The Fond du Lac Area Foundation is proud to support the nonprofit organizations working every day to strengthen our communities. Through our competitive grant cycles, community grant programs, and the generosity of local fund holders, charitable dollars entrusted to the Foundation are put to work for people across Fond du Lac County and our affiliate communities of Beaver Dam, Horicon, Oakfield, Ripon, and Waupun.
Whether your organization is applying for the first time or has worked with us for years, this is the place to start. Everything you need to know about our grants, from eligibility to what happens after a grant is awarded, is gathered on the pages below, and our team can answer questions along the way.
Grants are awarded to organizations with 501(c)(3) charitable status and an EIN from the IRS, for programs that directly benefit people in Fond du Lac County or one of our affiliate communities. Schools and parent-teacher organizations can apply using the school's charitable status. Individuals and families cannot apply. See Are We Eligible?
Every grant begins with a gift. People who care about Fond du Lac County give charitable gifts to the Foundation, often by establishing funds, and the Foundation invests those gifts for the long term. Grants are then awarded in two main ways.
Our competitive grants are open to eligible nonprofits, which apply through our online grant portal. These grants are reserved for programs serving Fond du Lac County and our affiliate communities, and funding decisions are guided by people who live and work here. Other grants are recommended by fund holders from their own donor advised funds, so those go where the fund holder recommends and have no application.
Our Grant Committee and the Executive Director read every application and prepare a summary for the Board of Directors, and the Board votes on grant awards. If your organization is applying for the first time, the Executive Director will reach out to learn more about your work before your request reaches the Board. See How Your Application Is Reviewed.
The Fond du Lac Area Foundation awards grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving Fond du Lac County and our affiliate communities of Beaver Dam, Horicon, Oakfield, Ripon, and Waupun. Regular grants range from $500 to $5,000, and impact grants are available for requests above $5,000. Applications are submitted through our online grant portal, and our Board of Directors votes on grant awards.
A community foundation receives charitable gifts from people who care about a place, invests them, and awards grants from those funds. At the Fond du Lac Area Foundation, some funds support our competitive grant cycles, and others allow fund holders to recommend grants themselves. In fiscal year 2025, the Foundation awarded $3.7 million in grant dollars.
Register your organization in our online grant portal, choose the open grant, and complete the form. You will need your 501(c)(3) determination and EIN, a project description of about 450 words, a program budget, and your board list. Apply for a Grant has the full list and the current cycle dates.
Regular grant cycles are typically open for one month, and dates are posted on Apply for a Grant as each cycle is set. Fondy 100 Gives is different: its application stays open all year, and applications are considered quarterly.
Yes. The Board of Directors votes fresh every cycle, and a past decision predicts nothing about the next one. A funding decision is never a reflection on an organization's value or impact, and we encourage you to apply again in future grant rounds.
Yes. A nonprofit can also establish a fund with the Foundation to build long-term financial strength for its mission, and we handle the investing, accounting, and reporting. See Working in Partnership and Funds for Nonprofit Organizations.
Visit Apply for a Grant to open the online grant portal and register your organization. If you have applied before, sign in with your existing account.
Our team is here to help. If this is your first time applying, let us know, and we'd be happy to talk through eligibility, grant opportunities, and the application process with you.
