The KCF provides two types of component fund grants: Unrestricted and Field of Interest.

For each Field of Interest Fund, the Foundation, with the aid of committees of community volunteers, operates a thoughtful, responsive, and community-based grant-making program that annually awards grant funds to local non-profit organizations. Though the purposes of the Field of Interest Funds are focused, they remain flexible enough to meet community needs in the interest area—even as they change over time.

All Field of Interest funds accept donations from the public. For the full list of funds, please scroll down.

• Rebuilding damaged educational features within walking trails (including repairs to the Story Walk signage and wigwam). Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary and Arboretum through the Hyslop Foundation
• Construction of a community OFRENDA and offering multi-generation programs at Northside Library to recognize Día de Los Muertos. Kenosha Public Library
• Providing materials for the “Love Yourself’ Youth Fashion Show. The Boys and Girls Club of Kenosha
• Providing opportunities for young women and girls to participate in block carving and screen-printing. Kenosha Public Museum, in partnership with the Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast
• Providing programming for the annual Summer Plein Air Painting Program for children 7-12 years old. Lemon Street Gallery and ArtSpace

Unrestricted Grants

2024 KCF Field of Interest grant recipients

From the LaFave Family Fund, 8 grants were made to organizations for programs that further education – particularly to promoting the humanities, the arts, tolerance, and communication:

• Providing youth an alternative to gang involvement through positive social interactions, strengthened family support, and alternative activities. Boys and Girls Club of Kenosha.
• Building the CUSH Justice Library within an LGBTQ+ youth space in collaboration with the LGBT Center of SE Wisconsin. Congregations United to Serve Humanity (CUSH).
• Expanding special education and therapeutic coaching for caregivers of infants and toddlers with special needs. Kenosha Achievement Center.
• Supporting “Amplifying Community Missions and Voices,” which offers communication tools and media outlets to nonprofit organizations. Kenosha Community Media.
• Providing experiential learning opportunities to students and their families through “Adventures in Family Literacy.” Kenosha Literacy Council.
• Strengthening artists and communities in today’s art economy. Kenosha Public Museums Foundation.
• Providing children with disabilities opportunities to be socially active and fostering community tolerance through volunteer service. Kenosha YMCA, Miracle League.
• Increasing outreach to local schools and organizations. Peace Learning Circles.

From the Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC) Legacy Fund, 6 grants targeting programs and activities designed to improve the general welfare and enhance the quality of life for youth in the Kenosha community:

• Providing students with lessons in financial literacy and work readiness. Junior Achievement of Wisconsin.
• Increasing accessibility at the “Sprouts Playgroup.” Kenosha Achievement Center.
• Offering free books to preschool children in Kenosha County’s “Head Start” program. Kenosha County Association for Home and Community Education.
• Supporting the opening of “KPL Kids @ Uptown,” a new public children’s library focused on reading and math literacy. Kenosha Library Foundation.
• Fostering social emotional learning (SEL), educational support, and transportation 5 days per week, to students in need. Kenosha YMCA.
• Granting support for safe spaces for youth attending LGBTQ+ youth group events. LGBT Center of SE Wisconsin.

From the Foundation’s Women’s Fund, 4 grants to programs supports programs and organizations that create opportunities for women and children.

• Offering girls opportunities to embark on a transformative journey through the world of gymnastics in “Flipping into Fun: A New Gymnastics Adventure.” Boys and Girls Club of Kenosha.
• Providing special education and therapeutic coaching for caregivers of infants and toddlers with special needs. Kenosha Achievement Center.
• Contributing toward a dedicated space for student-athletes of UW-Parkside’s new women’s golf team. UW-Parkside Foundation.
• Expanding health and community knowledge to English language learners while increasing their conversation skills through “Women in Focus.” Kenosha Literacy Council.

From the Foundation’s Kenosha Arts Fund, 4 grants were made to:

• Covering material costs for art programs provided to individuals with developmental disabilities. Kenosha Achievement Center.
• Supporting the “Youth Media Club” at Washington Middle School. Kenosha Community Media.
• Purchasing supplies to support community clay classes and enable students to work with multiple materials and techniques. Lemon Street Gallery.
• Sponsoring the “Beach Front Arts Fest” that unites artists, musicians, and thousands of attendees to celebrate creativity and boost the local economy. Love Your Community.

The Foundation manages several Field of Interest Funds – each fund was established by the Foundation’s Board of Directors for a particular philanthropic interest as specified by its creators and donors.

With a portion of their annual investment income, the Foundation awards grants from several Field of Interest Funds to non-profit organizations within their defined area of interest:

• The Kenosha Arts Fund supports projects that enhance Kenosha’s culture, economy, and quality of life and impact the arts and community at large.
• The OMC Legacy Fund supports programs and activities designed to improve the general welfare and enhance the quality of life for youth in the Kenosha community.
• The LaFave Family Fund supports programs that further education – particularly by promoting the humanities, the arts, tolerance, and communication.
• The Women’s Fund supports programs and organizations that create opportunities for women and children.
• The following two Field of Interest endowment funds support the CBK Small Grant program : The Clark-Barber Family Fund and The Kubasiewicz Family Trust.
• Other Field of Interest Funds at the Foundation, including the Mary Lou and Arthur F. Mahone Fund and the Grace Kolakowski Fund, have not established competitive grant-making programs.