Looking for Solutions for Your Nonprofit?

• Applicant must have an active 501(c)(3) status.
• Applicant must be 501(c)(3) public charity that is not a supporting organization or unit of state, local or federal government (e.g., public library, public university).
• Applicant agrees to abide by the program award timeline.
• Applicant submits a completed application in accordance with the procedures.
• Applicant resides and operates in Dupaco Credit Union’s charter area:
  • Iowa: Any county
  • Illinois: Carroll, Jo Daviess, Rock Island, Stephenson, Whiteside
  • Wisconsin: Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Lafayette, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Walworth, Waukesha

Note: Your organization does not need to be aligned with Dupaco’s community pillars/focus areas to apply for this grant.

To be considered for a grant, an applicant must:

• Meet the stated eligibility criteria.
• Submit a completed grant application at the link below.
• Provide any supplemental information needed to substantiate that the applicant meets the application requirements.
• Agree that the organization has the capacity to commit the resources required for the Innovation Session(s) and timeline of the award.
• Receive a grant if the application is approved pursuant to the Credit Union’s grantmaking selection process. 

Grantmaking preference will be given to organizations that operate in the cities where Dupaco maintains a physical branch office. Eligible grant applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• Organizational readiness and capacity to participate in innovation sessions.
• Level of impact the session would have on the organization and their service to individuals and the community.
• Level of impact the session would have on individuals served (e.g., improved service, new service, increased number of people served).
• Organization’s stated needs fit well with the proposed process and expected outcomes of session.
• Quality of the application (clearly stated, feasible and appropriately focused, detailing how the session would impact the organization).

Dupaco Credit Union’s community impact team will review applications and confirm that applicants meet the eligibility criteria. A committee made up of the credit union and our partner, The Innovation Lab, will review and make final approval of award winners.

Applicants may, at the discretion of the Credit Union, be given an opportunity to provide additional information to supplement their application. The Credit Union strives to promptly notify any applicants who are not eligible to receive a Grant due to a failure to meet the eligibility criteria.

The Credit Union anticipates applications will be reviewed and acted upon within eight weeks of submission, however this timeframe may vary based on the time of year and number of applications being submitted. Applicants will be notified by email whether their application was selected for an award.

• Evaluate the needs of your organization.
• Think about how an innovation session will impact your organization internally or your organization’s impact in the community.
• Determine how much time your team, board or stakeholders will commit.
• Read examples of how other organizations have used their Gift of Innovation sessions:

  • Habitat for Humanity Dubuque & Jackson County
• Choose a session that aligns with your needs. See the chart below to learn about each session.