Federal grants in Wisconsin
Federal agencies awarded $86 billion in grants to recipients in Wisconsin from fiscal 2021 to 2025. The largest program was Grants to States for Medicaid, with $41 billion.
- Wisconsin ranks 26th of the 50 states and DC for federal grant awards over five years.
- Federal grant money to recipients in Wisconsin fell from $18 billion in fiscal 2021 to $16 billion in fiscal 2025.
- State and local governments received the largest share, 86%.
- Grants to States for Medicaid alone accounted for 47%.
Grants in Wisconsin by type of organization
- Grants for state and local governments in Wisconsin
- Grants for colleges and universities in Wisconsin
- Grants for nonprofits in Wisconsin
- Grants for tribes in Wisconsin
- Grants for businesses in Wisconsin
- Grants for small businesses in Wisconsin
- Grants for individuals in Wisconsin
Private foundations based in Wisconsin: 2,032 foundations, with who accepts applications.
Project grants won in Wisconsin
Most federal grant money is formula and block grants that go to the state by law: $58 billion in Wisconsin, 68% of the total. Programs that pay project grants and cooperative agreements, which organizations apply for, brought $14 billion to recipients in Wisconsin. These are the largest:
Largest federal grant programs in Wisconsin
Largest grant recipients in Wisconsin
| Recipient | Type | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services | State and local governments | 449 | $45 billion |
| Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction | State and local governments | 166 | $7.1 billion |
| Wisconsin Department of Transportation | State and local governments | 5,644 | $6.1 billion |
| State of Wisconsin Dept of Children & Families | State and local governments | 148 | $4.9 billion |
| University of Wisconsin System | Colleges and universities | 3,317 | $3.9 billion |
| Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | State and local governments | 494 | $1.5 billion |
| Department of Military Affairs Wisconsin | State and local governments | 208 | $1.3 billion |
| Public Service Commission of Wisconsin | State and local governments | 18 | $1.3 billion |
| State of Wisconsin Dept of Admin | State and local governments | 79 | $1.1 billion |
| Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development | State and local governments | 107 | $1.1 billion |
| State of Wisconsin Commissioner of Insurance | State and local governments | 2 | $1.0 billion |
| The Medical College of Wisconsin, Inc. | Colleges and universities | 511 | $588 million |
| Dairyland Power Cooperative | Nonprofits | 5 | $442 million |
| Milwaukee County | Other | 79 | $407 million |
| City of Milwaukee | State and local governments | 75 | $360 million |
| City of Madison | State and local governments | 80 | $320 million |
| United Migrant Opportunity Services/Umos Inc. | Other | 32 | $300 million |
| Generac Power Systems, Inc. | Businesses | 2 | $249 million |
| Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs | State and local governments | 24 | $245 million |
| University of Wisconsin System | Colleges and universities | 198 | $211 million |
Browse all 696 federal grant recipients in Wisconsin
Where the work happens
The totals above count grants by where the recipient is based. Counted by place of performance, where the funded work happens, grants in Wisconsin came to $85 billion. Grants for statewide or multi-county work count in no county, so county totals add up to less.
| County | Awards | Grants |
|---|---|---|
| Dane County | 4,516 | $14 billion |
| Milwaukee County | 2,322 | $3.8 billion |
| La Crosse County | 310 | $653 million |
| Waukesha County | 386 | $519 million |
| Outagamie County | 389 | $503 million |
| Brown County | 445 | $468 million |
| Kenosha County | 302 | $311 million |
| Rock County | 361 | $281 million |
| Winnebago County | 264 | $268 million |
| Columbia County | 221 | $250 million |
| Eau Claire County | 281 | $250 million |
| Marathon County | 282 | $221 million |
| Racine County | 230 | $206 million |
| Ozaukee County | 93 | $183 million |
| Waupaca County | 161 | $173 million |