Innovation Grants

Innovation Grants is sponsored by United Way of Sheboygan County. United Way of Sheboygan County's Innovation Grants provide funding to launch creative solutions to pressing community challenges, address urgent needs, invest in capacity-building, or expand programming.

Innovation Grants | United Way of Sheboygan County Fueling Ideas, Strengthening Sheboygan County Big Challenges Need Bold Solutions—We’re Here to Help. At United Way of Sheboygan County (UWSC), we believe that our community thrives when nonprofits are empowered to innovate. But finding the funding to pilot new ideas, meet emerging needs, or scale successful programs can be a challenge.

That’s where we come in.

Introducing Innovation Grants United Way of Sheboygan County’s Innovation Grants provide funding to: Launch creative solutions to pressing community challenges Address urgent, unexpected, and/or unfulfilled needs Invest in capacity-building to strengthen impact Meet emerging or short-term needs affecting service delivery Expand or refine current programming to better serve Sheboygan County In the 2026 grant cycle, funded activities must provide tangible, meaningful support related to essential needs such as: other foundational resources necessary for well-being You’re Doing the Work — We’re Here to Support You.

We know that nonprofit leaders like you are working tirelessly to make Sheboygan County stronger. But big ideas need resources to become reality. That’s why our Innovation Grants provide the flexibility to adapt and respond to what our community needs most.

Apply – Tell us about your innovative approach and how it will strengthen Sheboygan County. Link for application: United Way of Sheboygan County - 2026 Innovation Grant Application Review – Requests for funding are reviewed by our Community Action Team (CAT), a committee of dedicated and passionate volunteers. Applications are evaluated based on community needs.

Funding Decisions – Selected project(s) receive funding to launch, expand, or adapt in meaningful ways. 2026 Innovation Grant Cycle Opening Soon Thank you for your interest in an Innovation Grant from United Way of Sheboygan County.

The timeline for the 2026 grant cycle is: First round review by Community Action Team: April 30th - May 8th Notification to applicants moving on to Second round: May 11th Presentations to Community Action Team by Second round applicants: Week of May 18th Funding awarded: a final decision will be made by the Community Action Team following the last presentation Grant funding delivered: by end of June 2026 Report on impact of the funding project: by June 2027 How do I apply?

Can I preview the Innovation Grant form and questions? You must complete the online application. Paper applications will not be accepted.

Late applications submitted after the deadline - Thursday April 30th, 2025 - will not be accepted. While the Innovation Grants do require an online application, we understand that you may need/want to preview the questions in advance in order to better understand that application and prepare the application. A PDF version of the grant application is available here for you to review.

Based on the online application, the UWSC Community Action Team (CAT) will invite selected agencies to complete a second round in the application process. This would require the agency to complete a video submission or in-person presentation to the CAT team. Requirements for this and how to schedule or submit will be shared with those who move on to the second round.

The second round will be limited to a maximum of 10 applicants. Are Innovation Grant applications currently be accepted? What is the deadline to apply?

The 2026 Innovation Grant opens on Monday March 16th. The online application will be accepted through Thursday April 30th. If selected to move forward in the application process, video submissions must be turned in by or in-person presentations must be completed on or before May 22nd, 2026.

Funding will be awarded by the end of June 2026. Is there a focus or priority area for this year's grant cycle? What does "essential needs" mean?

In 2026, funded activities should focus on what we call "Essential Needs". This may relate to areas around: - financial literacy and/or education around finances, budgeting, credit, etc - and other foundation resources necessary for financial stability and well-being Projects applying for funding must clearly provide tangible support for one or more of the above areas. What makes a project, program or service "innovative"?

With respects to this grant category, United Way of Sheboygan County defines an “innovative approach” as the following: A creative solution to an underlying community need Efforts that address an unexpected agency need Emerging and/or short term need impacting service delivery Renewing or scaling of current programming to better meet the needs of the community What is NOT eligible for Innovation Grant funding?

