The Fond du Lac Area Foundation (FDLAF) and Beaver Dam Area Community Foundation (BDACF) are pleased to announce a partnership with Compeer Financial to support the strength and stability of rural communities with a $50,000 grant cycle for the fall of 2023.

Applications for $500 – $25,000 are now being accepted for the newly created Rural Vitality Grant. The Rural Vitality Grant focuses on helping communities of less than 10,000 people or rural micropolitans of less than 50,000 people to create and maintain an active, strong, and thriving economy. Fond du Lac and Dodge County nonprofits and schools are eligible to apply, with the City of Fond du Lac and City of Beaver Dam being ineligible due to population.

To be eligible for a Rural Vitality Grant, nonprofits must fit the following criteria:

• Grant applications may be directed toward capacity building, enhancements to current special projects, expanded programing, and building projects.
• Grant recipients should have a project that is planned and moving forward, not just proposed.
• The grant application has broad community support and leadership, including financial investments.
• Projects supported by these dollars will not be eligible for other gifts from Compeer Financial.

Approved areas for Rural Vitality Grant funding include:

• Agriculture – Programs, projects, and services that enhance the agricultural landscape and opportunities.
• Community Development – Contributing to the essential needs of the community, encompassing healthcare, daycare, and other areas impacting the quality of life for all community members.
• Entrepreneurship/Small Business Development – Helping creative, cutting-edge entrepreneurs and/or small business owners.
• Housing Expansion – Rural housing enhancements to single family, multifamily and work force housing.
• Youth and Adult Leadership Development – Inspire, train, and promote leadership for both youth and adults.
• Rural School Education – Enhancing programming, innovations, and experiences at preK-12 schools to ensure students have access to world-class education.
• Workforce Development – Attracting, retaining, training, and sustaining community members to vital careers and jobs in the community and agriculture.

Rural Vitality Grants awards do not fund sporting teams/activities/recreation, arts and culture-related activities, scholarships, and endowments.

Rural Vitality Grant information is available at https://fdlareafoundation.com/apply-for-a-grant/. Applications must be submitted in the online grant portal by September 29, 2023.

Applicants will for the first time utilize the Foundation’s new GoApply online grant portal. The online portal allows nonprofits to create an organization user profile and apply for active grant opportunities. Setting up a user account for the organization is the first required step to becoming a user, and a user guide is available on the FDLAF website to make the process easy to follow. The portal features a simple interface that directs users through step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Additional grant opportunities through FDLAF and BDACF will become available on the GoApply platform in upcoming months.

Questions about Rural Vitality Grants? Don’t hesitate to contact us! Email aaron@fdlareafoundation or call 920.921.2215.