La Crosse Area Community Foundation welcomes grant applications from charitable organizations with missions aimed at enhancing the quality of life in La Crosse County Wisconsin. In 2023, we awarded $1,023,144 in competitive grants across our eight impact areas: Arts & Humanities, Community Improvement, Culture & Diversity, Education, Environment, Faith, Health & Human Services, and Recreation & Wellness.
Current Grant Opportunities
All webinar dates have passed. Click here to view the mini/micro grant webinar. Organizations interested in a capacity building grant must have attended a webinar to be eligible for the upcoming cycle. LOIs are due June 21st. Click on a grant type below to access the online portal.
Micro grants are designed to be responsive to the needs of nonprofit organizations serving La Crosse County who may otherwise have limited access to resources. La Crosse Area Community Foundation has allocated $70,000 this calendar year specifically for applicants seeking awards of $250 – $3,000 for projects offering a new strategy, improved strategy, or to support growth in order to meet growing community needs/demand. The application will open June 17 and will remain open until allocated funding is exhausted. Approved applications will receive grant award payment no later than three weeks after submission. Review the complete Micro Grant RFP here.
Mini grants are part of our historic competitive grants program to be responsive to the needs of nonprofit organizations serving La Crosse County. La Crosse Area Community Foundation has allocated $100,000 this calendar year specifically for nonprofits seeking awards of $1,000 – $15,000 for result-oriented projects and programs that address a proven community need or priority aimed at making La Crosse County a better place now and for future generations. Preference will be given to applications that focus on building opportunities for community engagement and building of social capital across differences. The application will open September 1 and is due October 16; awards will be announced the week of November 21. Review the complete Mini Grant RFP here.
Capacity-building grants aim to invest in the health and sustainability of nonprofit organizations serving La Crosse County. La Crosse Area Community Foundation has allocated $300,000 this calendar year specifically for nonprofits who need investment in their internal infrastructure to create a more sustainable and effective organization. Individual awards are expected to range from $50,000 – $90,000 for two consecutive years and will be paired with significant in-kind support through robust, ongoing technical assistance offered throughout the entire grant award period. This pilot grant program has limited capacity and organizations must be invited to complete a full application after submission of a Letter of Intent. Review the complete Nonprofit Capacity Building Grant Program RFP here.
Eligibility for Grants
Applicant organizations must meet the following criteria. Additional eligibility requirements may apply to specific grant opportunities.
- Applicant organizations must be a public charity, exempt from federal income taxes under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Governmental bodies, including schools and municipalities, may also apply as long as the project is above and beyond regular budgeted items and does not fill budget gaps. Applicants that do not meet this criteria may seek a formal fiscal sponsor* relationship with an 501(c)(3) public charity to be eligible.
- Must be located in and/or primarily serve residents of La Crosse County Wisconsin
- Agreement with all LACF Grant Awardee Requirements & Expectations, including compliance with LACF’s grantee Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging Policy
- No past due grant reports from previous grant awards
Grant Application Process
All applications must be submitted through LACF’s online grant portal. Each grant program includes specific application steps and timelines. CLICK HERE to login to the grant portal.
Questions? Never hesitate to reach out to Grants Specialist Ellen Heyden. Her position is dedicated to providing responsive technical assistance with the aim to help all eligible applicants submit the most competitive request possible.
Ellen is available to help anytime between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm Monday-Wednesday.
CALL 608-782-3223 x 29
EMAIL ellen@laxcommfoundation.com
CALENDLY Schedule directly to her calendar here