organizational support

We provide fiduciary oversight, financial management, and other administrative services to help build the capacity of charitable projects that related to our mission of advancing equity for women.

Cultures of Giving

Building capacity for those working toward the betterment of our diverse communities.

We engage women who are traditionally underrepresented in philanthropy through our Cultures of Giving: African American Women’s Fund Project, Latinas en Acción, Lesbian Fund, and Viv Ncaus: A Hmong Women’s Giving Circle.

Each share the goal of engaging women in philanthropy, so the leveraged investments, in the form of grants can affect attitudes, behaviors, and cultural understandings.  This is the change we all want to see in Greater Milwaukee.

African American Women's Fund

CREATING A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN AND GIRLS.

African American Women’s Fund is dedicated to funding programs that support the health, well-being, and advancement of African American women and girls in greater Milwaukee.

We fund programs that increase the life skills of African American women and girls, expand philanthropy among African American women and girls, build a network that is a catalyst for positive change, and encourage the self-sufficiency and well-being of African American women and girls in need.

Gwen Jackson, Founder Emeritus Vel Phillips, Honorable Founder Dr. Eve Hall, Co-Founder Dr. Deryl Davis Fulmer, Co-Founder
Martha Love, Co-Chair Linda Graves, Co-Chair Danae Davis Deryl Davis Fulmer Cecelia Gore Eve Hall Michelle Hinton Jeanette Mitchell June Perry Joan Prince Thelma Sias

African American Chamber of Commerce Wisconsin

Gant made in honor of AAWF 20th Anniversary.  The African American Women’s Fund was established in 1999 and is dedicated to funding programs that support the health, well-being, and advancement of African American women and girls in greater Milwaukee.

Economic Development/Community Investment:  Legacy, A Co-working and Innovation Space

The Chamber recognizes the distinctive opportunity to provide an inspiring environment designed for minority entrepreneurs, innovators and influencers, where a variety of start-ups and freelancers can incubate, receive business development support, and network to explore their potential. Legacy supports individuals with ideas that grow into viable products and services. Ultimately, the Chamber creates economic vibrancy that fortifies African American communities and families through strong businesses. According to Fortune Magazine, the number of businesses owned by African American women grew 322% between 1997 and 2015, making African American women the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs in the U.S. We witness this phenomenon in Milwaukee. Of the 33 participants in our RISE Entrepreneurial Training Program, 31 are African American women. These entrepreneurs run successful, innovative businesses including AP Makeup Academy, Bronzeville Collective, Lush Popcorn, and PumpFive that provide important services and employment while building community. 

The Legacy Co-Working and Innovation Space represents a commitment to members and the community, to be a catalyst for business growth now and into the future, by establishing a one-of-a-kind facility in the heart of Milwaukee. This inspiring, accessible and safe space for African American Entrepreneurs will advance Milwaukee and Wisconsin now and in the future. Legacy will be located on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in the Bronzeville neighborhood and offer affordable workspace and encourage partnerships in support of entrepreneurial growth and sustainability. 

Foundations for Freedom, Inc.

This grant made in honor of Betty J. Thompson Memorial. The Betty J. Thompson Memorial was established in 2005. Founder and Executive Director of Project Equality, Betty Thompson provided years of passionate and relentless work for justice and equality in Milwaukee. Her leadership, commitment and legacy continues to make a difference in the lives of African-American women.

Funding mission work related to human trafficking.

Foundations for Freedom is on the frontline of eradicating human trafficking through education, advocacy, awareness, and prevention whihc strengthening women and girls, and reducing vulnerabillities that are magnets for traffickers. 

House of Peace

In honor of Marie Crockett Memorial. The Marie Crockett Memorial was established in 2006 as a reminder of the leadership and commitment that she made in the lives of women. Marie Crockett inspired and influenced thousands of Milwaukeeans for more than 30 years as a social service director, cultural/arts advocate, government liaison and mentor for future leaders. She is remembered for her energy, determination, positive attitude and vision for the future.

Basic Need Insecurities:  Food/Clothing

Inspired by the gospel of Jesus and the example of Francis of Assisi, the Capuchin friars of the Province of Saint Joseph, together with our partners in ministry, prayerfully build sister-brotherhood in the world.  We attend simply and directly to the spiritual and other basic human needs, especially those of the poor and disenfranchised, promoting justice for all.

Northcott Neighborhood House, Inc.

