Madison Community Foundation launches $1 million initiative to celebrate 75th anniversary

The Nolen Waterfront Plan will assess the potential for a nine-acre waterfront park. (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia)

At their annual dinner, Madison Community Foundation (MCF) announced the first of 12 major grants totaling roughly $1 million that it will be giving to a series of area nonprofits.

Announced at the May 16 dinner, MCF will be awarding $27,500 for the Nolen Waterfront Plan, which will assess how the area between Monona Terrace and Machinery Row could be used for a nine-acre waterfront park, according to the MCF website.

Additionally, MCF provided a  $25,000 grant for Madison 2092, an arts and design project that imagines Madison 75 years into the future. Developed by the the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters, the Madison 2092 show will be hosted at the Overture Center’s James Watrous Gallery, and artwork will be on display in February  2018, according to the MCF website.

“Our community is home to so many unique features that are important to our quality of life,” MCF President Bob Sorge said in a statement. “Together with our donors, we’re thrilled to support and celebrate these community treasures.”

One of each of the remaining 11 grants will be announced every month, concluding in April 2018.

Madison Common's new nonprofit beat reporter Jack Kelly will be covering each upcoming grant.