Connecting to the Community Grants 

For over a century the Rotary Club of Milwaukee has been proud to make a difference by CONNECTING PEOPLE AND RESOURCES.  This year the Rotary Club of Milwaukee is again offering members a fun way to make a difference in Milwaukee. Using $25,000 from the RCM Community Trust, and Rotarians' connections in the community, members can make an impact by enabling "Connecting to the Community" grants to projects in metro Milwaukee.  
 
Eligible non-profits, with support from Rotarians, should submit an application for projects that need programmatic financial support (no operating expenses or capital campaigns). Proposals should align with the goal of providing community members with equitable access to resources that address structural racism across education, the arts, the environment or health. 
  • A minimum of two and maximum of six RCM members must support each application. A Rotarian can endorse a maximum of two applications.
  • Organizations must be non-political, a 501(c)3 and serve Metro Milwaukee.
  • 2024 and 2025 grantees are not eligible for a 2026 grant.
  • Submission deadline: end of day on Thursday, February 12th 2026.
  • Winning grants will be announced in March.  Grantees must be available to attend a Tuesday Rotary lunch meeting in April, May or June to receive the check.
Members of the Connecting to the Community Grant Committee will score the applications based on community need, the project's potential impact and its tangible success.  A maximum of $25,000 will be distributed among the winning grant proposals.
 
Call the Rotary Office with questions 414-276-4425.
 
 
Submission deadline: Thursday, February 12th 2026
 

Many thanks to the Connecting to the Community Grants Committee, co-chaired by Marilka Velez and Pat Cronin 
Scott Brown, Eizabeth Cizinsky, Nemo Edwards, Kathy Ehley, Margaret Howland, Janine Kolbeck, Avrum Lank, Jody Lowe, Mary McCormick, Theresa Reagan, James Robinson, Art Serna, Jr., Natraj Shanker, Levi Stein, Sue Tran, and Ryan Widmar.

 

 

Past Connecting to the Community Grant winners can be found here.