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. In 2026, the Club continued that tradition by investing $25,000 from the RCM Community Trust into “Connecting to the Community” grants, empowering members to support impactful projects across metro Milwaukee.

These grants support nonprofit organizations working to provide equitable access to resources and address structural racism across education, the arts, the environment, and health. Each selected project was championed by Rotarians and chosen based on demonstrated community need, potential impact, and measurable outcomes.

A total of $25,000 is awarded among the selected grantees, whose work reflects the Rotary Club of Milwaukee’s ongoing commitment to strengthening the community through meaningful partnerships and action.

2026 Recipients

NourishMKE -$2,500

NourishMKE is Milwaukee’s largest network of free community food centers, operating four locations that serve distinct neighborhoods while promoting dignity, connection, and access to healthy food.

The Rotary Club of Milwaukee’s $2,500 grant will support NourishMKE’s 2026 home delivery program, which delivers free groceries directly to residents facing mobility or access barriers. 

The program helps reduce the economic burden of accessing food while enabling participants to age in place and maintain a higher quality of life at home. Research over the past two decades shows that seniors and individuals living with disabilities often have limited access to essential nutrients, increasing the risk and severity of chronic conditions such as hypertension, asthma, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

 

WUWM 89.7 - Milwaukee's NPR - $2,500

WUWM is Milwaukee’s NPR station, dedicated to delivering trusted, community-centered journalism that informs and connects the region.

This $2,500 grant from our club will support the Eric Von Broadcast Fellowship, which provides paid, hands-on training and mentorship for emerging journalists from underrepresented backgrounds, helping amplify diverse voices and strengthen equitable storytelling in Milwaukee.

Through this support, fellows are able to develop impactful, locally focused reporting that reflects the lived experiences and perspectives of the communities they serve.

 

BizStarts - $5,000

For more than a decade, BizStarts has empowered entrepreneurs from all backgrounds by providing the education, mentorship, and resources needed to navigate the challenges of building and growing successful businesses, while fostering a more inclusive and equitable business community across Milwaukee. 

This $5,000 grant from our club will help sustain BizStarts’ year-round business education programs, including workshops, business institutes, individualized coaching, and multilingual resources that equip underserved entrepreneurs with the skills, confidence, and support needed to launch and expand their ventures. 

By investing in this work, the grant will help strengthen economic opportunity, support small business development, and create a more vibrant and equitable local economy.

 

Art Intersection MKE - $5,000

Art Intersection MKE Community Partners is a Milwaukee-based nonprofit that transforms underutilized spaces into vibrant community hubs through public art, environmental sustainability, and neighborhood engagement. Its Outdoor Gallery in the Washington Park neighborhood combines large-scale murals and sculptures with green infrastructure, free public programming, and educational opportunities centered on art, science, and community connection.

This $5,000 grant will support a free intergenerational program that combines community gardening, environmental education, and creative arts activities for Washington Park residents. 

Funding will help provide accessible raised garden beds, horticulture workshops, stormwater and air quality education, rain barrels, and artist-led creative programming designed to improve food access, environmental stewardship, and neighborhood connection.

 

The Ability Center  - $5,000

The Ability Center is dedicated to ensuring people impacted by disabilities have equal opportunities to be active, healthy, and engaged through inclusive recreation and wellness programs in Milwaukee. 

Through its nationally recognized RampUp program, the organization works to remove physical barriers in public spaces by providing accessible infrastructure and adaptive recreational equipment at no cost to users. 

This $5,000 grant will support critical repairs and upgrades to the accessible pathways at Bradford Beach, helping preserve safe, barrier-free access to Lake Michigan for people of all abilities.

 

Walker's Point Youth & Family Center  - $5,000

Walker's Point Youth & Family Center provides emergency shelter, counseling, case management, and supportive housing services for runaway and homeless youth across Milwaukee.

This $5,000 grant will support Shelter and Transitional Case Management services for youth ages 17–24, helping them transition from crisis shelter into stable housing, adult support systems, and long-term self-sufficiency.

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, Dave Frazer, 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.