APPLY FOR FUNDING
Overview:
The Burke Foundation is requesting Letters of Intent (LOIs) to support innovative projects that produce substantive positive outcomes for young people in the City of Milwaukee. The Foundation is looking to partner with new, innovative, or scalable opportunities and projects that enhance the well-being of Milwaukee’s youth and future leaders.
LOIs that demonstrate the most potential for meaningful impact will be invited to submit full proposals. By design, the project definition for this grant is broad and flexible to allow for a variety of creative, well-conceived educational projects that enhance or improve the following:
The Burke Foundation will consider capital, operational, and programmatic grants for up to three years of funding. Consideration will be for unique programs that have potential for large impact and a solid plan for continued financial support/ stability after the grant period.
Grant Terms:
Eligibility:
Eligible organizations:
Organizations may only submit 1 LOI PER PROJECT in 2019-2020.
The Burke Foundation Will Not Consider:
Selection:
Organizations/programs that demonstrate the following characteristics will be considered for funding:
2020 Schedule (updated December 18, 2019)
The Burke Foundation is requesting Letters of Intent (LOIs) to support innovative projects that produce substantive positive outcomes for young people in the City of Milwaukee. The Foundation is looking to partner with new, innovative, or scalable opportunities and projects that enhance the well-being of Milwaukee’s youth and future leaders.
LOIs that demonstrate the most potential for meaningful impact will be invited to submit full proposals. By design, the project definition for this grant is broad and flexible to allow for a variety of creative, well-conceived educational projects that enhance or improve the following:
- The character, quality and access to education
- The personal, social and intellectual development of children and youth
- The educational and social quality of community life.
The Burke Foundation will consider capital, operational, and programmatic grants for up to three years of funding. Consideration will be for unique programs that have potential for large impact and a solid plan for continued financial support/ stability after the grant period.
Grant Terms:
- Grant payments will be made for up to three years of funding.
- Grants will not be renewable after their final payments.
- Grantee organizations will be required to submit annual narrative and financial reports.
- Total grant amounts awarded per project will range from $25,000 - $1,500,000 payable over up to three years.
Eligibility:
Eligible organizations:
- Serve young people up to age 25 in the City of Milwaukee.
- Have a 501(c)(3) designation or have secured a fiscal agent with a 501(c)(3) designation.
- Should have an annual operating budget of at least $500,000.
Organizations may only submit 1 LOI PER PROJECT in 2019-2020.
The Burke Foundation Will Not Consider:
- Projects outside of the foundation’s areas of focus including: housing, media, animal, health-related or medical projects/ institutions.
- Fundraising events
- Pass-through organizations and foundations.
- Funding for individuals or individual scholarships.
- Though the Burke Foundation understands the importance and urgency for projects that address trauma and/or mental health, we will not be accepting applications with a focus on those efforts at this time.
Selection:
Organizations/programs that demonstrate the following characteristics will be considered for funding:
- Mission Alignment: Clear mission alignment with Dick Burke’s vision and values;
- Leadership: Strong and accountable leadership and management systems;
- Impact: Creates a lasting, measurable impact for Milwaukee youth;
- Strategy: Proven intentionally around impact, outcomes, partnerships, and metrics;
- Evaluation: Exhibits measurable outcomes for what it hopes to achieve;
- Evidence: Demonstrates a track record of success;
- Fiscal Planning: Has demonstrated fiscal responsibility and can reasonably articulate how they will proceed after the funding cycle is over.
2020 Schedule (updated December 18, 2019)
- February 1, 2020, 11:59pm: Letters of Intent Due
- March 20, 2020: Invitations for full proposals sent by the Burke Foundation
- April 26, 2020, 11:59pm: Full proposals due for invited organizations
- May 2020: Site Visits for invited organizations
- June 30, 2020: Final decisions communicated
- October 2020: First payments remitted
Have Questions?
Due to the limited capacity of the Burke Foundation staff, there will not be an opportunity to discuss individual applications.
We have developed a Frequently Asked Questions page to address common inquiries.
If you have additional questions not covered on our FAQ page, you may email rfp@theburkefoundation.org. We will post our responses on the FAQ page within one week so that all organizations will have the benefit of seeing our answers.