Daybreak Fund

We fund projects weaving together solutions to climate change, water quality and social equity.

03/10/2026

Three years in, we've seen what's possible when communities lead on climate and water. Regenerative farms reducing runoff. Green stormwater projects cooling urban neighborhoods. Indigenous land practices restoring ecosystems. Now we're ready to invest in what comes next.

The Daybreak Fund's 2026 RFP is officially open. At least $1.3 million is available for nature-based projects in Wisconsin's Lake Michigan watersheds and Lake County, IL — and we're especially eager to support collaborative work that brings new voices to the table.

Pre-applications are due April 10. Find the full RFP at daybreak.fund.

03/04/2026

Is your organization working to protect water, build climate resilience, or advance environmental equity in Wisconsin or Lake County, IL? The Daybreak Fund's 2026 grant cycle is open — and we're making at least $1.3 million available for nature-based solutions in the Western Lake Michigan Basin.

We fund projects that work with nature — trees, wetlands, soils, agricultural land — to address climate change and water quality challenges while strengthening the communities that need it most. Frontline and historically overburdened communities are at the center of our work, not an afterthought.

Pre-applications are due April 10. Learn more and apply at daybreak.fund.

01/08/2026

Accessible, multilingual applications, one-on-one guidance, and farmer-led field days lower barriers and build confidence—seeding durable practices that protect water while strengthening farm economics. Learn more about The Nature Conservancy's project in collaboration with with Wisconsin Farmers Union: https://www.daybreak.fund/grantees

01/07/2026

With Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, the Sustainable Business Council’s project cohort will assess sites, build internal capacity, and share a toolkit and case studies to advance Green Bay’s clean energy and GSI goals. Learn more: https://www.daybreak.fund/grantees

01/06/2026

Season-by-season soil tests, forage analyses, farmer workshops, and a plain-language guide will help more producers adopt this low-barrier, climate-smart practice—protecting local waters while supporting farm economics. Learn more about Sand County Foundation’s project to interseed cover crops into corn silage: https://www.daybreak.fund/grantees

01/02/2026

Grazing schools, pasture walks, and one-on-one planning turn interest into action—especially for beginning and historically excluded farmers. GrassWorks, Inc. equips producers with practical skills to run profitable, water-friendly farms. Learn more: https://www.daybreak.fund/grantees

12/31/2025

Peer learning and a clear equity framework give local governments and utilities a roadmap to site and maintain GSI that cools heat islands and protects streams—while responding to community priorities. Learn more about the Global Philanthropy Partnership’s Exchange project: https://www.daybreak.fund/grantees

12/30/2025

When grazing is easier to manage, more producers can choose it—especially first-generation and underrepresented farmers. With university partners tracking results, Dairy Grazing Alliance will share what works through field days and farm media so families can spend less time moving fences and more time running resilient, water-friendly farms. See our 2025 grantees: https://www.daybreak.fund/grantees

12/26/2025

Flood-prone blocks and heat-stressed streets are tremendous burdens for communities to shoulder. Youth Conservation Corps will turn its Waukegan headquarters into a visible model of urban sustainability - adding rain gardens, permeable paving, and educational signage to reduce flooding, cool heat, and support biodiversity - while training local youth for the types of green careers that can further alleviate these burdens. See the project: https://www.daybreak.fund/grantees

12/23/2025

Savanna Institute is helping working lands work better for people and nature. By developing county programs that explicitly include agroforestry and offering farmers clear, affordable entry points, Savanna Institute aims to build soil carbon, reduce flooding, and diversify farm income—laying the groundwork for resilient, perennial systems across the Lake Michigan Basin. Explore the project:https://www.daybreak.fund/grantees

12/22/2025

A modest grant at the right moment can unlock lasting change. The Nature Conservancy and Wisconsin Farmers Union will expand support for historically underrepresented farmers to adopt regenerative practices—agroforestry, pollinator habitat, rotational grazing upgrades, and solar-powered water management. Learn more: https://www.daybreak.fund/grantees

12/18/2025

Business campuses can be climate assets. The Sustainable Business Council's Green Bay Accelerator Cohort will guide ten small- to mid-size companies through the Green Masters Program® to design nature-based projects—bioswales, permeable pavement, native habitat, trees—that cut runoff and emissions. See how: https://www.daybreak.fund/grantees

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247 Freshwater Way, Suite 210
Milwaukee, WI
53204

Telephone

+16083476026

Website

http://daybreak.fund/

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