Community Grants
The Community Foundation matches funding from various funds with innovative ideas of nonprofits meeting nearly every area of community need. To begin the process of applying for a grant, follow the steps below.
MARATHON COUNTY GRANTS
Wausau Marathon County Impact Grants provide funding for projects and programs that most effectively make a positive impact on the greater Wausau area and Marathon County. The checklist and guidelines linked below will help determine if your project or program is eligible for consideration.
- Are you a charitable 501(c)(3) organization?
- Does your project or program directly enhance the quality of life in the greater Wausau area or other communities within Marathon County?
- Will your project make a long-term, tangible difference in meeting a specific community need, or will it provide capacity-building resources to escalate your organization to a higher level of service?
Application Deadline: Last Monday of February, May, August, and November.
Grant Range: $1,000 to $100,000 depending on the scope of the project.
Notification: By the end of the month the application is reviewed (March, June, September, or December).
Applicants must discuss their project ideas with Kelly Price, the Program Associate, prior to completing an application – especially if this is the first time you are submitting an application to the Community Foundation.
The Community Arts Grant Fund encourages cooperation and expansion of arts opportunities within our area. Grants are awarded for projects and programs that reinforce the quality and diversity of the arts in north central Wisconsin.
- The organization applying for funds must be a nonprofit entity that serves Marathon County
- Project must provide a quality arts or arts-related activity or experience
- There must be a public component (e.g. concert, exhibition, performance, etc.) to the project
- The grant request can be for no more than 50% of the total project costs
- Each organization is allowed to submit one application annually
Application Deadline: April 15th
Grant Range: Requests cannot exceed $5,000
Notification: By the end of May
(Marathon County) Beyond Pencils and Beyond Crayons Grants are available to K-12 teachers throughout Marathon County to initiate innovative and creative projects and programs that enhance their curriculum. Through a competitive review process, our selection committee looks for proposals that fill a specific need, are cost-effective, provide educational value, and demonstrate a sense of community.
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- Are you an educator teaching at a school located in Marathon County?
- Do you have an innovative and creative project to enhance your current curriculum?
- Is it a project or program that would not generally be funded through the school district budget?
- Will your project be completed in the current school year? We are specifically looking for projects that will:
- Enrich the educational experience – are educational and fun
- Motivate and inspire students and educators
- Demonstrate a sense of community
- Are cost-effective
- Fill a specific need
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Application Deadline: September 30
Grant Range: Up to $5,000
Notification: By October 31
The Ed & Joyce Creske Family Foundation Fund is a way for the Creske family to continue to give back to the community and the people that have been good to them during their lifetime.
Requests for funding are limited to charitable organizations that serve central Wisconsin – specifically Lincoln, Marathon, and Portage Counties. Preference will be given in the review process to charitable causes that directly affect the community of Mosinee.
Application Deadline: The first business day of September
If you have any questions during the application process, you can contact Sue Nelson, Program Officer at the Community Foundation office.
Proposals are accepted for specifically identified projects and programs that will benefit nonprofit organizations located in communities formerly served by Mid Wisconsin Bank. The following guidelines are taken into consideration:
- Applications are accepted from charitable, tax-exempt, organization located in communities where a Mid Wisconsin Bank was previously located (listed on the guidelines below)
- For specific projects or programs in the areas of: Health and Human Services; Community, Cultural, and Economic Development; Educational and Vocational Programs; or Environmental Enhancement
- Requests are limited to nonprofit organizations – not individuals
- We do not fund political or strictly religious purposes
- Applications are also not accepted from churches, schools, or political groups
- If the applying organization receives federal or state funding, it is ineligible. The local level of a national or state organization may be considered for funding.
- Applications will not be accepted from organizations that have received a grant in the past two years.
Application Deadline: October 15
Grant Range: Grants generally do not exceed $1,000
Notification: By the end of November
Applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss their project ideas with the program officer prior to completing an application – especially if this is a first-time application submitted to the Mid Wisconsin Foundation Legacy Fund.
The Murco Foundation board of directors reviews grant applications on an annual basis. Applications are considered from nonprofit organizations serving the greater Wausau area and Marathon County. The focus of their funding is for the advancement of education and the arts in our community. See grant guidelines for more information.
Application Deadline: First business day of September
Notification: Within 45 days of application deadline
Applicants can forward questions regarding their proposal to the Murco Foundation representative.
