Apostle Islands Area Community Fund

Apostle Islands Area Community Fund

Mission
Grant awards support initiatives that meet the changing needs of our community in the following areas: arts, environment, community, youth and family services, civic projects, human rights and adult education. Within these areas, priority will be given to projects that:

  • Strengthen community ties between individuals and collaboration between organizations within our service area (the La Pointe-Bayfield-Red Cliff region)
  • Address underlying causes of community problems
  • Undertake studies on matters that impact civic issues or public policy
  • Build an organization’s program and/or management capacity
  • Respond to community needs that require moderate grant money but produce significant results
  • Are new and require start-up funds

Grant awards from unrestricted funds cannot provide long-term or permanent support. In some cases, more than one year of funding may be considered to ensure the stability of a new organization or program.

The following areas are of low priority and usually will not be considered for funding:

  • Capital and equipment requests
  • Ongoing program support                                

The advisory board does not award grants from unrestricted funds for the following:

  • Activities normally the responsibility of government
  • Debt retirement
  • Endowments
  • Funding for an organization’s own re-granting activities
  • Fundraising
  • Individuals
  • Medical research
  • Organizations that work to influence legislation as a substantial part of their purpose
  • Political organizations or campaigns
  • Religious organizations for direct religious activities

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for funding, an organization must:

  • Be classified as one of the following:

    • Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (i.e., traditional nonprofit)
    • Section 170(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code (e.g., governmental entities and schools)
    • Section 7871 Tribal government
    • Church
    • Organization with a fiscal agent that is classified as one of the above
  • Provide service to residents of the Apostle Islands Area Community Fund’s service area, defined as: the Town of La Pointe, Red Cliff/Gaa-Miskwaabikaang Reservation, the Town of Russell, the City of Bayfield and the Town of Bayfield.
     

Grant range
Grants generally range from $500 to $5,000.

Application timeline

Spring 2025 Grant Cycle

  • Open: January 3, 2025
  • Close: March 3, 2025 at 5pm
  • Project Start Date: June 1, 2025, or later
  • Project End Date: No more than 12 months from the project start date
  • Notifications: By May 21, 2025
  • Funding Awarded: May 30, 2025