Entrepreneurship Partner Grant

Entities eligible for Entrepreneurship Partner Grant funds include communities, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and other entities that operate a nonprofit entrepreneurship assistance program in Wisconsin. Programs that focus on underserved populations are especially encouraged to apply. Applicants are generally required to demonstrate a minimum of one year of program results for the traditional grant. Those with a new program will generally apply through a competitive application process. Please reach out to WEDC to discuss your project and determine how WEDC can best support entrepreneurs in your community.

Eligible applicants will provide information on program management, operating plans, entrepreneurship resources and use of funds. Applicants will identify matching funds to funding provided by WEDC according to amount requested.

Entrepreneurship Partner Grant recipients may provide funding to companies participating in the assistance program. WEDC must approve the type of funding being provided to participating companies and individuals. Loan repayments and/or investment returns to the recipient may only be used tosupport direct program costs or to provide capital to companies participating in a current or future cohort of the assistance.

Recipients will be required to match WEDC funds 1:1 with cash funds or eligible expenses. Matching funds may be from cash or valid program expenses and may be dedicated to operating expenses.

The eligibility criteria for FY25 include:

• Project alignment and feasibility
  • The extent to which the work plan is feasible, including project range, duration, and impact
  • The extent to which the applicant and project collaborators may have relevant experience and historical performance in program administration (including previous WEDC awards, if applicable)
• Financial viability
  • The extent to which matching resources are available and are utilized within the project budget
  • The project budget’s balance of support for entrepreneurs and funding for operating costs, considered in the context of the project’s overall intensity, duration, and rigor
  • The extent to which WEDC funds impact the applicants’ ability to assist individuals and/or companies
• Outcome and impact
  • The extent to which the applicant demonstrates and plans to track impact within measurable, feasible, and impactful project outcomes
  • The extent to which the applicant demonstrates a unique position to meet community need for the target population or location
• Innovation and sustainability
  • The extent to which the program model can be replicated and/or sustained in other areas of Wisconsin
• Additional considerations
  • Presence of partnering and collaborating organizations and the extent of community support
  • Use of novel and innovative approaches to supporting individuals and/or companies
  • Alignment with WEDC priorities for industry sectors, local economic factors, geography, and target populations

To start the application process, you must first email a WEDC Division of Entrepreneurship and Innovation team member:

Ed Javier, ed.javier@wedc.org

Nichole Crust, nichole.crust@wedc.org

Cat Johnson, catherine.johnson@wedc.org

Your contact will set up some time to discuss the program and learn about your project. After the meeting, you’ll be sent an application through our grant portal, Network Wisconsin.

Entrepreneurship Partner Grants are awarded on a competitive basis, with applications selected and evaluated twice a year (typically once in the summer and once in the winter). The opening and closing dates for the application periods differ each year, so make sure to stay informed about the announcements of these dates by returning to this page.

No. The applicant must be a nonprofit organization, municipality, or other government entity. Applicants’ projects can include a private business partner, but the applicant must have a 501(c)3 status.

The project start date and project end date may vary dependent on your project and which grant round you are applying for. An eligible project should ideally have a duration of about 12 months.

Yes. Organizations are expected to submit annual performance reports. You will receive more information regarding the reporting schedule if your organization receives a grant award.

Notifications to awarded organizations are typically sent out two to three months after the application period ends.

Both cash and in-kind donations can count toward match funding. To estimate the value of your in-kind match amount, use standard industry hourly rates for volunteers and their roles. An organization can use its operating budget as a match funding source. While you can use private or public funds for match funding, you will not be able to count other WEDC funds toward your match funding requirement.