In honor of Marie Crockett Memorial. The Marie Crockett Memorial was established in 2006 as a reminder of the leadership and commitment that she made in the lives of women. Marie Crockett inspired and influenced thousands of Milwaukeeans for more than 30 years as a social service director, cultural/arts advocate, government liaison and mentor for future leaders. She is remembered for her energy, determination, positive attitude and vision for the future.

Basic Need Insecurities:  Emergency Food Pantry

Northcott Neighborhood House is a multipurpose community center created by the United Methodist Church in 1961. They provide education, employment opportunities and basic necessities to youth, families and senior citizens in the Milwaukee area. The goal is to lift the spirit of the whole community through our mission:  To empower families to meet their survival needs and provide good parenting to their children
To provide a safe place for youth as well as recreational and skill-building activities—after school, on Saturdays, and in the summer
To provide the neighborhood with space, activities, and the opportunity to engage in community building and crime prevention.

Latinas en Acción

Building Latina community assets for a just society.

Latinas en Acción is a fund dedicated to supporting programs that enhance the lives of Latina women and girls in the Greater Milwaukee area. We work to build a community where Latinas thrive in a supportive and just environment that fosters health, education and opportunity. When you support Latinas en Acción, you combine your resources with other like-minded women and men to create a dedicated fund to advance Latina women and girls in Milwaukee.  Join us!

Marcela O. García Claudia Guzmán Ava Hernández Adriana Rodríguez Maria Rodriguez Patricia Villareal
NAMI $750 | Our Own Voice An anti-stigma education program in which individuals with a lived experience of a psychiatric diagnosis use creative arts to share compelling personal stories about living with mental illness and achieving recovery. Girl Scouts $1,000 | Latina Initiative Initiative that aims to increase the engagement of Latina mothers and participation of Latina girls age 5-17 in the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Planned Parenthood $1,000 | Promotores de Salud Community Health workers work in partnership with the community’s culture, language and value systems to advance reproductive justice, disease prevention and screening actions. Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee $500 | Legal Services for Immigrants Direct services that provide education to the greater Milwaukee immigrant and Latina communities in regards to immigration and options available to victims of domestic violence. Milwaukee Latino Health Coalition $750 | Latino Research Action Team’s Access to Health Care Survey in Milwaukee’s Latino Community A participatory approach to survey development, implementation, data collection, analysis, and dissemination of findings that aims to identify and characterize facilitators and barriers to access to health care in Milwaukee’s Latino community. Healing Center (Aurora Healthcare) $500 | Spanish-Speaking, Trauma-Informed Services A program that provides culturally competent, trauma informed services for Spanish-Speaking survivors of sexual abuse and assault in Milwaukee.

Lesbian Fund

Increasing the visibility of lesbians as strong community leaders

The Lesbian Fund’s mission is to encourage philanthropy that will increase the visibility of lesbians as strong community leaders, inform and advocate for lesbian concerns, and provide financial support to initiatives benefiting lesbians at all stages of life. The Lesbian Fund will serve as the recognized philanthropic catalyst for raising community consciousness of, and commitment to, enhancing the quality of lesbian life. We want to be a catalyst for community awareness about lesbian and bisexual women’s leadership. We want young women to feel empowered to live their life out and open to new challenges and opportunities. We want every woman to feel connected to a network that supports their life choices.

Brenda Coley Chris Doerfler, Co-Chair Kathy Prodoehl, Co-Chair
The Lesbian Fund distributes grants on an annual basis. Grants are given to organizations doing work that supports the Lesbian Fund’s mission. Our current focus for grantmaking is leadership development, anti-violence, adolescent girls and young women, and reproductive justice. We also fund programming that increases visibility and reduces the isolation of lesbian girls and women. Diverse and Resilient, Inc. Women’s Voices Lesbian Alliance Reproductive Justice Collective Project Q at the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin Safe Healthy Strong Conference LGBT Leadership Conference LGBT Film Festival, UWM Foundation

Viv Ncaus: A Hmong Women's Giving Circle

A sisterhood of women.

We are Viv Ncaus, a sisterhood of women who raise funds to support our Hmong sisters. We are the only Hmong women’s giving circle in Wisconsin and we are dedicated to supporting innovative, community-based efforts that challenge the root causes of gender inequality and create social change for all Hmong women and girls. Viv Ncaus is a member of the AAPIP National Giving Circle Network and receives matching funds each year based on funds raised and granted in the Hmong community.

Kabzuag Vaj (Co-Founder) Pa Y. Vang (Co-Founder) Tammie Mee Xiong (Co-Founder)