Our 2026 Community Reinvestment Fund Grant application is now CLOSED!
In fiscal year 2026, the Board allocated $65,000 for this competitive grant fund, and we received 48 total applications requesting $246,143 in funding.
We also accepted applications for Rooted In Our Community, which awards grants for larger capital purchases and investments that support our local, sustainable food system. The Board allocated $20,000 for the 2026 grant cycle, and we received eight applications totaling $46,218.
Here are the 2026 grant award winners.
The Community Reinvestment Fund Committee is interested in funding innovative, educational, and/or entrepreneurial endeavors that impact a large group of people, reach out to underserved populations, create jobs or develop skills, foster social engagement, and offer opportunities for diversifying partnerships and collaboration.
Grants are awarded to nonprofits and/or cooperative organizations* benefiting Dane County with priority given to organizations run, operated, and/or benefitting marginalized groups and organizations with limited access to funding. Preference may be given to endeavors benefiting the Madison and Middleton metropolitan areas and organizations that have not been funded in previous years by the Community Reinvestment Fund.
Organizations seeking food and supplies solely to provide event or program amenities are encouraged to apply for a donation at www.willystreet.coop/donation-request.
If you have questions, contact the Education and Outreach Coordinator at l.hawley@willystreet.coop.
A History of Charitable Giving
Since 1992, Willy Street Co-op has contributed over $673,500 to local nonprofits and cooperatives to support developmental and educational projects for our community via Community Reinvestment Fund grants. The Fund is seeded when Owners who have become inactive and have not claimed their equity after three years either abandon or donate their Owner equity to our Co-op. Community Reinvestment Funds are allocated annually by the Board of Directors in accordance with our bylaws that stipulate that unclaimed or donated equity that has been abandoned be dedicated to educational and charitable purposes.
CRF grant awards for the previous three years:
Helpful Grant Writing Resources for Your Reference
If you haven’t written a grant proposal before or would appreciate some reminders, we’ve provided some suggested resources.
