Madison Foundation Grants $2.4M to 134 Local Nonprofits

When William Evjue founded The Capital Times newspaper in Madison, Wisconsin, he made a promise: if the community supported his paper, he'd find a way to give back. More than 50 years after his death, that promise is still paying dividends.

The Evjue Foundation announced it approved nearly $2.4 million in grants to support Madison-area nonprofits and educational institutions in 2026. It's part of a charitable tradition that has now given away more than $74 million since 1958.

Among this year's recipients, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County received $100,000 to honor their late CEO Michael Johnson, who died unexpectedly last month. The Madison Community Foundation got $250,000 for its Goodman nonprofit center, which trains and supports local nonprofit leaders.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison received $322,500 spread across 36 projects. One grant funds the Odyssey Project, giving adults who never attended college the chance to take college-level classes. Another connects students from Madison's Shabazz City High School with environmental scientists monitoring water quality in a local creek.

Other major recipients include Madison LakeWay Partners, which is rebuilding downtown Lake Monona's shores, and Sunshine Place, a Sun Prairie food pantry and housing cooperative. Both organizations received $100,000 grants.

The foundation was born from Evjue's vision in 1958. When he died in 1970, his will transferred his controlling stock in the newspaper to a charitable trust. The trust's proceeds fund the foundation, which supports local charitable, educational, and community nonprofits.

The Ripple Effect

This year's distribution touched 134 different organizations, creating a web of support across the Madison area. When the foundation helps a food pantry expand, more families eat. When it funds college programs for adults, career paths open. When it supports youth clubs, kids find safe spaces to grow.

A 15-member board makes all grant decisions, drawing representatives from The Capital Times, the UW Foundation, and the Madison Community Foundation. This structure ensures diverse perspectives guide how funds serve the community.

The foundation's reach extends from funding jazz festivals and theater productions to supporting healthcare access for the uninsured and adaptive equipment for veterans. It backs science education programs and preserves cultural traditions in Hmong communities.

What makes this model work is its sustainability. The newspaper's success directly fuels community support, year after year. It's proof that businesses can build giving into their DNA, creating lasting impact long after their founders are gone.

With this year's grants, the Evjue Foundation continues William Evjue's legacy of believing communities deserve dividends from the businesses they support.