About Us
The Green Bay Packers Foundation has been giving back to Wisconsin's communities since it was established in 1986 by Judge Robert J. Parins, then president of Green Bay Packers, Inc. "as a vehicle to assure continued contributions to charity." It is a component of Green Bay Packers Give Back, the all-encompassing community outreach initiative.
Our Mission
The Foundation, an entity independent of the Green Bay Packers, Inc., supports charities possessing one or more of the following goals: perpetuates a community environment that promotes families and the competitive value of athletics; contributes to player and fan welfare; ensures the safety and education of children; and/or prevents cruelty to animals.
Update for 2026
The Green Bay Packers Foundation continues to receive a rising number of grant applications each year and our volunteer Trustees are committed to reviewing each application thoroughly to ensure we are responding to the demonstrated needs our community is facing. Starting in 2026, we are shifting to a four-year grant cycle so we can make sure our Trustees have enough time to properly evaluate each grant application. Each year of the four-year grant cycle will focus on different project/program need areas.
Applications will be accepted Monday, February 2, 2026 to Wednesday, April 1, 2026 (11:59 p.m. CT).
Project/Program Focus Areas
The Foundation will accept a maximum of one grant application from an eligible organization during each four-year cycle. Organizations that fit into multiple focus areas are encouraged to submit an application during the year in which their most urgent funding need is the focus area. Grant applications are accepted online and must be submitted with a project/program that addresses one of that year's specific focus areas.
Four-Year Grant Cycle Project/Program Focus Areas
2026: animal welfare, homelessness, human services
2027: arts and culture, environmental, hunger
2028: athletics, education
2029: elderly, health and wellness (including drug/alcohol and domestic violence)
Specific project/program focus areas by year for the 2023 – 2025 three-year cycle:
- 2023 - elderly, homelessness, human services, hunger (View the 2023 Grant Recipients with Program Information list here)
- 2024 - arts and culture, athletics, education (View the 2024 Grant Recipients with Program Information list here)
- 2025 - animal welfare, civic and community, environmental, health and wellness (including drug/alcohol and domestic violence)
Organizations that applied for a grant during the 2023 – 2025 three-year cycle will be eligible to apply once during the 2026 – 2029 four-year cycle.
APPLICATION PROCESS
- Determine eligibility. Review the information on our website to determine if your organization fits our mission and the project/program fits our current funding focus area.
- Learn how to use our online application system. Review the Frequently Asked Questions.
- Complete and Submit Application. Applications, including all required documents, must be submitted by the end of the day (11:59 p.m. CST) April 1, 2026. A confirmation email will be sent.
- Application Review. Applications are assigned to Trustees for review. Trustees may contact applicants during the months of May and June.
- Final Determination and Notification. Trustees finalize grant recipients in July. A notification email will be sent to the grant application contact.
- Grant Distribution. Grant checks will be distributed in late August or early September.
WHEN AND HOW TO APPLY
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR 2026 APPLICATION PERIOD
Application period: Monday, February 2 to Wednesday, April 1 (11:59 p.m. CT)
Online Account Login (for applications submitted before May 6, 2025) to review legacy portal with applications and reports submitted prior to May 6, 2025
All grant applications must be submitted using our online application system.
INFORMATION NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION:
- Organization Information
- Request: Description of the issue/need the grant will support and how the grant dollars will be utilized to address the issue/need, project/program budget
- Contact Information: Who can we contact with questions about the grant application
- Required Documents: Balance Sheet/Income Statement, Board of Directors Listing, Budget – Project/Program, Budget – Organization, Form 990 or 990EZ (or letter of explanation if not required to file) and other Funders (committed and pending)
ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS
An organization is eligible to apply if it is:
- Physically located in the state of Wisconsin;
- Classified as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code for a minimum of two years;
- Requesting funding for a project/program that addresses issues for at least one of the current year's focus areas; and
- Has not applied for another grant within the current four-year grant cycle.
Four-Year Grant Cycle Project/Program Focus Areas
2026: animal welfare, homelessness, human services
2027: arts and culture, environmental, hunger
2028: athletics, education
2029: elderly, health and wellness (including drug/alcohol and domestic violence)
INELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS AND PROJECTS/PROGRAMS
Grant applications submitted by organizations not classified as exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code or have not had a valid IRS Tax ID for a minimum of two years will not be accepted.
The Green Bay Packers Foundation will not accept grant applications for funding of:
- Annual appeals.
- Camp scholarships.
- Capital campaigns.
- Debt retirement, deficit financing, reduction of an operating deficit or replenishment of resources used to pay for such purposes.
- Endowments.
