Riverworks Development Corporation

Riverworks Development Corporation created a three-year income plan and developed its organizational capacity to implement the plan.

Lead2Change, Inc.


The outcomes of the technical assistance underwritten by the Nonprofit Management Fund resulted in the development of a comprehensive Fund Development Plan which has led to the following:...

• Small and medium-sized private, non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)3, organizations, which have been incorporated for at least two years and serve Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, or Waukesha Counties are eligible. Applicants must have an annual operating budget of at least $25,000 and not more than $3 million.
   
• Grants will be project-specific, non-renewable, and range from $1,000-10,000.
   
• Religious organizations will be considered for project support that serves the general community and neighborhood beyond the membership of the applicant. Projects to promote a particular denomination or faith will not be considered.
   
• Grants will not be made for general operating support, office equipment (except for computer hardware and software) and furnishings, construction or rehabilitation of facilities, emergency repairs, payroll needs, debt liquidation, or routine financial audits.
   
• The 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.
   
• The Fund will not consider funding for independent contractors to perform staff functions.
   
• The Fund will not award grants to organizations with a primary mission of grant making.
   
• In order for a statewide organization to be considered for funding, 70% of its work must be in the Greater Milwaukee area.
   
• Technology projects for purchasing hardware or software require a 1:1 cash match
   
• The Fund will not consider applications from Business Improvement Districts or other entities that have taxing authority.
   
• View the criteria necessary to be considered as a "minority-led" organization and answer "yes" to the related question on the application.  

Proposal Review
A consulting firm has been retained by the sponsoring funders to assist in screening applicants; make grant recommendations; advise the sponsors on the project; and, aid Fund applicants in preparing their proposals where appropriate. The Fund Advisor, Patricia Wyzbinski from Management Cornerstones Inc., does not provide consultation or other contract services to organizations that are eligible to apply to the Nonprofit Management Fund.

All proposals will be reviewed by the Fund Advisor, and a committee composed of the funding partners will make grant decisions. Applicants will be visited or phoned for clarification of their technical assistance needs as part of the review process. A sub-committee with representatives of the sponsoring partners will make recommendations on the awards to the Board of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation for ratification.

View the proposal review criteria.


Consultant Policy
All applicants requesting funding for a consultant are strongly encouraged to solicit at least three bids from possible consultants prior to selecting the one identified in the application to the Fund. Organizations submitting proposals with fewer bids should carefully construct a case as to why competitive bidding was not pursued. A written agreement from the consultant detailing the services to be performed, along with the fee schedule, should be attached to the application. The consultant's workplan should describe activities to be undertaken and expected outcomes. Applications will not be funded without such material being submitted prior to a recommendation by the Committee. The Fund sponsors will decline an application listing a current Board Director as the consultant, or one where a Director resigns from the Board to become a contractor or a consultant for the applicant organization. As a matter of policy, the Fund does not recommend or endorse any particular technical assistance provider.

How to select a consultant?
After the decision- writing the contract and workplan