Apply for a Community Grant

Dear grant seekers, partners and friends,
 
The Alliant Energy Foundation has a proud tradition of giving back and making a difference in the communities we serve through numerous avenues of support that we provide. Since 1998, the Foundation has contributed more than $30 million to projects and organizations. This is a tradition we hope to continue for many years to come. Recently, I have assumed the position of Executive Director of the Alliant Energy Foundation, and I’m excited to introduce you to our team and let you know of some beneficial changes regarding our Community Grants Program.
 
Meet the team  
I joined the Foundation team in June, and am enjoying my new role after working in other departments at Alliant Energy for the past 25 years. I look forward to working with you and hope to meet and talk with many of you in the coming months. Jo Ann Healy is our Wisconsin Program Manager. I’m sure most of you in the Wisconsin non-profit community are familiar with her as she is our longest-term staff member and has been with the company for 31 years. Many of you may have also worked with Leah Rodenberg, who is our Iowa and Minnesota Program Manager. Leah joined our Foundation team in 2008, and has been with the company for 13 years. And, Bonnie Beach, our Program Assistant and Jan Brucker, our Administrative Assistant, both pitch-in admirably to help the Foundation achieve its mission and have worked for the company for 15 and 8 years, respectively. As you can see, our staff has a great deal of tenure and experience with the company.
 
Community Grant Program Changes
Throughout its history, the Foundation’s Community Grant Program has provided millions of dollars in grants to thousands of non-profit groups, and it remains our most popular program. We are proud of the program’s success and we have no intention of changing its goals nor the amount of dollars dedicated to it. Rather, we want to build upon that success and make further improvements to the program.
 
Our team understands the challenges that you face in the current economy as you strive to reach your programs’ goals. Clearly, the tough times we currently face put more demands on your time and resources, and they impact our Foundation in the same way. With that as a backdrop, we are making some changes to our Community Grants Program. These changes are intended to make the grant application and grant making process easier and more efficient so that we all can utilize our time and resources most effectively.
 
Beginning in 2010, the Community Grants Program will operate on a calendar-year basis. To implement this change, we will be transitioning to a three-cycle schedule instead of four. Effective immediately, the new Community Grant Program application deadlines will be January 15, May 17 and September 15. If you wish to apply for the next cycle of grants, you can apply anytime after December 15 of this year, with the deadline for application being January 15, 2010. 
 
By eliminating one Community Grant Program cycle and spreading out the three new application deadlines, we are streamlining the operation of the program. This will allow our Foundation team more time to spend with our grant seekers and on reviewing applications. We hope it will simplify the process for you, as well.
 
Thank you for your partnership and we wish you the best in the year ahead,
 
 
Julie Bauer
Executive Director

Brochures and fact sheets:

Download the Community Grants Program Guidelines [PDF]

Download the Community Grant Request Form [PDF]

Download the Community Grant Request Form [XLS - Excel version]

Download the Alliant Energy Foundation 2008 Summary of Support Report [PDF]