General Community Grants

General Community Grants is sponsored by Patrick and Anna M. Cudahy Fund. Supports social services, health, education, environment, and arts for under-resourced populations in Metropolitan Chicago and Wisconsin.

Community Grants : The Patrick and Anna M. Cudahy Fund makes grants to nonprofit organizations that benefit economically challenged or marginalized communities. We provide both general operating support and program support.

Our geographic focus is in Metropolitan Chicago and throughout the state of Wisconsin, although most Wisconsin grants are awarded to the Milwaukee area, including Racine and Kenosha counties. Our Board of Directors consists of family and non-family members. Board meetings happen in the spring and fall, usually in late May and late November.

Discretionary Grants: Directors who are family members are also able to recommend Discretionary Grants to 501(c)3 tax-exempt nonprofit organizations that may not fit within our General Community Grants funding guidelines or are located outside of our geographic focus area including organizations that operate abroad.

Organizations interested in submitting a proposal may not request funding through Discretionary Grants as these grants are selected by Directors only. All discretionary grants, however, must be approved by the Board of Directors. The Fund does not accept unsolicited proposals.

If your organization is interested in being considered for funding, please read about our Letter of Inquiry Process. Also on this page is information about submitting a proposal if your organization has already received a formal invitation. Services that provide safety nets and supports for under-resourced, low-income or otherwise marginalized communities.

This includes programs that assist the homeless or those at risk of homelessness with immediate needs and/or future success; programs that provide help for marginalized communities such as veterans or people exiting the prison system; shelter/housing; food/anti-hunger programs; and employment programs.

Health and Human Services Support for programs that provide subsidized, low cost or free healthcare for the uninsured and under-insured of all ages; access to mental health; access to low or free-cost dental services; healthcare outreach programs; assistance for disabled individuals or other populations with specific challenges; and services for the elderly.

Our interests are primarily focused on conservation efforts to protect wildlife, the preservation of natural areas and public interest environmental law. Funding for exceptional early childhood, school age, high school, and college programs; after school programs; adult continuing education; and educational opportunities for adults who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Our funding often goes toward scholarship programs so that low-income communities have access to the same high quality programs as their peers. Most grants are designated for arts/culture access for under-privilaged populations such as subsidized entry to museums or other cultural sites or events.

The fund does not support: Organizations and projects primarily serving a local constituency outside of Wisconsin and the Chicago metropolitan area except for discretionary grants and special circumstances Organizations outside of the United States not represented by a United States 501(c)3 organization (nor do we accept LOI's for programs outside our geographic focus)