER FOUNDATION INC
$38,250GENERAL SUPPORT
CATHY JACOBSON ROAST ON NOVEMBER 19, 2024
HOOVES OF MY HEART EQUINE RESCUE LTD
$35,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CRISTO REY JESUIT CORPORATE WORK STUDY PROGRAM INC
$34,000THE CRISTO REY JESUIT CORPORATE WORK STUDY PROGRAM
GREEN BAY PACKER HALL OF FAME INC
$30,0002024 SPONSORSHIP OF THE ANNUAL INDUCTION BANQUET AND GOLF CLASSIC OUTING
FAMILY PROMISE OF WAUKESHA COUNTY
$26,147GENERAL SUPPORT
OKAUCHEE LIONS CLUB
$25,150OKAUCHEE LIONS DAYS 2024
PRAIRIE HILL WALDORF SCHOOL
$20,000TUITION ADJUSTMENT FUND
2025 DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. CELEBRATION EMPOWER SPONSORSHIP
MATCHING GRANT TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MPS
UNITY LUTHERAN CHURCH
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
LIFESTRIDERS INC
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
TEAM UP WITH FAMILIESKATY'S KLOSET
$14,000IN MEMORY OF TED FERRARA
WISCONSIN HERO OUTDOORS INC
$13,500GENERAL SUPPORT
WAUKESHA CIVIC THEATRE
$12,780ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN SUPPORT TO BUILD A NEW BOYS & GIRLS CLUB IN NEENAH (SPONSORSHIP OF THE "SOUND SYSTEM" IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,000 PAYABLE OVER A FOUR-YEAR PERIOD)