Grants for Digitization Projects: Union Pacific Foundation

The Union Pacific Foundation offers grants to help nonprofit organizations “build their capacity by helping new or existing programs reach more people or reach them more effectively.” They are especially interested in supporting community-based organizations, such as public libraries, children’s museums, public television and radio, that “improve and enrich the general quality of life in the community.” A digitization project focused on local railroad history might be a good fit here!

Deadline: The next open application process will begin in July 2017. Preliminary proposals will be due in August 2017. Applicants invited to submit full proposals will be notified of final grant awards the following February.

Grant amount: Varies; most grants awarded are under $10,000.

Match required: No

Further information: https://www.up.com/aboutup/community/foundation/grants/index.htm

Useful things to know:

To qualify for a grant, your community must be served by Union Pacific Railroad – either located on or reasonably close to its railroad lines. The Foundation does not accept applications from organizations located outside areas served by Union Pacific, even though the intent may be to operate a program in a Union Pacific community or county.

In Wisconsin, that includes, roughly, the communities along the western shore of Lake Michigan from Kenosha to Sheboygan, the I90/94 corridor from Milwaukee to St. Paul, and southeast from Janesville to the Illinois border. Be sure to check Union Pacific’s map of railroad lines to confirm that your community qualifies.