Fueling Ideas, Strengthening Sheboygan County

The 2026 Innovation Grant opens on Monday March 16th. The online application will be accepted through Thursday April 30th. 

If selected to move forward in the application process, video submissions must be turned in by or in-person presentations must be completed on or before May 22nd, 2026. 

Funding will be awarded by the end of June 2026. 

In 2026, funded activities should focus on what we call "Essential Needs". This may relate to areas around: 

- food

- housing and shelter 

- transportation 

- safety 

- healthcare

- financial literacy and/or education around finances, budgeting, credit, etc 

- child care

- and other foundation resources necessary for financial stability and well-being

Projects applying for funding must clearly provide tangible support for one or more of the above areas. 

With respects to this grant category, United Way of Sheboygan County defines an “innovative approach” as the following:  

• A creative solution to an underlying community need 

• Efforts that address an unexpected agency need 

• Capacity-building 

• Emerging and/or short term need impacting service delivery 

• Renewing or scaling of current programming to better meet the needs of the community 

The following types of applications are NOT eligible for funding:

• Those that seek to maintain ongoing, established programs without the need for expansion or growth
• Projects or programs for political purposes, religious purposes, or programs requiring religious participation
• Capital campaigns
• Those that seek funds for fundraising expenses or debt reduction
• Those that directly benefit an individual or family
• Funding for organizations with programs or activities that are incompatible with the mission of UWSC, as determined by UWSC’s Community Action Team

Yes.  The maximum request is $40,000.  The minimum request amount is $10,000.  

Funding will be delivered by June 30th, 2026 and must be spent before June 2027. 

The 2026 Innovation Grant cycle will be opening soon. 

You must complete an online application. Paper applications will not be accepted. Late applications submitted after the April 30th and/or outside of the grant cycle will not be accepted. 

The Community Action Team will then review all applications. Those who move on to the second round will be notified in mid-May.

Second round applicants will be required to complete a in-person presentation to the UWSC Community Action Team.  Requirements for this and how to schedule or submit will be shared with you, if selected to do so.   

One application per project/program/service must be submitted by the governing agency or fiscal agent/sponsor.  Partner organizations must be disclosed in the online application form.

United Way of Sheboygan County’s Community Action Team (CAT) will use the following criteria to evaluate grant applications.  Criterion 1 – 3 will be a check box response to indicate if the application has met the criterion or not.  Criterion 4a – 4e will be evaluated on a 5 point scale where 1 fails to meet criteria and a 5 exceeds criteria needs.   

• Criterion 1: The application meets the current eligibility criteria.
  • Yes or no

• Criterion 2: The funding level requested is within the grant limits and adequately meets the need for the project/program/service and/or articulates where additional funding to support the project/program/service is sourced from.
  • Yes or no

• Criterion 3: The funding request aligns with “innovative approach” definition.
  • Yes or no

• Criterion 4: The funding request provides an appropriate explanation of their request.
  • 4(a) - The funding request clearly articulates how funds will be used
  • 4(b) - The funding request includes a sustainability plan for post funding
  • 4(c) - Project/program/service goals are clearly communicated
  • 4(d) - Project/program/service can provide trackable data that aligns the mission and goals of UWSC
  • 4(e) - Project/program/service clearly provides tangible support related to an essential need.

Yes. Nonprofits with 501c3 status, city and town departments, councils, schools and social entities are eligible to apply, as long as the project/program/service aligns with the mission and goals of United Way Sheboygan County (UWSC). 

Cross–sector collaborations, task forces, and other collaborative efforts are encouraged to apply under an entity that has the capacity to serve as the fiscal sponsor or agent. 

Yes.  Projects/programs/services that span multiple counties may apply.

However, the primary service must be offered in Sheboygan County and the program or agency receiving funding must be able to report on data from Sheboygan County specifically. 

No.  At this time, United Way of Sheboygan County is offering Innovation Grants as a one-year cycle. 

Organizations may apply each year. If there is any grant funding remaining in a year’s cycle, those funds will roll over into the next year’s grant cycle.  

Yes.  However, you must apply for a new project/program/service or expansion/capacity building of a current project/program/service to best meet the community needs.  

Yes.  While the hope is to find smaller pilot or experimental projects that can eventually be scaled, we realize that often multiple funding sources may be necessary to get an innovative project off the ground.  We do require that you note these funding sources in your application.

Additionally, organizations may apply to use Innovation Grant funds as matching funds for another grant given.

We believe that your organization will know how to measure success and outcomes of your project/program/service best.  You will be required to share how what data you plan to collect in the online application form. A formal report of your data collected will be due one year after funds have been received. 

Should your organization be selected for an Innovation Grant, clear direction on how to do so will be provided in partnership with UWSC’s Impact team.