The Clyde F. Schlueter Foundation Fund continues to honor the original intent of Mr. Schlueter’s generosity. The advisory board generally makes recommendations for grants to nonprofit organizations for projects that:
- Serve the greater Wausau area
- Promote growth in character and service of area youth through physical, social, intellectual, and mental training
- Provide for civic improvements
Adhering to the original foundation’s intent, the following will generally not be funded from the Clyde F. Schlueter Foundation Fund:
- School-related athletic programs and projects
- Endowment funds
- Operating expenses or debt retirement
- Projects and programs that are more appropriately funded with public funds or tax revenues
Application Deadline: First business day of September
Notification: Within 45 days of application deadline
The Wausau & Marathon County Parks & Recreation Foundation Fund was established within the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin in 1990. The Parks Foundation board of directors meets bi-monthly to review applications and awards grants through the Community Foundation. The Wausau & Marathon County Parks & Recreation Foundation is organized to secure and broaden resources for parks and recreational activities in Wausau and Marathon County. Grant requests will be considered based on this purpose.
Applications are considered from nonprofit organizations serving the greater Wausau area and Marathon County, Wisconsin, that improve the recreational resources and activities of our area.
Application Deadline: First business day of February, April, June, August, October, and December
NORTH CENTRAL WI AREA GRANTS
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines
If you have any questions during the application process, you can contact Sue Nelson, Program Officer at the Community Foundation office.
Established in 2000, the Merrill Area Community Foundation continues to build a solid financial base for the future. The advisory board set a goal of building a fund balance that would grow and develop to meet the current and future needs of the Merrill area. A major step toward that goal was realized in 2007 with the success of a community fundraising campaign spearheaded by a $100,000 challenge grant from Church Mutual Insurance Company. Businesses and individuals responded to that challenge by pledging over $200,000 in matching funds, which took the campaign to $311,000.
With a current fund balance in excess of $600,000, the earnings from the Merrill Area Community Foundation Fund provides opportunities for the Merrill area to prosper today and on into the future.
A board of local representatives meets regularly to conduct business and to review any grant requests received within that time period. Applications can be submitted through the CFONCW application website. View and download the grant guidelines by clicking here.
Funds Serving the Merrill Area
Designated and Field of Interest Funds:
- Merrill Area Community Foundation Fund (2000)
- Children’s Developmental Disability Fund (2005)
- City of Merrill Park Endowment Fund (2011)
- Richard V. Geiger Memorial Fund (2005)
- Lincoln County 4-H Leaders Association Endowment Fund (2013)
- Frank Roskos Memorial Fund (2007)
Donor Advised Funds:
- Steven Dahm & Laurie Wolf-Dahm Fund (2011)
- Hostvedt Family Fund (2000)
- Linda Osness Park City Credit Union Fund (2010)
- Linda Semling Peterson Fund (2012)
- Arthur & Audrey Taylor Fund (2012)
Fiscal Sponsorship Funds:
- Lincoln County Partners in Education Fund (2003)
- River District Development Foundation of Merrill Fund (2011)
Scholarship Funds:
- Elsie Heckman Memorial Scholarship Fund (2010)
- Mitchell Metal Products Scholarship/Grants Fund (2003)
- Sally Pfund Memorial Scholarship Fund (2011)
- Paul C. Simon Memorial Scholarship Fund (2008)
- Sherry Simon Success Scholarship Fund (2018)
- Adam Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund (2022)
- David & Emily Streich Scholarship Fund (2004)
- Alan C. Vecchio Memorial Fund (2013)
- Tim Volz “79” Memorial Scholarship Fund (2009)
Merrill Area Community Foundation Board of Directors
The Merrill Area Community Foundation Fund is governed by a volunteer advisory board of directors chosen for their commitment to, and knowledge of, the needs of the community. Members of the board include:
Chris Grunenwald, President
Laura Huggins, Vice President
Jeremy Cordova, Past President
Julie Bushor, Treasurer
Linda Semling Peterson, Secretary
Angela Bailey
Greg Gill
Mike Grunenwald
Elizabeth McCrank
Susan Ryman
NATIONAL GRANTS
Let’s Start a Conversation.
The Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin is committed to helping your organization thrive. Grants awarded through funds administered within the Community Foundation allow our donors to fulfill their charitable giving objectives. Contact Kelly for helpful information on the application process before beginning your application.
Or call Kelly at (715) 845-9555
