Our Companies:

Foundation

Our cornerstone for giving back.

A legacy of generosity began with founder Elisha D. Smith in the nineteenth century. Charitable giving was given a bigger, more formal structure in 1953, with the formation of Menasha Corporation Foundation, our company’s primary source of philanthropy.

The Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations and causes in communities across North America, with a focus on making a difference in places where Menasha Corporation has its operations. What drives every grant is the desire to enhance the lives of individuals and build strong communities.

Apply for a grant here.

Menasha Corporation Announces $6 Million in Grants in 2024

Watch Below!

We’re honoring our founder’s legacy of generosity with special grants in 2024 to celebrate our 175th anniversary.

About Menasha Corporation Foundation Video Below

Foundation Grants

“The mission of the Elisha D. Smith Public Library is to provide people with the tools they need to achieve their life-long learning goals. This gift enables us to provide resources to every member of our community from birth forward, enhancing and strengthening our entire community.”

Brian Kopetsky
Library Director, Elisha D. Smith Public Library – Menasha

Grants are awarded to organizations that address areas of need in the following four categories:

To apply for a grant, visit our grant seekers page

Partnering up pays off

SAFE & HEALTHY CITIZENS

Hope for the homeless.

COTS transitional shelters provide a bridge between crisis care and independent living for people who find themselves homeless. The four-part program focuses on wellbeing, stable housing, education and employment and social connections to help individuals make positive changes and overcome circumstances that led to homelessness.

Mentors matter.

COMMUNITY BETTERMENT

Home repair care.

People who can’t pay for repair services can get assistance from Rebuilding Together, an organization that provides home repairs and modification. Menasha Corporation Foundation donates funds for home projects and repairs related to safety and health for older adults, people with disabilities, and veterans.

Raising the safety bar.

AN EDUCATED SOCIETY

Running fuels girl power.

Girls on the Run of northeast Wisconsin empowers girls from third through eighth grade by teaching life skills, building healthy relationships, and engaging in community service. The program combines running with a curriculum that focuses on helping girls be joyful, healthy, and confident.

A caring marriage.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Trees are counting on us.

Menasha Corporation Foundation partnered with Northeast Wisconsin Land Trust to help preserve forested lands. Two projects help protect 233 acres of forestland, including a rare beech-maple forest, and another secures a 138-acre forestland in Neenah that serves as a corridor to connect the community to outdoor recreation.

“Foundation support helps us connect volunteers to community needs in the Fox Cities region through outreach and education. We’re also able to assist the business community in attracting and retaining employees who are interested in being good corporate citizens.”

Susan Vanden Heuvel
Executive Director, Volunteer Fox Cities

Supporting Employee Volunteering

The Foundation supports employee efforts in three areas:

Dollars for Doers

The program donates $250 to any elementary or secondary school that has an employee or spouse who volunteers more than 20 hours in a school year. At the end of the academic year, schools are entered into a drawing for a $2,500 gift that can be used for educational materials.

College Scholarships

Recently, the Foundation celebrated 50 years of awarding college scholarships to eligible dependents of its employees. Winners receive either one- or four-year scholarships of $3,000 for each school year.

Matching Gifts

The Foundation supports the personal philanthropic efforts of its employees and shareholders by doubling their giving power. The program matches gifts to qualified educational institutions up to $1,000 a year.