In our second year, we’re awarding nearly $1.6 million in grants to nonprofit organizations and community groups dedicated to addressing climate change, improving water quality, and promoting environmental justice along the western shores of Lake Michigan.
2024 Grant Recipients
Brothertown Indian Nation (Fond du Lac, WI) has been awarded $55,868 over two years to continue their efforts to restore Mayom, or Wild Rice, in the Lake Winnebago system. Wild Rice, a vital cultural and ecological resource, has nearly disappeared from the region due to pollution and climate change. Lake Winnebago is unique because it hosts both northern and southern strains of Wild Rice. Understanding the border between the two strains will help build resilience for Wild Rice as climate change alters plants and growing areas, impacting Water quality and habitat for aquatic species.
Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods (Lake County, IL) has been awarded $150,000 to support their ongoing TIERRA (Transforming Internal Experiences for Resilience and Restoration through Acceptance) Community Health Worker training project, which seeks to integrate health, equity, and nature in Lake County, Illinois. This grant builds on the success of their 2023 efforts and will continue to engage community health workers (CHWs) in training programs that focus on the critical connection between human health and the environment, particularly for marginalized communities.
Clean Wisconsin (Madison, WI) has been awarded $100,000 to continue their work on developing a science-based roadmap aimed at reducing agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and helping Wisconsin meet its net-zero goals by 2050. Through pilot projects, Clean Wisconsin and its partners will demonstrate the potential for large-scale adoption of sustainable practices such as perennial grain crops and silvopasture systems. These practices not only offer climate benefits but also have the potential to boost profitability for farmers.
Climate Change Coalition of Door County (Door County, WI) has been awarded $120,150 over three years to study the survivability of tree species in a variety of habitats, ensuring the effectiveness of tree planting efforts over the next 30 years in storing carbon and building climate resilience. Door County sits at the southernmost range for boreal forest habitats, and its geography and geology make the area particularly susceptible to changes in climate. Rising temperatures threaten to shift the balance from boreal tree species like spruce, fir, and paper birch to temperate species like oak and maple. This research will not only guide future tree planting efforts in Door County but also inform reforestation strategies across coastal Wisconsin, contributing to long-term climate adaptation and carbon sequestration efforts.
Electa Quinney Institute at UW-Milwaukee (Milwaukee, WI) has been awarded $79,000 over 15 months to support their initiative to integrate Indigenous knowledge and relational systems into land restoration efforts on three properties in Southeast Wisconsin. These lands, managed by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District’s (MMSD) Greenseams program, are designated for ecological restoration and flood management. By encouraging integration of Indigenous knowledge into MMSD institutional land restoration practices, the project lays the groundwork for a new conservation paradigm that respects the deep, cultural relationships Indigenous peoples have with the land.
Faith in Place (Chicago, IL) has been awarded $85,000 over two years to support its mission of advancing environmental and racial justice through the empowerment of diverse faith communities. Daybreak funding will complement a grant from the U.S. Forest Service which allows Faith in Place to provide funding and support to underserved communities in Milwaukee and Lake County seeking to increase equitable access to trees and the many benefits they provide to our planet and in urban communities. Daybreak funding will allow these communities to consider additional nature-based projects that go hand in hand with tree planting.
Groundwork Milwaukee (Milwaukee, WI) has been awarded $135,000 over two years to advance community-led climate resilience in the Metcalfe Park neighborhood, one of Milwaukee’s most climate-vulnerable areas. This project focuses on organizing and training Climate Action Groups to lead grassroots efforts in addressing local climate risks, such as extreme heat and flooding, while promoting environmental justice.
Land Restoration School (Milwaukee, WI) has been awarded $43,320 over two years to support its mission to train the next generation of ecological restorationists. The program will address the urgent need for more trained restorationists and promote environmental justice by creating opportunities for individuals who have historically been excluded from the conservation field. This unique program aims to diversify the field by offering an accessible pathway into ecological restoration for participants without formal schooling in conservation. Over the course of this grant, participants will restore 50 acres across various project sites, contributing to climate resilience, biodiversity protection, and water quality improvements. Each participant will also develop an Ecological Restoration Plan for a site in their community, contributing to ongoing and future restoration efforts.