- Fundraising event or activity sponsorships.
- Individuals.
- Lobbying or legislative activities.
- Projects/programs that do not address issues in one of the focus areas identified for the current year.
- Projects/programs that directly impact less than 25 individuals.
- Scholarship funds.
Our Leadership
The Green Bay Packers Foundation is made up of 10 Green Bay Packers Board of Directors. The Trustees review grant applications and make decisions regarding grant disbursements.
TRUSTEES
- Wilson Jones, Chairperson
- Jan Allman, Alternate Chairperson
- Michael Barber
- LeRoy Butler
- Michael Haddad
- Bill Jartz
- Mark Kasper
- Laurie Radke
- Michael Simmer
- Chris Woleske
SECRETARY
- Bobbi Jo Eisenreich
FAQ
DOES THE APPLICATION LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING MY ORGANIZATION CAN REQUEST
Applicants can enter a minimum request of $3,000 and a maximum request of $8,000. Grant distributions will vary based on the number of applications approved and total amount of funding approved for distribution.
DO YOU ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FROM ORGANIZATIONS OUTSIDE THE STATE OF WISCONSIN?
No.
HOW DO I KNOW IF MY ORGANIZATION IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?
Review the "Eligible Organizations" and "Ineligible Organizations and Projects/Programs" sections.
HOW OFTEN CAN MY ORGANIZATION APPLY?
Eligible organizations can apply for a grant once during the four-year period, 2026 – 2029. For example, ABC Organization applies in 2026 for funding toward its homelessness program and is awarded a grant. ABC Organization is not eligible to apply again until 2030. If ABC Organization applies for funding in 2026 and is not awarded a grant, it is not eligible to apply again until 2030.
WHAT PROJECTS/PROGRAMS DO YOU FUND?
Review the "Eligible Organizations" section.
DO YOU ACCEPT APPLICATIONS TO FUND CAPITAL CAMPAIGNS?
No.
WHEN ARE APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED?
Applications will be accepted Monday, February 2, 2026 to Wednesday, April 1, 2026 (11:59 p.m. CT).
WHAT IS NOT FUNDED THROUGH THE PACKERS FOUNDATION?
Review the "Ineligible Organizations and Projects/Programs" section.
HOW DO I APPLY?
Only applications submitted through our online application system are accepted.
HOW DO I CREATE AN ONLINE ACCOUNT?
Click on Start New Application With New Portal (effective May 6, 2025) under the WHEN AND HOW TO APPLY heading. Additional information regarding the new portal can be found here.
HOW DO I VIEW SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS?
Applications submitted after May 6, 2025 can be viewed here.
Applications submitted before May 6, 2025 can be viewed here until August 25, 2025.
WHAT INFORMATION IS REQUIRED ON THE APPLICATION?
Review the "Information Needed to Complete the Application" section.
WHO DO I CONTACT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING ELIGIBILITY OR MY APPLICATION?
Contact us via email.
WHEN WILL I RECEIVE A RESPONSE TO MY APPLICATION?
Review the "Application Process" section.
Recent Grants and Other Efforts
The Foundation distributed $1.5 million in annual grants to 398 civic and charitable groups throughout the state of Wisconsin in its annual distribution of grants. Of the Foundation's distributions in November, 2024, 54 grants – aggregating $210,550 – were awarded to Brown County organizations. Additional grants, totaling $1,289,450, were made to 344 other groups around the state. The 2024 grant cycle focused on arts and culture, athletics and education.
The Foundation now has distributed more than $25,797,000 for charitable purposes since it was established in 1986 by Judge Robert J. Parins, then president of the Packers Corporation, "as a vehicle to assure continued contributions to charity."
GREEN BAY PACKERS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM:
Established in 2002, this educational partnership with CollegeReady (formerly known as Scholarships, Inc.) and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College benefits students from Brown County.
Scholarship funds totaling $53,000 were awarded in 2024 - $26,500 to Scholarships, Inc., for distribution to students in four-year colleges, and $26,500 to Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC), for distribution to students in two-year associate degree or apprenticeship trades programs. A portion of the scholarship funds come from National Football League Properties which, at the Packers' request, returns to the Foundation royalty fees paid for using the Packers logo on Wisconsin automobile license plates. Because the royalties do not fully cover the scholarships, the Green Bay Packers fund the remainder of the amount, a figure which totals $610,000 since 2006.
For eligibility criteria, contact the following organizations:
- CollegeReady @ 920-857-9088 or collegereadywi.org (4-year programs)
- NWTC Educational Foundation, Inc. @ 920-498-6931 or nwtc.edu/scholarships (2-year programs)
