in our community

March 11, 2025

Moving Forward Together… National Women’s History Month 2025

A Funding Initiative | March 1 – 31, 2025

During National Women’s History Month we are implementing a special initiative so we are moving forward together!

Supporting women-owned businesses is a powerful way to promote gender equity and strengthen communities. Entrepreneurs who are women often face unique challenges, especially related to access to funding and resources, making it essential to invest in their success. By choosing to shop from women-led companies, hiring women-owned service providers, or amplifying their brands, we contribute to their financial well-being and long-term sustainability.

Economic empowerment is a key driver of gender equality, and when women thrive financially, they reinvest in their families and communities, creating a ripple effect of positive change. We all play a role in closing the financial gap and ensuring that women in business have the support they need to grow, innovate, and lead.

This month for every gift made to the Women’s Fund the donor has the chance to name a favorite woman-owned business. The business names will appear on our website and in our social media throughout the month of March.  

Our goal is $5,000 and 31 named businesses. Click here to act now.

Warmly,

 

 

Lisa Attonito, executive director

February 18, 2025

Celebrating Margaret Henningsen

We are thrilled that Margaret Henningsen is honored by TEMPO Milwaukee with the TEMPO Legacy Mentor Award.

She was an outstanding mentor to and for WF grant partner leaders and HER Scholars too.  Congratulations Margaret, a executive director, board director and former committee member at the Women’s Fund. 

Warmly,

 

 

Lisa Attonito, executive director

February 18, 2025

Celebrating Margaret Henningsen

We are thrilled that Margaret Henningsen is honored by TEMPO Milwaukee with the TEMPO Legacy Mentor Award.

She was an outstanding mentor to and for WF grant partner leaders and HER Scholars too.  Congratulations Margaret, a executive director, board director and former committee member at the Women’s Fund. 

Warmly,

 

 

Lisa Attonito, executive director

December 14, 2024

2024 Into 2025

Whether you consider your philanthropy at year-end or the start of the new year, this moment presents a powerful opportunity to create lasting change.

At the Women’s Fund, our unwavering commitment to fostering gender equity drives everything we do. We are protecting rights, removing obstacles, and creating ripples of transformative change in our community.

In 2025, our focus turns to two critical and interconnected issues: combating the spread of online mis/disinformation—especially narratives targeting women—and enhancing economic literacy and financial well-being for women and their families.

These issues… from mental health, affordable housing and family care to career opportunities, entrepreneurship, and wealth building, are impacting daily lives and shaping opportunities. Through advocacy, programming, grants, scholarships, and inclusive communication strategies, we aim to elevate these pressing concerns, validate lived experiences, and inspire collective action for change.

Your investment is vital to this work. Each gift unites people, inspires meaningful conversations, and creates solutions. Together, we have the power to create positive outcomes and shift cultural norms. By imagining the possibilities and working toward their realization, we are shaping the future for women, families, and our community.

We hope you’ll join us by making a generous commitment now because it is time to act. 

Making your gift is simple and impactful. Contributions can be made in a variety of ways, ensuring your philanthropy aligns with your personal financial strategies.

  • By personal check
  • Secure portal on WF website: https://womensfundmke.org/donate
  • Utilize appreciated stock
  • Designate from your Donor Advised Fund (DAF)
  • Leverage your IRA RMD (required mandatory distribution)
  • Direct United Way Campaign donation, # 824813

Thank you for your generosity and belief in this work. Together, we are building a more perfect future for all.

Warmly,

 

 

Lisa Attonito, executive director

P.S. Remember, just 2% of all charitable contributions are in direct support of women and girls. People who support the Women’s Fund consider themselves knowledgeable, action oriented, and social justice funders. While they give to numerous organizations, they feel both satisfied and proud of their support of the Women’s Fund.

November 23, 2024

‘Tis the Season

In the festive season of philanthropy we shine light on the mission work of the Women’s Fund…

We sit at the intersection of compassion and expertise… with empathy that fuels action. As we journey together toward a community where everyone thrives it is every dollar, every voice, and every heart that matters. Your support becomes the ripple that transforms lives and illuminates Greater Milwaukee in progress.

This year we’ve embraced the theme of Engaged Democracy, focusing on vital areas that influence our collective future. Highlights of our work include:

  • Organizing a fabulous three-part series on democracy, exploring trust in the judicial branch, the role of city government, and the influence of money in politics.
  • Making a significant investment in empowering more women to prepare for public office, while reaffirming our commitment to personal safety and bodily autonomy.
  • Awarding 11 HER Scholarships, providing critical support for women over 35 years of age pursing higher education.
  • Launching a disaster relief initiative with a gender lens—after Hurricane Helene, we shared (50/50) every gift received for the first 10 days of October with the Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge in North Carolina.

