Community Impact Fund (Madison Community Foundation)

Community Impact Fund (Madison Community Foundation) is sponsored by Madison Community Foundation (MCF). Grants from MCF's Community Impact fund advance initiatives that have a long-term impact on Dane County and the lives of people living there. Focus areas include Arts & Culture, Community Development, Environment, Learning, and Organizational Capacity Building.

Community Impact Fund Grants - Madison Community Foundation Community Impact Fund Grants Discover the Impact Find the Goodman Nonprofit Center Find Grant Opportunities The 2026 grant cycle has ended. Community Impact Fund Grantmaking Process Interested Dane County, WI nonprofit organizations with 501c3 designations must first submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) through MCF’s GoApply Grant Portal in the spring of each year.

LOIs are reviewed to ensure eligibility and alignment with MCF’s mission and CI Fund focus. Organizations with an approved LOIs are invited to submit a full grant proposal. Full proposals are reviewed by MCF’s Community Impact Committee with final grant decisions made by MCF’s Board of Governors in October each year.

2026 Grantmaking Process Timeline March – Community Impact LOI portal opens March 2 June – LOIs must be submitted to GoApply by June 3rd July – Full proposal due via GoApply September – MCF staff will review full proposals & ask follow up questions if necessary October –MCF’s Community Impact Committee reviews the grant applications and forwards recommendations for grants to the Board of Governors.

Applicants will be notified by October 30 each year November/December – Final CI Grant awardees announced Download 2026 LOI Questions Community Impact Grantmaking Focus Areas MCF awards Community Impact grants to nonprofits working in five areas of focus: ARTS & CULTURE grants build and support Dane County’s vibrant arts scene. CAPACITY BUILDING grants strengthen the infrastructure and long-term impact of Dane County nonprofits.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT grants enhance the quality of life by strengthening the unique natural and cultural assets found in Dane County, investing in neighborhoods, enhancing equity and building bonds among residents. ENVIRONMENT grants preserve Dane County’s natural spaces by supporting conservation, restoration, education and policymaking.

LEARNING grants support public K-12 academic achievement and learning, out-of-school-time programs, GED-equivalence and transition-to-adult programs. Types of Community Impact Fund Grants Program Grants support new programs or expansion of existing programs that have a track record of success.

Capital Grants support the construction, purchase and renovation of facilities, land acquisition, and occasionally the purchase of vehicles or equipment. Applicant Eligibility Requirements Eligible nonprofits are limited to one application per grant cycle. Organization must be a nonprofit, exempt from federal income taxes under section 501c3 of the Internal Revenue Code, or a governmental body, including schools and municipalities.

Organization does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or arrest or conviction record, or any other discriminatory basis prohibited by applicable local, state and federal law. See MCF’s Grantmaking Due Diligence & Expenditure Responsibility Policy.

Organization must be a nonprofit located in Dane County, WI OR the organization has a major presence with providing services in Dane County. Project Eligibility Criteria The proposed project must be focused on enhancing the lives of residents or physical environments in Dane County, WI. The proposed project should use informed, effective and sustainable approaches to address community issues within the scope of the grant.

When possible, the proposed project should include collaborative partnerships to leverage and strengthen community assets. Community assets are the strengths, resources, and capacities within a neighborhood, including people, places, partnerships (local groups, nonprofits), institutions (schools, government), economic elements (local businesses, banks), cultural traditions and natural resources (land, water).

The proposed project should include an actionable plan to capture and analyze meaningful and measurable outcomes to inform continuous improvement. The proposed project should demonstrate the capacity to promote and enhance growth and sustainability of the organization.

Short Terms Project Goals (Arts Education, Tutoring Program, Transportation, Technology Upgrades, Staff and/or Volunteer Training) Long Term Project Goals (Capital Campaign, Economic Development, Bike Trails, Land Preservation) Grant Funding Ratio & Amounts MCF looks for evidence of strong community support and encourages organizations to seek multiple funders (Individual donors, foundations, government) for projects.

Community Impact Applicants are encouraged to have at least one-third (⅓) of their proposed project funding raised before applying. Approximately 20% of the grant applications received are funded at some level each year. Not all proposals are funded at the fully requested amount.

What MCF’s Community Impact Fund Grantmaking Program Does Not Fund: Endowments not held by MCF Annual Fundraising Appeals Ongoing programs and/or operations Religious organizations for religious purposes Substance abuse treatment Health care services (dental, mental health, capital campaigns for health) Multiple Project requests from the same organization simultaneously The University of Wisconsin, although projects sponsored by the other nonprofits in which the University of Wisconsin is a partner agency will be considered.

GoApply Grant Portal Information Please create an account , if this is your first time using GoApply for your organization. If you have an account, enter your email and password to view, edit and submit your grant.

Grant Portal Tabs Available In Progress – Grant applications in progress (Save or Download draft at any time) Opportunities – Available grant opportunities to apply for Organization Profile – Update your GoApply user profile OR organization contact details here Character Counts – Most questions on applications in the new Grant Portal have been set to the maximum character count.

This does not mean we want you to write long answers – it just means that we value your time and don’t want you to stress about limiting character counts. Please do your best to be concise and clear. Documentation (Portal) – All LOI, Applications, Grant Agreements, and Interim and Final Evaluation Reports will reside in the GoApply Grant Portal.

Madison Community Foundation 111 N Fairchild Street, Suite 260 Madison Community Foundation is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) community trust. EIN: 39-6038248.

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