The following types of applications are NOT eligible for funding: Those that seek to maintain ongoing, established programs without the need for expansion or growth Projects or programs for political purposes, religious purposes, or programs requiring religious participation Those that seek funds for fundraising expenses or debt reduction Those that directly benefit an individual or family Funding for organizations with programs or activities that are incompatible with the mission of UWSC, as determined by UWSC’s Community Action Team Is there a minimum funding amount?

Is there a maximum funding amount? Yes . The maximum request is $4 0,000 .

The minimum request amount is $10,000. Funding will be delivered by June 30th, 2026 and must be spent before June 2027. How does our organization apply for an Innovation Grant?

The 2026 Innovation Grant cycle will be opening soon. You must complete an online application. Paper applications will not be accepted.

Late applications submitted after the April 30th and/or outside of the grant cycle will not be accepted. The Community Action Team will then review all applications. Those who move on to the second round will be notified in mid-May.

Second round applicants will be required to complete a in-person presentation to the UWSC Community Action Team. Requirements for this and how to schedule or submit will be shared with you, if selected to do so. Our project involves multiple partners.

Do we each need to apply separately? One application per project/program/service must be submitted by the governing agency or fiscal agent/sponsor. Partner organizations must be disclosed in the online application form.

How will the Innovation Grant applications be evaluated? What criteria will be used? United Way of Sheboygan County’s Community Action Team (CAT) will use the following criteria to evaluate grant applications.

Criterion 1 – 3 will be a check box response to indicate if the application has met the criterion or not. Criterion 4a – 4e will be evaluated on a 5 point scale where 1 fails to meet criteria and a 5 exceeds criteria needs. Criterion 1: The application meets the current eligibility criteria.

Criterion 2: The funding level requested is within the grant limits and adequately meets the need for the project/program/service and/or articulates where additional funding to support the project/program/service is sourced from. Criterion 3 : The funding request aligns with “innovative approach” definition. Criterion 4: The funding request provides an appropriate explanation of their request.

4(a) - The funding request clearly articulates how funds will be used 4(b) - The funding request includes a sustainability plan for post funding 4(c) - Project/program/service goals are clearly communicated 4(d) - Project/program/service can provide trackable data that aligns the mission and goals of UWSC 4(e) - Project/program/service clearly provides tangible support related to an essential need.

Our organization is not a traditional nonprofit. Can we apply? Yes.

Nonprofits with 501c3 status, city and town departments, councils, schools and social entities are eligible to apply, as long as the project/program/service aligns with the mission and goals of United Way Sheboygan County (UWSC). Cross– sector collaborations, task forces, and other collaborative efforts are encouraged to apply under an entity that has the capacity to serve as the fiscal sponsor or agent.

Our organization covers more than one area or county in Wisconsin. Can we apply? Yes.

Projects/programs/services that span multiple counties may apply. However, the primary service must be offered in Sheboygan County and the program or agency receiving funding must be able to report on data from Sheboygan County specifically. Can my organization apply for and/or receive multiple years of Innovation Grants?

No. At this time , United Way of Sheboygan County is offering Innovation Grants as a one-year cycle . Organizations may apply each year. If there is any grant funding remaining in a year’s cycle, those funds will roll over into the next year’s grant cycle.

Our organization currently receives funding from UWSC for another project, program and/or service. Can we apply for an Innovation Grant? Yes .

However, you must apply for a new project/program/service or expansion/ capacity building of a current project/program/service to best meet the community needs. Our organization is receiving funding from other sources for this project, program or service and matching funding is required. Can we apply?

Yes. While the hope is to find smaller pilot or experimental projects that can eventually be scaled, we realize that often multiple funding sources may be necessary to get an innovative project off the ground. We do require that you note these funding sources in your application.

Additionally, organizations may apply to use Innovation Grant funds as matching funds for another grant given. If our Innovation Grant is funded, what reporting is required of the agency receiving the funding? We believe that your organization will know how to measure success and outcomes of your project/program/service best.

You will be required to share how what data you plan to collect in the online application form. A formal report of your data collected will be due one year after funds have been received. Should your organization be selected for an Innovation Grant, clear direction on how to do so will be provided in partnership with UWSC’s Impact team.

United Way of Sheboygan County