Advancing comprehensive and transformational support of the early childhood workforce.
A $111,300 grant to College of the Menominee Nation for language reclamation efforts stands out in Wisconsin Early Childhood Association Inc’s recent grantmaking. That award shows the foundation’s interest in education that is tied to cultural and community continuity, alongside its broader commitment to the early childhood workforce. The other recent grants in the file are smaller student-support awards, each around $30,000, directed to Wisconsin colleges and workforce intermediaries. The foundation’s giving is closely aligned with its stated purpose of advancing comprehensive and transformational support of the early childhood workforce. Its active programs point to a practical model: scholarships and stipends for educators, child care business supports, nutrition support through CACFP administration, and shared-services infrastructure for regulated child care programs. In that context, the recent grants to Midstate Technical College Co Micki Dirks-luebbe, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Milwaukee Area Technical College, Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board Inc, and Madison College suggest a pattern of supporting education and retention pathways for people working in or entering early childhood-related fields. The combination of direct student support, workforce stabilization tools, and program administration gives the foundation a focused role in Wisconsin’s early childhood ecosystem.
Education and workforce development are central to the foundation’s recent grantmaking. It gave $30,000 to Midstate Technical College Co Micki Dirks-luebbe for a student support grant, and another $30,000 to University of Wisconsin-Platteville for the same purpose. Milwaukee Area Technical College also received $30,000 for student support. The foundation also funds language reclamation. Its largest recent grant, $111,300, went to College of the Menominee Nation for higher education support tied to language reclamation efforts. A separate grant of $29,950 to Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board Inc shows attention to workforce-linked support beyond campus settings. Taken together, these awards connect higher education, student retention, and workforce development within Wisconsin.
$45K
$13.7M
$25.2M
$20.4M
Most grants fall between $30K and $30K, with a median of $30K.
25th Percentile
$30K
Median
$30K
75th Percentile
$30K
RUTH SCHMIDT
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Recent grants cluster around a narrow size band. The p25 is $29,962, the median is $30,000, and the p75 is $30,000, which indicates that most awards in the file sit at or near $30,000. One larger grant at $111,300 separates the top award from the rest. The recipient list shows a 2025-only pattern in the records provided, so the file does not show multi-year repeat grantees. The foundation is a nonprofit association rather than a private family foundation or DAF, and its active grant programs include several that accept unsolicited requests, including TEACH scholarships, REWARD stipends, CACFP administration, and WEESSN-related support.
The giving is entirely Wisconsin-based in the data provided, with 100% of grants to recipients in the home state. Recent recipients are spread across Keshena, Wisconsin Rapids, Platteville, Milwaukee, Ashland, and Madison. The file also shows statewide program activity, including Wisconsin-wide child care and early childhood support work. No non-U.S. recipient countries appear in the grant list.
The foundation’s active programs point to early childhood education, workforce development, child care business supports, nutrition through CACFP administration, and scholarships and stipends. Recent grants also include higher education support tied to language reclamation efforts, showing a mix of workforce and education-related funding.
The grant-size distribution is tightly grouped around $30,000. The p25 is $29,962, the median is $30,000, and the p75 is $30,000. One recent award is much larger at $111,300.
All grants in the file go to Wisconsin recipients, and the recipient-country distribution is 100% US. Named recipient locations include Keshena, Wisconsin Rapids, Platteville, Milwaukee, Ashland, and Madison.
Yes. Several active programs are marked as accepting unsolicited requests, including the WECA Food Program, T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Wisconsin, TEACH Scholarship, REWARD Wisconsin Stipend Program, and WEESSN Food Systems.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MILWAUKEE AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $45,000 | 2026 | ECE PATHWAY OPTION |
| COLLEGE OF THE MENOMINEE NATION | KESHENA, WI | $111,300 | 2025 | HIGHER ED GRANT TO SUPPORT LANGUAGE RECLAMATION EFFORTS |
| MIDSTATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE CO MICKI DIRKS-LUEBBE | WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI | $30,000 | 2025 | STUDENT SUPPORT GRANT |
| MILWAUKEE AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $30,000 | 2025 | STUDENT SUPPORT GRANT |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-PLATTEVILLE | PLATTEVILLE, WI | $30,000 | 2025 | STUDENT SUPPORT GRANT |
| NORTHWEST WISCONSIN WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD INC | ASHLAND, WI | $29,950 | 2025 | STUDENT SUPPORT GRANT |
| MADISON COLLEGE | MADISON, WI | $29,850 | 2025 | STUDENT SUPPORT GRANT |
| MILWAUKEE AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $45,000 | 2024 | TO OFFER THREE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PATHWAY OPTIONS TO SUPPORT PARTICIPANTS IN THE "53206" EDUCATIONAL GRANT PROJECT MATERIALIZE THEIR INDIVIDUALIZED ACADEMIC PLANS. |
| MILWAUKEE AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $45,000 | 2023 | TO OFFER THREE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PATHWAY OPTIONS TO SUPPORT PARTICIPANTS IN THE "53206" EDUCATIONAL GRANT PROJECT MATERIALIZE THEIR INDIVIDUALIZED ACADEMIC PLANS. |
COLLEGE OF THE MENOMINEE NATION
$111,300HIGHER ED GRANT TO SUPPORT LANGUAGE RECLAMATION EFFORTS
MIDSTATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE CO MICKI DIRKS-LUEBBE
$30,000STUDENT SUPPORT GRANT
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-PLATTEVILLE
$30,000STUDENT SUPPORT GRANT
NORTHWEST WISCONSIN WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD INC
STUDENT SUPPORT GRANT
MADISON COLLEGE
$29,850STUDENT SUPPORT GRANT
TO OFFER THREE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PATHWAY OPTIONS TO SUPPORT PARTICIPANTS IN THE "53206" EDUCATIONAL GRANT PROJECT MATERIALIZE THEIR INDIVIDUALIZED ACADEMIC PLANS.
TO OFFER THREE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PATHWAY OPTIONS TO SUPPORT PARTICIPANTS IN THE "53206" EDUCATIONAL GRANT PROJECT MATERIALIZE THEIR INDIVIDUALIZED ACADEMIC PLANS.
Current and upcoming funding from Wisconsin Early Childhood Association that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Licensed or certified family child care providers in Wisconsin (or participating group child care programs as applicable under CACFP rules).
Deadline: No specific application deadlines listed (enrollment via interest form).
Who can apply: Applicants must be certified or licensed family child care providers in Wisconsin. Participants must sign an agreement with WECA, enroll children in their care, follow food program guidelines, maintain menu and attendance records, submit monthly records, allow program visits, and complete annual training and re-enrollment requirements.
Deadline: No deadline stated; prospective providers may submit an interest form to join.
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