OUR MISSION
Because passion starts with the “why.”
We believe
our greatest opportunity begins at the community level, empowering potential that ripples into larger-scale change.
Our family Board endeavors to fund projects that will have both immediate and perpetual effects that reflect our philanthropic passions – including WASH and workforce development initiatives.
Why Workforce development?
Starting with namesake Rogers Palmer’s involvement on the Board of the Gateway Technical School in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the family’s passion for workforce development began by addressing how to best serve those who chose a non-collegiate path.
The Board has expanded this focus to support projects that train not just tradespeople, but other members of our nation’s workforce including veterans, our youth, and nurses. Inspired by our founder, The Palmer Foundation continues to support established and start-up initiatives.
Why WASH?
The Palmer family’s proximity to the Great Lakes sparked a passion for healthy water, both for the vital ecosystems within it and the populations who rely on this important water.
This passion grew as other family members spent time abroad and witnessed firsthand the shortage of potable water in developing communities. These combined experiences resulted in one of the Foundation’s core funding priority: WASH (water access, sanitation, and hygiene).
We are proud to support causes within these two key areas, in addition to special interest projects including, but not limited to, community enrichment such as education, youth programming, medical services, and the arts.
Check out our Annual Reports for a full list of grants.
*The Palmer Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications.