Community Reinvestment Fund

A History of Grassroots Giving

Cooperative Principle #7, Concern for Community, is the primary motivation for the Williamson Street Grocery Cooperative (WSGC) Community Reinvestment Fund.

This annual sowing of community seeds is funded through unclaimed and abandoned equity money, that has accumulated over past years. Specifically, our bylaws state: “the Co-op shall dedicate any funds (equity) remaining unclaimed to educational and charitable purposes.”

Each year, a mailing is sent to the last known address of any owners who still have equity in WSGC, but whose accounts have remained inactive for over a year. Once/if contacted, those owners have the option to renew their Fair Share contract by making an equity payment or, to withdraw the equity (cancel the contract), or donate their equity to the Community Reinvestment Fund.

Applications for 2012 grants are no longer being accepted.

Since 1992, the WSGC Community Reinvestment Fund has been contributing to making a difference in the quality of our community by supporting a diverse array of projects in the areas of Food, Nutrition, Health/Well Being, Sustainable Agriculture, Cooperative Education and Social Change including the following types of programs:

• Healthy snack programs for students
• Health counseling and information for farm workers
• Community garden projects
• Cooperative energy education

The primary focus of this funding is on providing grants to local, non-profit groups with limited access to funding. In 2011, the committee received 43 applications and made 17 awards totaling $20,000.00.

Community Reinvestment Fund Guidelines

Applications for 2012 are no longer being accepted. We'll be accepting more applications next February 2013. Below are links to pages with CRF grant awards for previous years:

• Fiscal year 2012 CRF grants
• Fiscal year 2011 CRF grants
• Fiscal year 2010 CRF grants
• Fiscal year 2009 CRF grants

Priority will be given to developmental projects, educational projects, and events that are consistent with WSGC’s goals. This includes, but is not limited to, a focus on:

• Food
• Nutrition
• Health/Well-Being
• Sustainable Agriculture
• Cooperative Education
• Social Change

Priority will also be given to organizations working on projects benefiting the Madison Metropolitan area. Women, people of color, and members of other protected groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applications should be typed or printed legibly in blue or black ink.

Please attach a copy of the Internal Revenue Service determination letter indicating 501(c)(3) status of your organization. Also, attach any relevant information about the organization, such as marketing materials, letters of recommendation, and financial statements relevant to the application.