Our 2025 summer grant cycles are now open! We will be investing $1.5 million across two grant opportunities:
- Single-Year Grants – This cycle will provide up to $75,000 for planning and/or capacity building support to organizations that are exploring or building collaborative systems change initiatives
- Technical Assistance Grants – This cycle will provide up to $10,000 to strengthen internal organizational capacity through short-term technical assistance support (such as focused work with specialists, consultants, or facilitators) to improve an organization’s operations, increase its effectiveness, and achieve its mission.
These grant cycles will continue to focus in the areas of early care and education (birth to 5), housing access, mental health, and substance use.
Single-Year Grant Cycle
Grants in this cycle will provide up to $75,000 for planning and/or capacity building support to organizations that are exploring or building collaborative systems change initiatives.
We’ve heard from organizations across the region who didn’t feel quite ready to apply for one of BNGP’s multi-year systems change grants but needed funding to deepen their understanding of an issue, build partnerships, or create capacity for a longer-term effort.
Organizations that might be a good fit for this cycle are those that are eager to work toward long-term solutions to a problem and want to deepen their understanding of an issue and its root causes, build relationships and support to work together, engage community, or explore the feasibility of a solution with potential partners.
To distribute funds more rapidly, we will be reviewing and making award decisions in two rounds:
- Applications received by August 15th at 5pm (CST) will be reviewed by the end of September
- Applications received between August 16th-September 15th at 5pm (CST) will be reviewed by the end of October
Technical Assistance Grant Cycle
We recognize that nonprofits are encountering uncertainty and a continually changing landscape, including shifts to federal policies, cuts to funding/programs, and growing community need. In response to these challenges, this cycle will provide funds for organizations seeking to address organizational capacity needs such as communications, fundraising, organizational planning, financial management, governance, and more.
These grants will provide up to $10,000 to strengthen internal organizational capacity through short-term technical assistance support, such as focused work with specialists, consultants, or facilitators, to improve an organization’s operations, increase its effectiveness, and achieve its mission.
Organizations that would be a good fit for this cycle are nonprofits (including those offering direct services) seeking to work with technical assistance providers to address organizational capacity needs such as:
- Communications (including how to communicate funding needs and/or cuts to programs/staff)
- Financial management, legal issues, or human resources support
- Strategic, short-term, or long-range planning
- Operational planning (considering different operating and/or reorganization models)
- Fund development, changes to fundraising strategy
- Technology, information systems needs (purchasing, upgrading,, or training to use)
To distribute funds more rapidly, we will be reviewing proposals as they are received:
- Proposals received by August 15th at 5pm (CST) will be awarded in September.
- If funds remain, proposals received between August 16th and September 15th at 5pm (CST) will be awarded in October.
If you have questions or would like to discuss your proposal, please reach out by email to [email protected].
As we all navigate a rapidly shifting landscape, we’re deeply grateful for your work to build thriving, equitable communities across Northeast Wisconsin. We look forward to reading your proposals. If you know an organization leading or planning to start a systems change initiative, please forward this email to them to help spread the news.
With gratitude,
Stephanie Gyldenvand
Director of Grantmaking