Grants

Our Guiding
Principles

Circle with sketch of child raising arms

Helping young people thrive

We support strong developmental experiences that surround youth with caring relationships, encouragement, resources, and opportunities to build the skills they need to thrive today and navigate the road ahead.

Circle with sketch of three members of a family

SUPPORTING PARENTS, CAREGIVERS AND FAMILY STABILITY

Strong families help youth thrive. We support programs that help parents and caregivers build stability, strengthen family relationships, navigate hardship or crisis, and create the conditions for their families to flourish.

Circle with sketch of two members of the community with a heart in the middle

Creating a lasting impact

We support programs and organizations using strong, evidence-informed service models and meaningful methods for tracking growth and impact. We prioritize depth, quality, and lasting change over one-time experiences or events. See How Grants Work for what we look for in outcomes and tracking.

Who
we help

youth

Young people grow through strong relationships, meaningful experiences, challenges, and opportunities. We support programs that connect young people with caring adults and mentors, expand their sense of what is possible, and help them build the confidence, leadership, and practical skills they need to navigate school, relationships, work and life.

We value youth development approaches informed by the Search Institute's Developmental Assets framework, and research informed best practices in mentorship, leadership development, learning, and skill-building that help young people thrive.

Families

Youth are more likely to thrive when the people caring for them have the stability and resources they need. We support programs that help parents and caregivers strengthen their families, build economic stability, pursue family-sustaining employment, and navigate trauma, hardship, or other challenges that can disrupt family life.

This includes families experiencing sudden or acute disruption, such as disaster or circumstances beyond their control, who need support to meet immediate needs, regain stability, and get back on their feet.

Stock Image of family together sitting on couch

How
Grants
work

step 1

Letter
of Inquiry

Interested organizations must submit a one-to-three-page Letter of Inquiry covering their mission, who they serve, the problem they are addressing, outcomes they track, and the funding request. LOIs are accepted on a rolling basis within two annual giving cycles — Spring (May 16–November 15) and Fall (November 16–May 15). LOIs should be sent via email to foundation@andis.org. Strong LOIs will be invited to submit a full application.

Step 2

Full
Application

Invited applicants must submit a full application by February 14 (Spring cycle) or August 15 (Fall cycle). Applications include organizational overview, program model and impact documentation, financial documents, and partnership information. Additional information may be requested during the review process.

Step 3

Decision
Process

The Andis Foundation Board of Directors will review completed applications and notify applicants of funding decisions in writing approximately eight weeks following the application submission deadline. Contact the Foundation office for status updates.

OUR FUNDING PRIORITIES

We fund programs that create measurable, long-term improvements in youth and family trajectory.

Racine County youth- and family-serving programs
Southeastern Wisconsin initiatives
Select statewide programs
Select national organizations with scalable, outcome-driven youth & family focused models
Industry-aligned organizations using barbering, grooming, or animal care as a youth development or family stability pathway

We do not fund events, sponsorships, galas, endowments, debt reduction, feasibility studies, or consultative support. If your request falls into one of these categories, please do not apply. Capital campaign support is rare and reserved for well-established partners with a mission-aligned project. We do not fund individual schools or districts, but may fund organizations providing support services to school communities. Requests must include a clearly defined purpose and line-item allocation.
Early-stage organizations with strong models, credible leadership, and clear mission alignment may be considered even when formal outcome data is limited. Continued funding will depend on progress toward financial sustainability and measurable impact.

STEP 1:

LETTER OF INQUIRY (LOI)

Spring giving cycle: submit between May 16 and November 15
Fall giving cycle: submit between November 16 and May 15

Submit a one-to-three-page LOI as an email attachment to foundation@andis.org, addressing the following:

Organization name, mission, and primary contact
Who you serve (age, geography, number served annually)
The measurable problem you are addressing
Outcomes you track or plan to track, with 2–3 specific metrics
Exact dollar amount requested and line-item use of funds
What percentage of the total project budget this represents

Incomplete, vague, or clearly generic LOIs will not advance. Organizations with strong alignment will be invited to submit a full application.

STEP 2:

GRANT APPLICATION BY ANDIS FOUNDATION INVITATION

Spring giving cycle: February 14
Fall giving cycle: August 15

Invited applicants must provide via email:

Organizational Overview
1. Mission statement, annual budget, most current impact report, board of directors list, and population served
Program Model and Impact
1. Description of the intervention, why it works, and how long and how often participants are engaged
2. 3–5 tracked outcomes with prior results and data collection methods (early-stage applicants may submit a tracking plan)
Financial Documents
1. Current balance sheet
2. Year-to-date income and expense statement
3. Prior fiscal year income and expense statement and balance sheet
4. Complete organizational budget and project budget if applicable
5. Detailed allocation of requested funds and sustainability plan
Partnership and Visibility
1. How Andis might reasonably engage with your organization to strengthen the relationship beyond the transaction
2. How your organization will recognize Andis Foundation support, including through social media and external communications
3. How Andis Foundation might recognize your organization and the partnership
Required Attachments
1. IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter

Final Note
The Andis Foundation invests in programs that shift life trajectories, not short-term activities. We expect clear purpose, honest financial reporting, and a genuine commitment to measuring what matters.

Our Guiding Principles