Overview
The health system members of the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership (MHCP) - Ascension Wisconsin, Aurora Health Care, Children’s Wisconsin, and Froedtert Health - helped launch the MHCP Mental Health Improvement Fund with United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County in 2024 to support organizations that increase access to mental and behavioral health treatment services for low-income, underserved populations in Milwaukee County, with the aim of improving mental health outcomes and advancing health equity.
MHCP Mental Health Improvement Fund (MHIF) grants are one-time grants to non-profit, health and human service agencies in Milwaukee County.
In the upcoming grant period, the Mental Health Improvement Fund will focus on the MHCP / United Way shared community health priority of:
- Increasing access to mental health care services. Supported activities include mental health and substance use programs and services that focus on early identification and intervention, outpatient diagnostics and treatment, crisis intervention, and care coordination for people of all ages.
Increasing access to mental health services for youth, adults, and families was identified as a key issue in the Milwaukee County Community Health Needs Assessment and it is a critical activity under MHCP’s Annual Plan Priorities.
Organizations with a strong racial and health equity focus will be prioritized.
Special consideration will be made for organizations applying for funding who are actively participating in MHCP-sponsored or supported initiatives.
Criteria
- Agencies must be a 501(c)3 in good financial standing and operating as a 501(c) 3 for at least one year.
- Agencies can assure that MHCP Mental Health Improvement Fund grant funds will only be invested in Milwaukee County.
- Agencies may apply for funding to address one the priority identified above.
- Agencies may apply for up to $50,000, one time per year. Award amounts typically range from $25,000 to $35,000.
- Agencies have a board-approved non-discrimination policy that agency clients, staff and membership on the governing board are served, employed or appointed without regard to social or economic class, gender, gender identity, age, sexual orientation and identification, disability, special health care needs, race or religion. Organizations with a religious affiliation must not refuse services to an applicant based on religion or require attendance at religious services as a condition of assistance.
2025-2026 Timeline
All trainings and roundtables will take place virtually, unless otherwise specified.
- March 10, 2025 - Letter of intent (LOI) is open for submission.
- March 28, 2025 - LOI due by 4:30 pm
- April 14, 2025 - Agencies notified whether they have qualified to complete a full Request for Proposal (RFP).
- April 15, 2025 - RFP becomes available in e-CImpact and qualified agencies receive instructions on how to complete and submit RFP via email.
- April 30, 2025 - 1:30 – 3:00 pm: Optional “Virtual Office Hours” for technical assistance and questions regarding the RFP.
- May 9, 2025 - RFP and all attachments due
- July 1, 2025 - Project funding year starts, and agency executives are notified of award status.
Apply
Applications for the Letter of Intent is closed.
Questions? Please use the form at the bottom of this page.
Additional Information
Award Amount
Agencies invited to complete a full RFP may request up to a maximum of $50,000. Award amounts typically average between $25,000 and $35,000.
Agencies invited to complete a full RFP will be required to submit:
- 501 (c) 3 Letter
- Completed Form W-9
- Most recent Audit Report & Management Letter for Audit Report
- If the agency does not conduct an Audit, they will be asked to submit the last two fiscal year-ending Financial Reviews OR unaudited fiscal-year ending financials (Balance Sheet & Statement of Activities)
- Most recent fiscal quarter financial report (Balance Sheet and Statement of Activities)
- Agency 990, 990EZ, or 990N (most recently completed)
- Current list of Agency Board of Directors
Grant requirements for agencies awarded funding
Uploads:
- Signed Grant Agreement*
- Policy on Protecting Children (if the agency serves children)*
*Documents will be provided to agencies chosen to complete the RFP.
Outcomes Measurement:
Mental Health Improvement Fund programs will be required to provide outcomes and indicators results within the narrative secion of the grant reports utilizing results from tools the program/organization already uses or by using tools provided by United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County that are mutually agreed upon.
Demographics:
All funded programs are required to report demographic information for all of the clients completing programming (including those that did not take the post-test.)
Age Groups: 0 thru 3, 4 thru 5, 6 thru 11, 12 thru 17, 18 thru 24, 25 thru 34, 35 thru 44, 45 thru 54, 55 thru 64, 65 thru 74, 75 thru 84, 85 thru 94, 95 and over
Gender: Male, Female, Transgender, Non-binary/Genderfluid/Prefer to self-describe, Prefer not to say
Household Income: $0 to $9,999, $10,000 to $14,999, $15,000 to $24,999, $25,000 to $34,999, $35,000 to $44,999, $45,000 to $54,999, $55,000 to $64,999, $65,000 to $74,999, $75,000 to $84,999, $85,000 to $89,999, $90,000 or more, Free and reduced lunch (if income data is not available)
Racial Background & Ethnicity: African American/Black (not Hispanic or Latino), Asian (not Hispanic or Latino), Caucasian/White (not Hispanic or Latino), Hispanic/Latino, Middle Eastern (not Hispanic or Latino), Native American (not Hispanic or Latino), Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (not Hispanic or Latino), Multi-racial, Other
Veteran Status (Do you now or have you ever served in the Armed Forces?)
Zip Code of Residence