Creativity by Kids (CBK) Small Grants Program

The Kenosha Community Foundation is now accepting applications for 2025 awards from the Creativity By Kids (CBK) Small Grant Program. The purpose of the grant program is to provide funds: “To groups offering programs in the arts or the understanding of our natural world. It will emphasize cross-cultural and multi-generational programs in both areas, whenever possible.” Based on the purpose, the Foundation welcomes requests for funding for projects/initiatives in one or more of the following areas: The arts, culture, nature and the environment.

The deadline to apply is Friday, January 17, 2025.

Apply HERE for The 2025 CBK Small Grant program

Purpose of the CBK Small Grant Program

The purpose of the CBK Small Grant program is to provide funds “to groups offering programs in the arts or the understanding of our natural world. It will emphasize cross-cultural and multi-generational programs in both areas, whenever possible.”

Based on these criteria, the Foundation welcomes requests for funding for projects/initiatives in one or more of the following areas: the arts, culture, nature, and the environment:

• The award can be used as a contribution to an existing project/initiative or to help start a new program/initiative.
• Not-for-profit organizations, government agencies and/or educational institutions are welcome to apply.

Source of the CBK Small Grant Program
Funds for the CBK Grant program are derived from income from the Foundation’s Clark-Barber Family Fund and the Kubasiewicz Family Trust endowments:

  • The Clark-Barber Family Fund endowment was established in 2017 by Kenosha residents Tom and Ruth Barber Clark. NOTE: Mr. Clark – an artist and educator – created the picasette plaque that is used as the logo for the CBK Grant program.
  • The Kubasiewicz Family Trust endowment, established in 2012 by Salem Lakes resident Tom Targos in honor of his late mother Irene Kubasiewicz Targos, has previous funded grants to not-for-profit organizations including the Boys and Girls Club of Kenosha and the LGBT Center of Southeastern Wisconsin.

The donors designed the program to support existing initiatives in the arts, culture, nature and the environment as well as a seed for new and experimental projects in these areas.

2023 CBK Small Grant Awards

We are pleased to award $5,000 in 2023 Creativity by Kids (CBK) Small Grants to the following local organizations:

  • $1,000 to the Pringle Nature Center Inc. to help build additional features in the Bristol Woods Nature Playground that will increase accessibility and promote creative play; this includes a sensory garden that will use native plants and raised beds accessible to wheelchair users to engage families and provide opportunities for environmental education.
  • $1,000 to the Kenosha YMCA to build new and maintain existing garden/flower boxes at the Y used for lessons about gardening.
  • $1,000 to Lemon Street Gallery and ArtSpace to support a summer Plein Air Painting Program (2023) for children 7-12 years old.
  • $1,000 to the Bong Naturalist Association (BNA) to present “Spiritual Currents,” a unique musical experience, and to add family-centric natural magnifying-play stations to a new, BNA/privately-funded playground at the Richard Bong State Recreation Area in Western Kenosha County.
  • $500 to Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary and Arboretum to support “It’s Maple Sugarin’ Time!” field trips and Adult and Family programs.
  • $500 to Kenosha Community Media (KCM) to support teen community media workshops to take place in the summer at KCM’s Hub location in the Kenosha Southwest Library; topics to include script writing, equipment instruction, video production, audio production, and the use of editing software.

The Foundation’s Board of Directors approved the awards which were recommended by a review committee made up of community volunteers. The review committee selected to support these six programs out of the 14 proposals received via the CBK Grant Program’s on-line application process.

Note that the $5,000 in 2023 grant awards was derived from a Giving Circle made up of two sources:

  • $4,500 – from income earned by two endowment funds managed by the Foundation – the Clark-Barber Family Fund (established by Kenosha residents Tom and Ruth Barber Clark), and the Kubasiewicz Family Trust (established by Salem Lakes resident Tom Targos).
  • $500 – donations received from community members specifically for CBK grants.

2022 CBK Small Grants Awards

The Kenosha Community Foundation is pleased to announce that the following organizations have been awarded 2022 Creativity by Kids (CBK) Small Grants:

  • $1,000 to Hawthorn Hollow (through the Hyslop Foundation) for its garden classroom with its interactive learning stations.
  • $1,000 to the Kenosha Public Library for its StoryWalk program to be deployed at locations throughout the community.
  • $1,000 to the Kenosha Public Museums for its Artsy Afternoons program for children.
  • $500 to Anchor Press, Paper and Print for its collaboration with Lemon Street Gallery and ArtSpace to offer printmaking classes.
  • $500 to the Bong Naturalist Association for its StoryWalk program at the Richard Bong State Recreation Area.
  • $500 to Lemon Street Gallery and ArtSpace for its intensive artmaking experience for children and adults on the autism spectrum.

 

The Foundation’s Board of Directors approved the awards which were recommended by a review committee comprised of community volunteers.

Note that the $4,500 in 2022 grant awards was derived from a Giving Circle made up of two sources: $4,000 – from income earned by the Clark-Barber Family Fund and the Kubasiewicz Family Trust along with $500 in donations received for CBK grants from community members.