Nonprofits supporting the Village of Milan eligible to apply for grants from the Brissman Foundation

Nonprofits improving the quality of life in the Village of Milan, Illinois, can apply for a grant from the Grant W. Brissman and Virginia M. Brissman Foundation, administered through the Quad Cities Community Foundation.

Applicants may apply for up to $10,000 to support their work in the areas of youth development, community development, and cultural activities. The grant also is available to nonprofits working to relieve the suffering of underprivileged people. The deadline to apply is October 1, 2020.

“Through the provision in their estate they made to establish this foundation and place it in the care of the Quad Cities Community Foundation, Grant and Virginia Brissman have left a lasting legacy that has made an incredible impact on the community they loved so dearly,” said Kelly Thompson, vice president of grantmaking and community initiatives. “For nearly 15 years now, their foundation has been awarded more than $750,000 to nonprofits that support causes and issues they were passionate about. The support they will once again offer during the current COVID-19 pandemic is more important than ever before.”

Applications will be accepted now through October 1, 2020. Click here for details and to apply.

Grant Brissman was a graduate of Rock Island High School and the former Brown’s Business College. He was a pioneer Milan business owner, starting Brissman’s Auto Supply in 1948. The business served Milan and the surrounding communities for almost 30 years before he retired in 1978. He was also a founding director and shareholder of Blackhawk State Bank in Milan, where he served on the board of directors for many years. 

Virginia Brissman worked for Illinois Bell Telephone Company for 40 years before retiring in 1977. They had been married for 60 years when Grant died at age 88 in 2004. Virginia died at the age of 94.

Applicants with questions are invited to contact Thompson at (563) 326-2840.