Our grantmaking process
Community-based organizations play a fundamental role in creating equitable and thriving communities. We partner with strategically-aligned organizations and offer access to resources, networks, and influence to support organizations’ general operations, programs and services, and future aspirations. We prioritize trust-based relationships and strive to work as partners to improve quality of life for individuals and neighborhoods, especially those that have been systemically and structurally excluded from social and economic opportunity.
Eligibility
Grants in our Milwaukee-based ‘Basic Needs’ and ‘Sector Supports’ programs are by invitation only, as are all grants to support work in Hawaii. We review and award grants three times per year.
If your organization’s priorities align with the Foundation’s economic stability priorities, we encourage you to tell us a little more about your mission and focus. We find this approach saves nonprofits time spent on letters of inquiry and requests for proposals that are unlikely to result in funding.
Application
If your organization is invited to submit an application, you will receive an email notification on how to access the Foundation’s online grants portal.
Do our mission and priorities align?
Learn more about our programs:
Key Dates
Zilber Family Foundation considers requests for funding three times a year.
| Application Received By: | For ZFF Board Consideration On*: | Notification to Grantees By*: |
|---|---|---|
| February 21, 2025 | April 10, 2025 | April 16, 2025 |
| June 27, 2025 | August 14, 2025 | August 20, 2025 |
| October XX, 2025 | December XX, 2025 | December XX, 2025 |
*Dates are approximate and will be updated upon confirmation.
Introduce Yourself
If your organization is interested in exploring partnership opportunities in alignment with our economic stability priorities, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us to share some basic information about your organization or pose a question.
FAQs
Our grants are intended to support organizations’ general operations, programs and services, capacity building, capital projects, and future aspirations.
The Foundation believes in trust-based philanthropy and seeks to develop partnerships rooted in transparency, power awareness, and mutual accountability. We partner with and support nonprofit and community-based organizations working to increase access to social and economic opportunity in the communities the Zilber family has called home: Milwaukee, Wisconsin – especially the neighborhoods Lindsay Heights, Clarke Square, and Layton Boulevard West – and Oahu, Hawaii.
To respect the time of potential grantee partners, our grants are by invitation only. If your organization’s priorities align with the Foundation’s economic stability priorities, we encourage you to tell us a little more about your mission and focus for consideration. If your organization is invited to apply, you will receive an email notification on how to submit an application.
Visit a list of our grantee partners to learn more about the organizations and projects Zilber Family Foundation supports.
