Mission
The mission of the Samuel F. Atkins and Barbara H. Atkins Memorial Fund is to encourage and enable projects which help low-income, disadvantaged people meet their basic needs, e.g., food, clothing, shelter, and health care; and/or which involve animals, attend to the welfare of animals, or alleviate animal suffering. Priority will be given to projects which demonstrate financial need and to services which involve animals and address a human service need. Special projects, equipment purchases, and general operating support will be considered.
Examples
The following are representative but not exclusive, examples of projects that could receive a grant from this fund:
- training of animals in service of the physically disabled;
- instructor training for teachers giving riding lessons to the physically disabled;
- emergency food or emergency shelter services for the extremely low income;
- Purchase of animals or equipment for their care
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
- Be located in or provide service to residents within: Bayfield, Douglas and Ashland Counties in northwest Wisconsin; or Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake and St. Louis Counties in northeast Minnesota; or the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa/Mashkiiziibii, the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa/Atisokanigamig, the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa/Nah-Gah-Chi-Wa-Nong, the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa/Gichi Onigaming, the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe or the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa/Gaa-Miskwaabikaang
Grant range
Grants generally range from $500 to $5,000.
Application timeline
Fall Grant Cycle
We are currently working on the Fall 2025 grant cycle schedule. Updates will be provided on the Apply for Grants page when available.