Urban Ecology Center

The Urban Ecology Center received marketing assistance to help develop and unify its brand.

Pregnancy Support Connection (now Safe Babies Healthy Families)

Pregnancy Support Connection worked towards completion of Phase 1 of a technology overhaul.

The specific costs associated with technical assistance that are eligible for funding include: consulting services, training, technology upgrades or graphic design assistance that builds the capacity of nonprofit organizations. Three general categories of technical assistance have been established: Management Assistance, Organizational Alternatives, and Diagnostic Clinics. Learn about eligible activities.

Grants will not be made for the following activities: general operating support, office equipment and furnishings (except for computer hardware and software), construction or rehabilitation of facilities, emergency repairs, payroll needs, debt liquidation, or routine financial audits. The Nonprofit Management Fund does not support program planning, program evaluation, or community needs assessments. The Fund will not underwrite expenses associated with capital campaigns, including feasibility studies. Projects that request support for independent contractors to perform staff functions will not receive funding. The Fund also will not fund activities that have taken place prior to the date of the committee's funding decision.


Submitting An Application
The Nonprofit Management Fund Committee considers applications during the first 10 days of the even months of the year. Proposals are due in the first 10 days of the odd months of the year for consideration. Grants will be project-specific, non-renewable, and range from $1,000 to $10,000.

For the Nonprofit Management Fund of Waukesha County, applications are due by the end of February for consideration in March, and are due by the end of August for consideration in September.

Applicant Qualifications
Small and medium-sized private, nonprofit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations, which have been incorporated for at least two years, and serve Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington or Waukesha Counties are eligible to apply. The priority target groups of the Funds are smaller organizations that lack the capacity to underwrite technical assistance within their operating budgets. Organizations with annual operating budgets over $3,000,000 will not be considered. Applicants are expected to have Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, or Waukesha County as their primary target area, with at least 70% of the organization’s work conducted in the greater Milwaukee area.

Religious organizations will be considered for projects that serve the general community or neighborhood beyond the membership of the applicant. Projects to promote a particular denomination or faith will not be considered. This policy is not intended to discourage faith-based community or social service organizations from applying to the Nonprofit Management Fund.


Minority-led Organizations
The Milwaukee Fund has affirmed an interest in investing in organizations and communities-of-color. The Nonprofit Management Fund will use the following definition of a minority-led organization. To be considered as a "minority-led" organization and answer "yes" to the related question on the application, organizations applying to the Fund must meet at least one criterion from the following list under "leadership" and at least
one criterion under "mission".

Leadership
•A majority of those serving on the Board are people of color.
•The organization's Executive Director is a person of color.
•The majority of the organization's senior management staff are persons of color.

Mission
•The missions statement specifically targets persons or communities of color.
•A majority of the people participating in the programs of the organizations, or are directly served by the organization, are persons of color.
 

Matching Funds
In general, it is assumed that most projects will have at least an in-kind match. The match should be documented as part of the budget, and may be a factor in the decision to award funds. All applications for technology are required to have a cash match of at least the grant amount.


Reporting Requirements
Organizations receiving a restricted grant from the Nonprofit Management Fund must submit a report on project outcomes and an evaluation of the consultant within 30 days of the completion of the project. A copy of the document(s) produced as part of the consultation must be included with the final report.

If a major change is required during a funded project, such as the scope of work, a contract with a consultant or a timetable for completion of grant-related work, advance notice must be provided to the Fund Advisor. The notice must be provided in a manner to allow the Fund Advisor to review the proposed alteration with the grantee prior to the implementation of the change.


Repeat Applicants
In order for a nonprofit organization to submit another application to the Fund, all commitments from the previous award must be completed, and the evaluation report of that grant submitted.