Women face real challenges. We take action to address them.

For 40 years the Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee has turned belief into impact.

We invest in what moves the needle: strong organizations, innovative programs, leadership development, research, policy advocacy, and community-driven solutions. Our work is rooted in one truth…  when women thrive, families and communities do too.

Through collective giving, strategic grants, scholarships, and programs, we protect rights, remove barriers, and drive systemic change. And we don’t do it alone. This work belongs to all of us. We invite you to be part of it.

Lights up. Seats claimed. Stories shared.

Some gestures feel like a celebration in themselves. An engraved plaque on a seat in the Lubar Cinema honors women’s stories and the people who believe in them, while supporting the shared work of Milwaukee Film and the Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee. It’s a way to mark your support with pride, and be part of something that continues to resonate long after the lights go down.

It’s meaningful. It’s lasting. And it’s pretty unforgettable.
Just 40 seats are available.

Claim your seat today!

Project 2025 is already shaping policy conversations | Jan. 22, 2026

WF Civic Breaks are short, accessible briefings designed to cut through the noise around timely civic and policy issues. Created to fit into a busy day, they offer clear context and key takeaways so you can stay informed without feeling overwhelmed.

This upcoming Civic Break focuses on Project 2025, a set of policy proposals already shaping national and state-level conversations.

Register today to join the conversation

THE REALITY FOR WOMEN IN GREATER MILWAUKEE

Women in our region are educated and engaged yet inequities in safety, housing, health, and economic stability continue to limit opportunity.

Women in greater Milwaukee are highly educated:

  • 39% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher (compared to 34% statewide).

  • Yet 7% of women still lack a high school diploma which is slightly above the state average.

Education opens doors, but it does not guarantee equity.

Despite educational gains, a gender pay gap persists locally.

  • Women earn about 74 cents for every dollar earned by men in greater Milwaukee, which is wider than the state gap.

  • Significant racial disparities: White and Asian women are more likely to earn ≥ $55,000 while
    only 25-30% of Black or Hispanic women reach that threshold.

  • Poverty rates differ sharply by race:

    • 32% of Black women

    • 21% of Hispanic women

    • 7% of White women

Access to care does not always mean healthy outcomes, and safety is far from guaranteed.

  • Health insurance coverage is high among women in Greater Milwaukee, with about 5%
    uninsured versus 7% of men; however, coverage gaps are greater among younger
    women (19-34 years.)
  • Maternal health issues are stark: preterm birth rates in Milwaukee County (11.6%) and
    City of Milwaukee (13%) exceed state averages.
  • Women of color face disproportionately high risks of violence; Black women and other
    women of color in the city are disproportionately likely to be killed by someone they
    know.

    Stable housing remains one of the greatest barriers to long-term security for women and families.

    • Homeownership by women is lower locally (60%) compared to Wisconsin generally
      (68%). Particularly large disparities by race regarding home ownership:

      • only 27% of Black households own homes

      • 44% of Hispanic/Latino households

      • 70% of white households

    • Rent burden is significant: many renters who are women pay more than 30% of income
      for housing. Milwaukee County is among the counties with the highest rates of cost-
      burdened renter households.

    • Eviction rates for women are elevated: about 5.9 evictions per 100 renter households in
      Milwaukee County vs 2.8 statewide.

    • Median rent (including utilities/fuels) for women in greater Milwaukee is $1,088/month vs
      state median $992.

    WHY PHILANTHROPY MATTERS NOW MORE THAN EVER

    WOMEN ARE POISED TO SHAPE THE LARGEST TRANSFER OF WEALTH IN HISTORY, TURNING RESOURCES INTO LASTING CHANGE. WHEN WOMEN GIVE, ESPECIALLY TOGETHER, THEY INVEST IN EQUITY, OPPORTUNITY, AND THE WELL-BEING OF FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. BY DIRECTING THEIR WEALTH WITH PURPOSE, WOMEN CAN TRANSFORM PERSONAL LEGACY INTO A STRONGER, MORE VIBRANT GREATER MILWAUKEE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

    • More than $557 billion is given annually in the USA.
    • There is more than $326 billion in donor advised funds (DAFs) in the USA and more
      than $1 billion in greater Milwaukee.
    • Just 2% of all philanthropic dollars are in direct support of women and girls.
    • Women’s Funds and foundations, move money nine months faster than traditional granting entities.
    • We are in the midst of the largest transfer of wealth in history, and women are poised to hold extraordinary influence over how that wealth is used. Through intentional giving, women can turn personal legacy into lasting community change.
    • When women direct resources, they invest differently… prioritizing equity, opportunity, and long-term well-being for families and communities. The choices women make today will shape greater Milwaukee for generations.
    • Despite increasing control of wealth, persistent gender and racial wealth gaps limit who has access to influence. Strategic philanthropy is one powerful way to create greater equity and build shared prosperity.
    • Collective giving allows women to move wealth beyond individual impact; thereby, amplifying voices, addressing the root causes and advancing policy change.
    • For many women, wealth is not simply something to pass on. It is a tool to express values, strengthen democracy, and invest in a future where everyone can thrive.

    why our work matters

    Just 2%… The latest study from the Women’s Philanthropy Institute at IUPUI indicates that only 1.9% of all charitable giving supports organizations for women and girls.  

    JOIN THE MOVEMENT:
    Be an outlaw for change, and let’s weave
    possibilities into reality together.

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