Each year the Foundation awards grants from the income earned by a pool of named endowment funds that were established without restriction – these include:
- Advantage Bank Officers and Directors Fund
- Mary Frost Ashley Endowment
- Enroth Family Endowment
- Jessie R. Hopf Endowment
- Ralph and Frances A. Jaeschke Fund
- A. Allan and Isabel M. Jankus Fund
- Kenosha News Fund
- Orvis Family Endowment
- Kathleen Steumke Legacy Fund
- Charles Vignieri Fund
Focus of 2018 Grant Making from the Foundation’s Unrestricted funds
For the 2018 grant cycle, we adopted a new focus for grant making from our Unrestricted Funds. While we continued supporting projects of not-for-profit organizations that are in line with the Foundation’s mission (to enhance the present and ensure the future of the Kenosha Community), this year, we also strongly encouraged not-for-profit organizations with projects that provide services in the areas of substance abuse, mental health or transportation apply for these grants – three priority areas identified in a Community Needs Assessment survey that we conducted in collaboration with the Kenosha County UW-Extension in November 2017.
Additionally, for grants from the Unrestricted Funds, the Kenosha Community Foundation:
• Gave priority to collaborative efforts, with two or more organizations jointly planning and delivering projects that offer creative solutions or ideas.
• Gave priority to projects that use Foundation funds to leverage other funding sources.
• Would only award a maximum of $7,500 per grant request.
2018 Grants from the Foundation’s Unrestricted funds
The Kenosha Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $56,150 to 13 Kenosha County not-for-profit organizations and projects from the income earned by the Foundation’s unrestricted endowment funds.
• Boys and Girls Club of Kenosha to support its “Gus the Bus” Transportation Project that provides free transportation to youth that attend the center several days per week.
• Bridges Community Center to support Facilitator Training and Participant Incentive Project to address the need of on-going training for paid staff and volunteer group facilitators
• Hope Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse to support an Outpost location that the organization is establishing west of I-94, so that Westosha residents can receive services similar to Kenosha location
• Hospice Alliance to support the purchase of medical lock boxes that will securely store opioids and other pain medications which are critical for comfort care at the end of life.
• Kenosha Achievement Center (KAC) to support the organization’s transportation services which serves beneficiaries that attend their programs, including: Early Intervention, Early Head Start and Sprouts, Summer Employment Exploration, Adult Day Service, the Summer Employment Exploration.
• Kenosha (KAFASI) for its Volunteer Transportation Service for Kenosha residents over 60 and adults with disabilities.
• Kenosha Literacy Council to support the “Creating Literacy Leaders” program that helps adults improve their English and computer literacy skills to gain employment or post-secondary education.
• Kenosha Public Library to support the expansion of the Bookmobile Fleet with smaller vehicles to bring their services seniors, youth and the physically challenged in more communities.
• Kenosha YMCA to support the “Frank Neighborhood Project” with Achievement Gab which provides educational enrichment assistance to students at the Frank School, focusing on Math/Literacy.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Kenosha County for its Rideabout Rewards pilot program that distributes bicycles, helmet and locks to participants in the Community Support Program (CSP), Comprehensive Community Services (CCS) program, and at Bridges Community Center for exercise and transportation.
• The Shalom Center of the Interfaith to support the Individuals in Need of Nightly Shelter (INNS) (homeless shelter) program, targeting clients with substance abuse and mental health issues.
• The Sharing Center to support its Resource Center and Emergency Service Programs that helps rural residents of Kenosha County.
• Women and Children’s Horizons for its program that serves adult/children of domestic violence and sexual assault, and its batterers’ treatment program.