Grant Program Immunize Wisconsin

Immunize Wisconsin
Grant Program

Supporting Immunization
Efforts Throughout Wisconsin

2024 COHORT 2023 COHORT

Funding Vaccine Projects,
Programs, & Initiatives

that significantly advance education and immunization accessibility for the residents of Wisconsin

The 2025 grant cycle will award projects, programs, and initiatives that increase education and vaccine uptake for people living in Wisconsin. Priority areas for funding include, but are not limited to:

  • Respiratory viruses: Efforts to increase vaccination for respiratory viruses including COVID-19, RSV, and influenza among adults.
  • Traditionally underserved communities: Efforts to increase vaccination for communities and groups that have been traditionally under-resourced, including but not limited to the uninsured, non-English speakers, rural communities, Tribal communities, racial and ethnic minorities, and other minoritized groups.
  • Underserved geographic locations: Communities across Wisconsin that have not received prior funding from Immunize Wisconsin or the Routine Immunizations through Community Engagement (RICE) grants, counties in central and northern Wisconsin.
  • Vaccine hesitation and medical mistrust: Efforts that aim to promote confidence in vaccines, build trust with communities, support community-medical system partnerships, and address medical mistrust.
Improving Vaccine Uptake

Ensuring Effective Stewardship
of Grant Funds

Maintaining the Integrity & Transparency of Our Grant Program

The 2025 grant cycle includes a series of parameters to ensure grant funds are distributed to projects and programs that would have an immediate and measurable impact on our communities. Immunize Wisconsin will not fund the following projects:

  • RICE grantees: Current groups receiving RICE funding from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services
  • Capital Campaigns: Projects aimed at long-term financial goals or significant asset acquisitions.
  • Financial Reserves: Initiatives designed to establish endowments or other reserve funds.
  • Individual Financial Support: Funding requests for individual donations, scholarships, or sponsorships.
  • Political Agendas: Projects with a primary focus on political campaigns or lobbying efforts.
  • Vaccine Purchase: Projects that mainly seek funds for purchasing vaccines.

Applicant Eligibility Criteria

Proposals must meet all four criteria below to be considered for a grant:

Criteria 1
Must serve Wisconsin communities

Criteria 2
Must be a Wisconsin-based organization or group

Criteria 3
Only one grant application per organization/fiscal agent

Criteria 4
Organization has not previously been funded by Immunize Wisconsin’s grant program and may not be a current RICE grantee

2023/2024 IMWI Grant Cohort

Meet the second cohort of incredible organizations to earn a grant from Immunize Wisconsin! These groups are shifting the vaccination landscape and helping drive equitable and far access to needed immunizations through innovative programming. Congratulations to these amazing organizations:

Casa ALBA

Casa ALBA Melanie’s Spanish Health Navigator Program aims to increase vaccination awareness and rates among the Hispanic community in Brown County through targeted outreach, education, and resource referrals. By June 2024, the program plans to survey at least 250 Spanish-speaking individuals to understand vaccine hesitancy, inform 100 individuals about recommended vaccines, and connect 50 people to vaccination resources, offering a $25 gas card as an incentive. These short-term objectives will help the program adapt its messaging to address specific concerns. Long-term goals focus on sustaining this effort to improve overall vaccination knowledge and rates within the community, fostering equitable healthcare access and preventive care for Hispanic residents.

Galesville LTC Pharmacy’s Immunization Outreach project aims to address the vaccination needs of residents and staff in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities across southwest Wisconsin. As an independent, long-term care pharmacy, they plan to provide comprehensive vaccine services at facilities that face resource limitations, staffing shortages, and a high-risk population due to age, comorbidities, and communal settings. The project includes outreach clinics to administer key vaccines—Influenza, COVID, Pneumococcal, and RSV—to achieve a 90% vaccination rate for residents and 80% for staff. The short-term goal is to complete these vaccine targets by mid-2024, and the long-term goal is to establish a sustainable vaccine infrastructure. The project will also focus on overcoming vaccine fatigue and simplifying billing processes to ensure accessibility and continuity in vaccination efforts for this vulnerable community.

The Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center (GLIIHC) in Milwaukee, dedicated to improving the health and well-being of urban Native Americans, is launching a targeted vaccination initiative to address the high rates of flu and pneumonia-related mortality among Native elders. This project will focus on vaccinating patients ages 65 and older, aiming for at least 50% flu vaccination and 85% pneumonia vaccination coverage within this high-risk group by the end of the flu season. Recognizing the challenges Native elders face in accessing culturally competent healthcare, especially those with limited income or transportation, GLIIHC will provide a $25 Target gift card incentive to encourage vaccination. Leveraging their expertise in community health and partnerships, GLIIHC’s project intends to reduce preventable deaths from flu and pneumonia, building on their experience with previous vaccination campaigns and using culturally relevant outreach to increase engagement.

Kenosha CHC

Kenosha Community Health Center (KCHC), a Federally Qualified Health Center, is implementing an expanded mobile immunization outreach program to improve health outcomes for underserved populations in Kenosha, Racine, and Walworth Counties. Building on its successful mobile missions during the COVID-19 pandemic, KCHC will partner with community leaders to establish regular immunization clinics targeting high-risk groups, including African American, Latinx, migrant workers, and homeless populations, who face significant access barriers and vaccine hesitancy. The mobile units will provide vaccines for influenza, Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, and COVID-19, along with wellness screenings, social determinants of health (SDOH) assessments, and referrals to other health services. With the requested grant, KCHC aims to meet individuals where they live and work, creating accessible care points while addressing social barriers, promoting vaccine confidence, and building trusted relationships with marginalized communities.

