Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What types of projects does the Argosy Foundation support?
A. The Argosy Foundation engages in process-based support.  Foundation Trustees look for projects that add value to a field and also may contain features applicable to other philanthropic programs, such as innovative learning methods, assessment strategies, simplified documentation techniques, etc.  We look for leverage in everything we do; every program is a learning experience.  Our role as a partner with the grantee is to maximize the likelihood of success, as well as gain knowledge and best practice information that can be made available to others.  As a private family foundation, we try to address needs that are less likely to be addressed by governments or public foundations, in a way that may be difficult or impossible for other support/grantor organizations to provide. While the Foundation does not operate with concrete program categories, there are certain areas to which Argosy currently directs the bulk of its funding.  They include, but are not limited to, education, arts and culture, health and human services, and the environment.

Q. I understand that Argosy does not accept unsolicited proposals. Do you have suggestions where I might look elsewhere for funding?
A. Visit the Foundation Center's web site at http://www.foundationcenter.org, which provides access to private foundation information and various other resources for grant seekers.

Q. Does the Argosy Foundation provide non-financial support?
A. Yes, the Argosy Foundation also supports organizations and projects as a consultant, researcher and convener.  Click here to find Argosy research related to various initiatives.  

Q. Who makes funding decisions at the Argosy Foundation?
A. All funding is solely at the discretion of the Trustees. 

Q. What is the Contemporary Music Fund?
A. The Contemporary Music Fund is a project within the Argosy Foundation designed to promote the proliferation and awareness of contemporary classical or "non-pop" music. The CMF primarily provides project support for five purposes: commission of new works, training of musicians, performances, and recordings and broadcasting. A more detailed description of the Contemporary Music Fund and application guidelines can be found here.

Q. Where is the Argosy Foundation located?
A. The headquarters of the Argosy Foundation is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Q. Does the Foundation have geographic limits on its funding?
A. Not necessarily, but much of the giving reflects areas that are familiar to the Trustees.

Q. Where can I find answers to my specific questions?
A. Please visit the Contact Us page. We welcome your feedback, and our staff would be happy to answer questions.

Q. Does the Foundation give grants to individuals?
A. Grants can only be awarded to 501(c) 3 public charities and schools. 

Q. Does the Argosy Foundation have deadlines for proposals?
A. There are no set timelines for reviewing proposals that Argosy has solicited (Argosy does not accept unsolicited proposals). Each Trustee makes his/her own decisions on an individual basis and at their discretion. However, applications to the Contemporary Music Fund are reviewed twice a year.  Please visit the CMF section for detailed deadline information. 

Q. What is the significance of the Foundation's name?
A. The significance of the name is not the typical usage of the word (nor how it is regularly used by Shakespeare).   The root means, literally, 'boat'.   Later the word came to be associated with an early form of venture capital - invest in people, capital, and tools, send them on a boat to some presumably resource-rich destination, and hope they hit pay dirt.  The sense in which we mean it for the Foundation is most analogous to the Argonauts in Greek mythology - a heroic task (or problem) being effectively solved (or staffed) by the most effective and appropriate people (notably Hercules and Jason, in this case) equipped with exactly the right resources (boat by Athena, etc.).

Q. What is the significance of the Argosy logo?
A. The logo is a Fibonacci Spiral representing a numeric pattern – a “dynamic balance” – that is useful in mathematics and manifests itself throughout nature and art. The logo is a representation of our search for the best possible, most elegant and efficient solutions to challenges that affect our world. The spiral is also a reminder to us that solutions to problems can apply across disciplines and in unexpected ways.