The Herb Kohl Philanthropies Giving Program offers Homegrown Grants of up to $5,000 to Wisconsin nonprofit organizations working to strengthen local communities. Funded by Herb Kohl Philanthropies, the program prioritizes inclusive organizations and innovative ideas that solve community needs rather than simply serve them.

Focus areas include helping children and youth achieve their potential through education, building family well-being, promoting financial stability and self-sufficiency, and providing direct safety net resources. Projects must invest in people by increasing skills, abilities, knowledge, or well-being, and must strengthen community connections. Collaboration with local partners is encouraged.

Applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations serving Wisconsin communities and apply through the foundation's online portal.

Homegrown Grants · Herb Kohl Philanthropies Herb Kohl was Wisconsin through and through. From his earliest days driving around the state opening his iconic grocery and department stores, to the countless trips he made as U.S. Senator to meet with Wisconsinites in their distinctive hometowns, he spent his life looking for and finding ways to support local communities.

In that spirit, this grant program aims to help make communities stronger. We provide general support in the form of a homegrown grant to local people, inclusive organizations and innovative ideas striving to solve, rather than serve a need. For example, a teacher is growing the school’s farm and agricultural courses and would like to add a cow to the farm.

Or a community health clinic is coping with an increase in patients and is in dire need of basic medical equipment. Lastly, a local community center would like to provide financial literacy classes for young adults and would like to send one of its employees to a specific training for the program.

In all of these situations, the organizations are seeking to address a need facing their local communities and would be considered candidates for a Homegrown Grant. Homegrown Grants of up to $5,000/year should be considered one-time grants.

Homegrown Grant proposals should focus on: Helping children and youth achieve their potential through education, building family well-being, helping families and individuals become financially stable and self-sufficient, or providing a direct, safety net resource or basic need. Collaboration with local partners is encouraged.

The proposal or organization must do the following: Invest in people - increase skills, abilities, knowledge, and/or well-being Strengthen community connections and/or resources Organization Eligibility: Applicants must apply online through our application portal. Proposals that serve K-12 or early childhood do not need to be school-based.

If recommended for funding, the organization must provide electronic payment information to complete the approval process. All grants are disbursed through electronic payment. Grants are made only to nonprofit organizations that have federal tax-exempt status, or if they fall under the umbrella of a parent nonprofit with tax exempt status as a section 501(c)(3) public charity.

The applicant must provide services within Wisconsin communities and funding requested may only be used to benefit Wisconsin residents. These grants are not for after-the-fact support, or operating deficits. An organization may only receive one grant per grant cycle.

Organizations must comply with all regulations of the local, state and federal government pertaining to proper licensing, health and safety requirements, and operate in the State of Wisconsin. All grant applicants commit to complying with the program’s terms and conditions. Submission of an application does not guarantee funding.

Funding exclusions include: organizations that deny service, membership or other involvement on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, veteran, or disability status. Describe the hometown challenge (500 words). What is the need facing your community?

Who is impacted? Describe the opportunity to help (500 words). How does the proposal invest in people, engage the people it serves, and strengthen community connections and/or resources?

Will the project have collaborators in solving, rather than serving the challenge? What makes this an innovative opportunity? The Homegrown Grant Committee accepts and reviews applications on a rolling basis from July 1 - March 31.

Each application is evaluated with emphasis placed on efforts that create the greatest positive impact through innovation and collaboration. Organizations receiving a homegrown grant are required to provide a report within 2 months of project or program completion. Acceptable reporting includes pictures of an event, news or media coverage, testimonials from participants, or a brief report from the Program Director or Executive Director.

The Foundation awards grants exclusively to organizations recognized by the IRS as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3). We do not fund individuals, non-charitable entities, or Private Foundations.