The Monroe County Health Department is a long-standing public health institution committed to enhancing the health of its 50,000 residents, a diverse rural community that includes Hispanic, Amish, Ho-Chunk Native American, and military populations. Leveraging its experience in providing culturally tailored vaccination services, the department aims to expand immunization access for marginalized groups facing barriers such as transportation, language, and medical mistrust. Building on successful community partnerships, such as those with Fort McCoy and Hispanic community leaders, this project will extend free, accessible immunization clinics to additional rural sites and high-risk populations, including the Amish, Hispanic, homebound, un-housed individuals, and jail inmates. The initiative’s objectives are to increase vaccination rates, reduce preventable disease, build community trust, and improve education about vaccine benefits. This work aligns with the department’s mission to bring health services to residents in accessible, comfortable settings and establish lasting partnerships that promote a healthier community.

The Oneida County Health Department (OCHD) leads a collaborative vaccination initiative to increase access and reduce barriers to immunization for underserved and rural communities in Northern Wisconsin. With a strong foundation in health equity, cultural humility, and public health partnerships, OCHD leverages its accreditation and expertise to expand vaccination efforts in partnership with Florence, Forest, and Vilas County Health Departments. This project focuses on addressing challenges such as transportation, mistrust, misinformation, and health literacy through a culturally sensitive approach. By conducting provider trainings, building relationships with local vaccinators, and engaging directly with community members, OCHD aims to increase vaccination rates, reduce vaccine hesitancy, and improve community knowledge and access. Through expanded vaccination sites, trusted messaging, and active engagement, the project will benefit vulnerable populations, including tribal communities and those with functional needs, fostering a stronger, healthier community.

Outreach Community Health Centers (OCHC) is expanding its vaccination efforts across Milwaukee, focusing on reaching underserved populations, especially those experiencing homelessness, low-income families, and communities facing health inequities. Leveraging nearly 40 years of experience as a trusted healthcare provider, OCHC plans to boost influenza, HPV, meningococcal, and COVID vaccination rates among high-need groups, including children under two, adolescents, and pregnant women. Through assertive outreach, mobile vaccination services, and targeted incentives, OCHC seeks to improve vaccine accessibility and acceptance. By collaborating with local shelters, schools, and clinics, and hosting family-centered events, OCHC will integrate its services to increase awareness, encourage vaccine adherence, and reduce barriers to essential preventive care.

The Wisconsin Pharmacy Foundation (WPF), in collaboration with the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin (PSW), aims to increase vaccination rates and equity statewide through a comprehensive systems-change approach. This initiative will build on established pharmacy and community-based partnerships, known as the Wisconsin Pharmacy Quality Collaborative (WPQC), to address social determinants of health (SDoH) that contribute to vaccine disparities. The project will facilitate bi-directional partnerships between WPQC pharmacies and community organizations, enhancing vaccination access, education, and health literacy. By aligning with state health agencies and public health entities, the WPF seeks to mitigate barriers like misinformation and access inequities, particularly among historically underserved populations. The initiative will also incorporate culturally responsive educational sessions led by pharmacists to combat vaccine hesitancy, ultimately fostering vaccination equity and reducing preventable disease and death across Wisconsin.

2022/2023 IMWI Grant Cohort

Meet the recipients of our inaugural grant cycle! These remarkable organizations were selected as grantees and partners, joining IMWI in our shared mission to enhance public health and elevate vaccination rates across Wisconsin. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the following esteemed organizations:

Bayfield County Health Department

The Bayfield County Health Department (BCHD) will expand their vaccination efforts through various initiatives using their IMWI Grant award. They will offer community clinics, collaborate with schools, provide on-site influenza clinics for local businesses, conduct home visits, and transition to electronic immunization records. Congratulations to BCHD on this impactful opportunity!

City of Praise Inc.

The City of Praise intends to use the IMWI Grant award to implement comprehensive vaccination programs, including outreach campaigns, community clinics, and educational initiatives. These efforts will ensure widespread access to vaccines and promote community health and well-being. Congratulations to the City of Praise on this well-deserved recognition and their commitment to keeping the community safe and protected!

Dance County Immunization Coalition

DCIC has been doing incredible work throughout Dane county to help children and adults receive recommended vaccines to help protect them for a lifetime. DCIC is participating in the coordinated back-to-school immunization effort “Back 2 School Free Haircutz,” held at the Alliant Energy Center. This event brings together 30 barbers from across Dane County to provide free haircuts to children. DCIC will be there providing vaccines to children and sharing a gift card or voucher for shoes to each child that receives a vaccine at the event! What an awesome idea! Thank you for all you do, DCIC!

The Eau Clair City-County Health Department shared a compelling proposal to help improve vaccination awareness and uptake throughout their communities for HPV, Meningococcal, and Tdap vaccines for adolescents ages 11-18. We can’t wait to see their reminder and event campaign unfold! Thank you for all that you do!

The Equal Protection Council will use their IMWI Grant award to expand the impactful Vax4Vax campaign, focusing on the LGBTQ+ community. By leveraging online dating apps, they aim to reach and educate individuals who have been previously difficult to engage. Let’s join them in promoting vaccination and health equity!

The Hmong American Center shared an incredible proposal to help Hmong and Hispanic communities build their understanding of vaccines and eliminate barriers to vaccination through tailored social media messaging and pop-up clinics throughout their communities. They will use this IMWI Grant award to expand their Hmong and Hispanic Communication Network (H2N) initiative. We are so excited to see what you do next!

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