Nature-based climate solutions for Lake Michigan.
Our mission is to fund projects weaving together solutions to climate change, water quality and social equity problems in the Western Lake Michigan region.
Our Priorities
The central goal of the Daybreak Fund is to improve the lives of people while safeguarding our environment.
To achieve that goal, we will prioritize initiatives that demonstrate how innovative nature-based solutions to climate change and water quality issues can empower communities to build resiliency, transition to a sustainable economy, and promote system change.
The Daybreak Fund is committed to an equitable and transparent grant-making process and recognizes the importance of supporting community-based solutions that value and center local knowledge and local leaders. We are also committed to investing at least 40 percent of our grant dollars in communities that are underserved and/or overburdened by pollution.
Eligibility
Geographically, these grants will be targeted to the watersheds in the Lake Michigan Basin in Wisconsin as well as projects within the basin in Lake County, Illinois. The Daybreak Fund will also consider grants in Wisconsin outside of the Lake Michigan Basin by invitation only. Please refer to this map to clarify if your project meets this geographic requirement.
501(c)3 non-profit organizations, municipalities and local government agencies, tribes, and educational institutions are eligible for funding. Collaborations are strongly encouraged, and projects that include sub-grants to partners are eligible. We also encourage those without 501(c)3 status to seek fiscal sponsorship through an eligible organization.
Stand-alone advocacy, academic research, public education and general outreach efforts are not eligible for funding. Exceptions may be considered if these activities are a component of a larger project that advances near-term, measurable, on-the-ground nature-based solutions. Please refer to the RFP for additional guidance.
Timeline
March 1, 2024: Request for Proposal issued
March 1 – April 10, 2024: Virtual office hours are available. Please schedule your virtual meeting here.
April 10, 2024: Pre-applications due
May 17, 2024: Full applications invited
June 14, 2024: Invited full applications due
Late July 2024: Grant awards announced
September, 2024: Grant awards delivered
We anticipate a similar timeline for 2025 funding opportunities.
Availability
We anticipate approximately $1.7 million available for grant-making in 2024. In order to maximize both our impact and flexibility to grantees we are not implementing grant award thresholds. We will consider individual projects as well as multi-year efforts (up to 3 years).
