St. Croix Valley Foundation Launches New Grant Program

ST. CROIX COUNTY, Wis. (WLAK / WSCM) – The St. Croix Valley Foundation has announced the launch of a $3.5 million grant program to support the operations of area nonprofits.

According to a press release, the Nonprofit Capacity Building Grant Program is meant to help nonprofits across Western Wisconsin and Eastern Minnesota meet the increasing demand for their services. The funding will go to nonprofits in St. Croix, Polk, Pierce, and Burnett Counties in Wisconsin, as well as Chisago and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Organization officials say their 2025 Regional Nonprofit Needs Assessment found area nonprofits are stretched thin with staffing shortages, turnover in leadership positions, and budget constraints. Earlier this year, the St. Croix Valley Foundation also distributed $167,000 in grant funding for child care organizations in the region to address similar issues.

Their hope is the new grant program can fill in some gaps in meeting the demand for things like food and housing services as well as mental health care and environmental protection efforts.

The Nonprofit Capacity Building Grant Program will award funding to four kinds of projects. Nonprofits can receive up to $10,000 in funding for learning and professional growth opportunities for staff. They can receive up to $25,000 for planning their projects and up to $100,000 for the implementation of those projects. The nonprofits can also receive up to $250,000 in grant funding for projects meant to improve their tools, platforms, and infrastructure.

Nonprofit organizations can find more information on eligibility for the new grant program and submit their application for funding on the St. Croix Valley Foundation website. Grant applications will be reviewed on a quarterly cycle.