In the spirit of being helpful your gift can be made in a variety of ways…

    • By personal check
    • Secure portal on WF website: https://womensfundmke.org/donate
    • Utilize appreciated stock
    • Designate from your Donor Advised Fund (DAF)
    • Leverage your IRA RMD (required mandatory distribution)
    • Direct United Way Campaign donation, # 824813

    We hope you feel inspired to share your support this year. Your contribution is essential to ensuring that we continue this critical work.

    Thank you for standing with us—we look forward to hearing from you!

    Warmly,

     

     

    Lisa Attonito, executive director

    PS… Remember, just 2% of all charitable contributions are in direct support of women and girls. People who support the Women’s Fund consider themselves knowledgeable, action oriented, and social justice funders. While they give to numerous organizations, they feel both satisfied and proud of their support of the Women’s Fund.

    November 1, 2024

    It’s Giving Season and Values Matter

    Philanthropy is a true reflection of our values. Philanthropists —  people who give annually, with intention, and in alignment with what they hold dear — approach giving with confidence, grounded in values-driven decisions. What we choose to fund, the cultural icons we celebrate, the performances and educational institutions that flourish, all showcase what we value as a community.

    As we move into the giving season, and through this election season too, I invite you to keep your values close. Values are powerful guideposts, guardrails, and even north stars that steer us. They help us imagine the possibilities and inspire us to act… shaping the future we envision. Therefore, we ask you to use your values to make decisions in the voting booth and at your dining room table when you are deciding on your year-end donations. I assure you the alignment feels good!

    Remember, YOU are the movement. Use your values to make a gift, show up, and become the ripple that shifts attitudes and behaviors in our community. Together, we can create lasting change.

    Warmly,

     

     

    Lisa Attonito, executive director

    September 23, 2024

    Third Place… Our Space, Our Voice

    Are you looking for a new “third place”? Perhaps the Women’s Fund could be that for you. In sociology, your first place is home, your second place is work, and the third place is where we gather in society. Sociologist Ray Oldenburg emphasized the importance of third places for fostering civil society, democracy, and civic engagement. They are spaces where we can unwind, meet new people, and engage in meaningful conversations.

    How about making the Women’s Fund your third place?

    You have the opportunity this week… we continue with part two of our three-part series of an Engaged Democracy with our WF Imagine the Possibilities program. It’s an opportunity to meet and connect with three inspiring women making history in Saint Paul, Minnesota. This experience has all the necessary components of a good third place including neutral ground and meaningful conversation.  

    Then, in October, we’ll present the final installment of the series with our Women’s Fund Presents program featuring Erin Loos Cutraro, who will share her valuable insights on money and politics.

    Yes, the landscape is filled with politics, news cycles, and polls. It can feel overwhelming, but now is precisely the time to stay vigilant. We must remain informed, seek facts, and reflect on our values. Our democracy relies on trust in our systems. So stay engaged, hold people accountable, and take part in conversation whenever possible.

    Thank you for your ongoing dedication and support, and remember: YOU are the movement.

    Respectfully,

     

     

    Lisa Attonito, executive director

    May 15, 2024

    Trust

    By definition the word “trust” means: firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. We believe trust in government is the foundation to our democracy. It is the confidence that individuals have in the government’s actions to do what is right and fair. Compliance, civic participation, public action, and the political environment in general, all depend on trust in government.

    In that spirit, in June our focus is on the judicial branch which is one of the three equal branches of our government. We explore the role of civic education, rule of law, partisanship, pressing issues and the Wisconsin Supreme Court election in 2025. This is a demonstration of what an engaged democracy looks and feels like. Engagement is when voters gather to listen and exchange views. It can feel messy… though that is what it takes to be vigilant. 

    Warmly,

     

     

    Lisa Attonito, executive director

    October 7, 2023

    Collective Effervescence!

    During our the work associated with our WF Brand Relaunch, we heard from a range of people: Founding Mothers, Board Directors both former and current, donors of every kind, and from some people that aren’t very familiar with our work too. Three things we heard that will continue to inform us: the Women’s Fund has an important voice that the community wants and heeds, engagement often starts with event attendance, and that our work is part of the women’s movement so, it.feels.personal.

    In just a few weeks, we have our largest educational program of the year, our annual Women’s Fund Presents event. With the theme of Inclusive Language, Navigate with Confidence, this is a perfect opportunity to be part of the movement…please join us. 

