Madison Community Foundation gave away more than $600,000 in grants to 22 local nonprofit organizations at an announcement event on Monday, Jan. 13.
The organization, which has been issuing grants in the greater Madison area since 1942, had a total of 80 applicants for the 2019 Community Impact Grants. Of the 22 nonprofits awarded with funds, one third had capital campaigns and five of those organizations were first-time grant awardees.
Three of the recipients include: $10,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County to build a playground at the new Sun Prairie location; $15,000 to Mann Scholarships Program and $25,000 to the YWCA for the Amplify Madison program, which supports women of color in the nonprofit sector.
At the announcement ceremony more than 60 members of the Madison community gathered at the Madison Community Foundation room in Madison’s Central Library to hear the announcements.
MCF Vice President of Community Impact Tom Linfield said the goal of the foundation is to connect people who want to do good things in the community with people who want to help.
The Mann Scholarship provides mentoring support and educational tools primarily, but not exclusively, to students of color in Madison Metropolitan School District who show potential for academic achievement, but face significant economic and personal challenges in reaching their full potential.
“This will help us support more families in the community,” Pahoua Thao, a former scholar recipient who is now working for the Mann Scholarship Program said. “Our students have dreams. But high school can be tough.”
The scholarship program has 100% graduation rates, in their 20 years of service their scholarship recipients have gone on to receive seven associate degrees, 21 bachelors degrees, masters degrees and a PhD.
Boys and Girls Club CEO Michael Johnson said their $10,000 grant will help provide play space for the students at their new Sun Prairie location which is opening on Wednesday.
“It is a huge win for the kids–the lot is about 2.5 acres so we needed something for them to play on. And (Madison Community Foundation is) helping to cover the majority of the cost,” Johnson said.
Johnson said there will be matted area, swing set and other things for the kids to jump and swing on.
“I’m constantly amazed by the passion, ingenuity and tenacity of our non-profit leaders,” Linfield said in a news release. “Each of these agencies is galvanizing volunteers, raising dollars, and committing to making Dane County an extraordinary place to live.”
Full list of Recipients:
Arts + Literature Laboratory- $25,000
Boys and Girls Club of Dane County- $10,000
Clean Lakes Alliance- $10,000
Cycropia Aerial Dance- $10,000
Foundation for Dane County Parks- $45,000
Girls Scouts of Wisconsin-Badgerland Council- $15,000
Habitat for Humanity- $20,000
Kanopy Dance Theatre- $15,000
Madison Children’s Museum- $45,000
Madison Public Library Foundation- $25,000
Madison Symphony Orchestra-$30,000
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art- $30,000
Mann Fund- $15,000
City of Middleton- $15,000
Monroe Streets Art Center- $30,000
Omega School- $50,000
Oregon-Brooklyn Optimist Club- $30,000
Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center- $50,000
Wisconsin Academy- $25,000
Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra- $20,000
Wisconsin Early Childhood Association- $50,000
YWCA Madison- $25,000