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute (East Troy) has been awarded $125,000 over two years to promote the use of agroforestry practices in Southeast Wisconsin. Agroforestry, the integration of trees and shrubs into crop and livestock systems, offers a sustainable approach to agriculture that can improve biodiversity, enhance soil health, improve water quality and provide climate resilience. MFAI’s project will pilot a new financing mechanism, Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE), to support agroforestry on two large commercial farms. PACE financing offers farmers a way to fund agroforestry projects with deferred repayment terms, helping to overcome the financial challenges of establishing perennial crops, which take time to mature and yield returns.
Midwest Renewable Energy Association (Custer, WI) has been awarded $17,500 over three months to explore the potential for a permanent agrivoltaics project on their property in Custer, WI. This study will evaluate the viability of combining solar energy production with managed grazing and other suitable applications, demonstrating the environmental and economic benefits of integrating renewable energy with agricultural practices. If successful, this pilot project could pave the way for more solar projects across the area.
Nearby Nature Milwaukee (Milwaukee, WI) has been awarded $75,320 over one year to promote climate justice and implement nature-based solutions to climate change along the six-mile Lincoln Creek corridor in northwest Milwaukee. This area faces systemic environmental challenges, including reduced tree canopy, pollution exposure, limited green spaces, and increased flood risks—all consequences of redlining and disinvestment. To address these issues, Nearby Nature will promote and lead tree planting, green stormwater infrastructure, and habitat restoration projects, all designed to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Ohe·láku (Among the Cornstalks) (De Pere, WI), an agricultural cooperative on the Oneida Nation Reservation in Wisconsin, has been awarded $150,000 to expand its efforts in promoting Indigenous food sovereignty, regenerative agriculture, and climate resilience. This grant will support the cooperative’s expansion as they restore soil health on an additional 50 acres of farmland and introduce a model agrivoltaics system to integrate solar panels into the cornfields. By implementing regenerative practices, Ohe·láku aims to enhance biodiversity, improve water retention, and increase carbon storage in the soil, thus contributing to improved watershed quality.
Ozaukee Washington Land Trust (West Bend, WI) has been awarded $130,386 over three years to implement large-scale climate resilience and biodiversity restoration projects in the Milwaukee River Watershed. These efforts are part of OWLT’s broader Climate Resiliency and Natural Infrastructure plan, which focuses on increasing the land's ability to absorb rainwater, sequester carbon, and support biodiversity in response to the region's increasing climate challenges, such as flooding and stormwater runoff.
Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network (Racine, WI) has been awarded $56,465 over nine months to kickstart the restoration of Washington Park in Kenosha, focusing on climate resilience and community engagement. This project aims to transform unused turf grass into deep-rooted native prairie plants, enhancing stormwater management and supporting local biodiversity. The restoration is expected to improve stormwater infiltration, reduce pollution, increase carbon sequestration, and provide better habitat for endangered pollinators. This project will lay the groundwork for future restoration phases while fostering a stronger connection between local residents and their environment.
Sherman Park Community Association (Milwaukee, WI) has been awarded a second grant from the Daybreak Fund for $127,000 over one year to continue its "Greening Congregations Project," which helps faith-based organizations and small commercial property owners access resources and technical assistance to implement green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) and decarbonization improvements. The project focuses on Milwaukee’s Sherman Park, Harambee, and Lindsay Heights neighborhoods, where aging infrastructure, energy burdens, and flood risks disproportionately affect communities of color. The project connects houses of worship to assessments, financing, and contractors for energy efficiency and green stormwater infrastructure projects, providing practical, nature-based solutions that can be replicated by congregants and within the broader community.
Trust for Public Land (Chicago, IL) has been awarded $130,000 over one year to expand its successful Chicago-Calumet Watershed Natural Solutions Tool into Northern Lake County. This Tool, created in 2023, is designed to help local governments, community organizations, and stakeholders identify where nature-based solutions can best address climate resilience, equity, and water quality issues. The Tool’s data-driven approach is already helping guide climate investments in the Chicago-Calumet area, and the expansion into Lake County will ensure similar benefits for this region.