    Also, in September, we launched a new donor recognition program: WF Power Illuminators. While every gift is valuable, this is an opportunity to celebrate the specialness of gifts of at least $1,000 annually. You are invited to make or enhance a gift…and if you do, we will read your name during the WF Presents event too.  

    Remember, YOU are the movement. We look forward to being together. 

    Warmly,

     

     

    Lisa Attonito, executive director

    August 31, 2023

    WF Brand Relaunch… Power Illuminated!

    With incredible resolve to mobilize an interconnected community, we share our new look!  We are celebrating our commitment of shifting attitudes, behavior, and culture so that current societal norms about women and gender expansive-people are disrupted and systemic barriers are eliminated. Through the power of collective philanthropy, we use each gift to unite people, shape community consciousness, and promote solutions that create gender equity.

    For nearly 40 years, we’ve been dedicated to advancing gender equity by empowering women from all backgrounds. Our commitment goes beyond advocacy; it’s about directing resources where they have lasting impact. Intersectional feminism is at the heart of our approach, recognizing that true progress requires addressing the diverse challenges faced by women, girls, and gender-expansive people.

    As I have said before, the crisis for women is real and evolving. This underscores our determination to address the inequities and eliminate barriers which are at the forefront of our mission. YOU are the movement and we look forward to being together. 

    Warmly,

     

     

    Lisa Attonito, executive director

    August 10, 2023

    HER Scholars Need You, Now!

    One of the most inspiring components of our mission work is providing scholarships to women who are pursuing their first college degrees. These women are 35 years or older, have full lives, and complex responsibilities that often include children, aging parents, full time employment, personal struggles to overcome generational poverty and trauma…all while carrying at least 9 credits and often more like 12 or 15 per semester. The ambition is admirable, the determination impressive. 

    Today, we ask for your most generous support of the HER Scholarship Program. Our goal is secure $8,042 (in either cash or pledges for 2023) ASAP. Every gift, no matter the amount, is valued.

    We know you will respond…because you understand the power of collective philanthropy. And if you have already made a gift, please consider another one for this initiative. Each of your gifts ensures our 13 applicants are awarded scholarships for the academic year starting in September. 

    There are so many ways to make your gift…online, a check via USPS, an allocation of your United Way Campaign gift, transfer of stock, distribution from your Donor Advised Fund, or even your IRA. After you make your gift, please mark your calendar for the HER Scholarship Reception, Thursday, August 17 from 5:30 – 7 PM.  

    So far this year, we have held educational events that deepen our understanding of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, explored the pathways to elected office, learned about women in history through voices of women today, funded advocacy locally and nationally, made several Flash Grants (even one supporting vasectomies,) celebrated our collective impact, heard from Grant Partners and continue to amplify our efforts.  

    The crisis for women is real and evolving. Our determination to address the inequities and eliminate barriers is at the forefront of our mission. And as I have said before, a democracy is our way to make change. It is messy and takes vigilance. We all have to be included. We all have to be respected. We all have to stay engaged. Please, read on…YOU are the movement and we look forward to being

    Warmly,

     

     

    Lisa Attonito, executive director

    P.S. Happy to meet with you, you are welcome at the WF Sunny Table!

    March 8, 2023

    International Women’s Day

    By now, you likely know March 8 is International Women’s Day (IWD.) We hope you are celebrating the day, and enhancing your understanding as to why it exists.

    It feels like a celebration of the achievements and contributions made by women. Yet, IWD is grounded in the labor movement and historically focused on addressing the inequities women experience in the workplace. It is important that we focus on shifting attitudes, behavior and culture about women, in all aspects of life… pay and work inequities, as well as ensuring personal safety and body autonomy, so we can realize our full potential and everyone thrives.

    Take action! Continue to be curious about the possibilities for the women in our community… ALL women. Let’s create the future we all want now… today!  #EmbraceEquity

    As I have shared, we have so many ways to engage… join the local women’s movement of advancing equity for women in our community. We need your engagement; everyone can and must do something. Thank you!

    Warmly,

     

     

    Lisa Attonito, executive director

    May 14, 2022

    Be in Community… You’re Invited

    Sometimes we want to treat ourselves to the theater. Sometimes we’d like to discuss an important book or talk about how we are feeling about the news and world events.  Sometimes we just want to be… be in community with others, people who value and celebrate women. So attend and participate… we have several ways for you to engage yet in May, and June too. 

    Cheerfully,

     

     

    Lisa Attonito, executive director

    PS:  We support precedent. We acknowledge that the ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court expected in June has a broad and cascading impact. We recognize feminism has historically, and repeatedly, abandoned many marginalized groups… we are working to disrupt that pattern.