Community Grant Request for Proposals 

Deadline for Submissions: November 15th, 2021 

OVERVIEW 

Mission: The Junior League of Milwaukee (JLM) is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Since 1915, the organization has spearheaded efforts to start and/or expand organizations and programs such as the Blood Center of Wisconsin (Versiti), the Children’s Health Education Center, Kids Matter, Care Kits for Kids, Safe Home Environment (an Aurora Healing & Advocacy Services service), Revitalize Milwaukee, and Sojourner Family Peace Center. We also provide support to nonprofits throughout the greater Milwaukee area through various single day volunteer opportunities. 

JLM is seeking proposals from community-based nonprofits to award up to $10,000 that will align with JLM’s community focus areas. Currently, JLM focuses its community efforts in the areas of education, health, and nutrition of women and children in the greater Milwaukee area. Both programmatic and capital projects will be considered. The JLM’s Grant Making Committee will use the following criteria when evaluating proposals: 

• the organization’s impact on the greater Milwaukee community 
• the organization’s fiscal health
• whether the project aligns with JLM’s community focus areas, as described above
• whether the project can be completed within the award period (May 2022 – April 2023) 
• whether the awarded funding will have an impact beyond the grant award period 
• whether the project will meet an unmet or under-served need in the community 
• whether volunteer opportunities will be available for JLM members 
• whether the organization will recognize JLM’s involvement in the project 

The amount of funding awarded is dependent on the program/project proposal and will be determined before implementation. If funding is expected to be used with other funds as part of a larger implementation, please discuss this in the proposal. In the event that other fundraising is unsuccessful, and the larger project becomes un-implementable during the JLM 2022 – 2023 fiscal year, then JLM reserves the right to withhold the grant award. 

Funding must be used within the grant award period of May 1, 2022 – April 30, 2023. The selected organization(s) commits to recognizing the gift and partnership with JLM. The selected organization(s) will provide a detailed written update on the project to JLM in May 2023. JLM may perform a site visit to view the project impact. 

Please see the Request for Proposals for Further Information.

TIMELINE 

October 25, 2021 deadline to submit questions to grants@jlmilw.org 

November 8, 2021 deadline for JLM to respond to organizations’ questions via email 

November 15, 2021 deadline to submit proposals 

Jan/Feb 2022 possible interviews and/or site visits 

March 2022 one or two community partners will be selected

April 25, 2022 grant(s) will be awarded at the JLM Annual Meeting held on Monday, April 25th, 2022. Attendance at the meeting is required to receive the funding. Due to COVID-19, this meeting may be virtual or canceled. Awardees will still receive funding if the meeting is canceled.