Building a Stronger Community
Madison Community Foundation plays a vital role in local philanthropy, working to have a meaningful impact on our community. MCF uses its deep knowledge of the community, its opportunities and challenges, and the organizations working here to help create a more vibrant and equitable community.
Every year, MCF distributes more than $10 million throughout Dane County through three main channels: grants directed by our fundholders from their donor advised funds, money distributed to nonprofit organizations from their endowments and designated funds for their benefit, and grants from the Community Impact fund or one of the 70 Field of Interest funds MCF manages.
Helping Nonprofits Thrive
Among our community’s greatest assets are the nonprofits that strengthen and enhance the lives of the people they serve. When nonprofits thrive, everyone thrives. Over time, MCF has evolved how it approaches impact to involve several strategies:
- Grantmaking: Grantmaking remains at the heart of our work, supporting nonprofits throughout the Greater Madison area.
- Partnerships: MCF works with other area funders to create change and support things that are bigger than us.
- Convening: Through the Goodman Nonprofit Center, MCF is planning to bring together nonprofits and their leaders to develop skills and resources, and to work together toward common goals.
Explore Our Recent Grantmaking
MCF’s staff and Board of Governors direct grantmaking funds to organizations working in our community through two main channels: MCF’s Community Impact Fund and the Field of Interest funds it stewards.
Grants From the Community Impact Fund
MCF’s Community Impact grants are awarded through an annual competitive grant round. They are made to organizations in Dane County having an impact in five focus areas: Arts & Culture, Community Development, the Environment, Learning, and Nonprofit Capacity Building.
Field of Interest Funds Connect Values to High-Impact Opportunities
Field of Interest (FOI) Funds support a specific area of interest or geographic region. FOI Funds are designed to provide one time, smaller grants to organizations through an open application process with funding decisions made quarterly throughout the year. FOI Funds may be used to benefit a wide variety of an organization’s projects or needs.
FOI Funding Categories Include:
- Aging
- Children & Youth
- Essential Services
- Food
- Unhoused
- Health & Wellness
- Berbee Derby Technology Education
- Theater in Overture
- Miscellaneous
Impact Stories. Making a Difference Every Day.
Every day the people and organizations MCF works with are having an impact on our community. Fundholders are creating funds to support the things that matter to them. Nonprofit organizations are creating impact with grants from MCF and its fundholders. Together, we’re all working to create a more vibrant and equitable community for all.
