Grants
40+ Years of Giving
Octoberfest was founded by downtown Appleton retailers and the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce in 1981 to showcase and promote greater awareness of the Fox Cities Region, improve the community’s image, provide a way to help fund non-profit organizations in the area, and enhance the quality of life in the Fox Cities. The Octoberfest planning committee continues this tradition by awarding grants to local non-profit organizations throughout the Fox Cities using proceeds from the prior year’s Octoberfest.
The Octoberfest committee considers projects that embrace the spirit with which Octoberfest was founded. Certain criteria must be met to apply:
Grants may be awarded for new or existing community events, programs, or activities with a potential for growth and a plan for sustainability into the future. Grant funds cannot be used for infrastructure or capital projects. Applications are reviewed three times per year and a final report is required. We also only consider awarding grants for the same project for three consecutive years – with a year off before an organization can re-apply for the same project to be funded.
Currently, the grant application window for Octoberfest 2023 is closed. We anticipate providing additional grant opportunities following a successful Octoberfest 2024.
What’s new for 2024 grant applications?
If members of your nonprofit group volunteer at Appleton’s Octoberfest as block captains, your grant application will get special consideration for our Octoberfest grants! The more volunteer time invested into Octoberfest 2024, the greater the consideration.
If you have questions regarding grants email Tom Lehr at the Fox Cities Chamber.