grant partners 2025

The Women’s Fund envisions Greater Milwaukee as a place that is committed to the well-being and advancement of women, shining as a beacon of progress where all women, girls, and gender expansive-people thrive and realize our full potential. In 2025, the WF is investing $105,000 in 11 organizations advocating for gender equity in our community.

We are thrilled to be investing in the well-being of women and girls in our community. From expanding staff to leveraging organizational advocacy, these grant partners are addressing the barriers that impact gender equity.

“With just 2% of all philanthropy in the USA in direct support of women and girls, our commitment to exclusively addressing issues and barriers that impact women, is critical.” says WF Board Chair Monica Shah-Davidson.

We are proud of our grant partners. Thank you for the work you do to address issues at their core.

ALVERNO COLLEGE, Research Center for Women & Girls

To promote economic equity for female students, this research investigates systemic barriers contributing to lower persistence rates among historically underrepresented students, with a focus on Black/African American women.

In collaboration with Alverno College’s Thea Bowman Institute and the Center for Academic Excellence, the project employs mixed methods — survey data and qualitative interviews with historically minoritized female students who left before graduating. The goal is to uncover structural inequities within small liberal arts colleges like Alverno to offer actionable insights to improve retention.

WF Grant funds will support the creation of a public-facing report to inform policies and strategic initiatives that can be adaptable for other organizations.

BENEDICT CENTER, INC., The Bridge Program

This program addresses barriers preventing justice-impacted women from exiting the criminal justice system while meeting their basic life needs. The WF Grant will allow the organization to empower justice-impacted women to achieve self-sufficiency, advancement, and economic independence through education, job training, and employment.

The program’s core includes Makin’ It Work, a 10-lesson job readiness course rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy, paired with one-on-one coaching and tailored employment planning. An employment specialist connects women with meaningful job opportunities through local employer partnerships, while legal advocacy helps them overcome barriers. In 2025 the project will serve 60 women.

CONVERGENCE RESORUCE CENTER, Convergence Earned Survivor Support Program

The organization’s Earned Survivor Support (ESS) program bridges the gap between preparation and gainful employment, empowering survivors to achieve economic stability on their terms. Recognizing the often-overlooked impact of trauma on mental health, the program addresses the challenges faced by the over 80% of participants who experience Dissociative Identity Disorder (often undiagnosed).

Through partnerships with trained psychotherapists, the program ensures care that avoids re-traumatization while guiding clients toward proper diagnoses and healing. The WF Grant will support the ESS program in continuing to provide a judgment-free, safe environment where survivors can work, recover, and regain stability after setbacks, creating a supportive path to long-term economic independence.

HAVENWOODS NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERSHIP, Economic Security Initiative

HNP is committed to increasing stable housing for women and female-headed households in the Havenwoods neighborhood by providing solutions to Milwaukee’s affordable housing crisis.

By ensuring homeowners receive fair compensation for their properties, HNP disrupts predatory investor practices that turn neglected homes into rental properties. Partnering with BID 31, the program makes first-time homeownership attainable for families, helping them build wealth. Additionally, through the repair process, HNP’s Streetkeepers social enterprise provides job training and valuable skills to underemployed neighbors, fostering stability and opportunity within the community.

The WF Grant will help HNP increase the number of women and female headed households in the Havenwoods neighborhood that live in stable housing.

INDEPENDENCE FIRST, She Counts: Building Financial Confidence

The WF Grant will help Independence First to empower women and girls, especially those with disabilities or caregiving responsibilities, to build financial literacy and independence.

Through targeted workshops and hands-on training, participants gain essential skills to manage budgets, save effectively, and make informed financial decisions. Recognizing the unique challenges these women face, the program offers a stipend to open a credit union account, fostering long-term financial stability and inclusion.

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, Reproductive Rights Committee

The WF Grant will support the development of a campaign that builds on the recent partnership between the National Organization of Women (NOW) and Arts4Impact; a parternship that successfully launched the WomenRoar24 get-out-the-vote initiative.

With the WF Grant, LWVMC will co-fund the purchase of a mobile truck with Arts4Impact to expand outreach. This mobile unit eliminates the need for booth setups, enabling visits to multiple venues in one day. It significantly broadens the campaign’s reach and enhances social media engagement, offering a transformative tool for voter engagement.

MILWAUKEE COMMUNITY SERVICE CORPS

The WF Grant will allow MCSC to expand its outreach and make its core training program more inclusive. This specific project aims to increase the participation of women in nontraditional, living-wage jobs through targeted outreach, credentialed job skills training, and awareness campaigns. By helping unemployed and underemployed women overcome barriers to success, MCSC strives to create pathways to economic empowerment. Currently, 92% of trainees are people of color, with women representing 17% of participants—a number this initiative seeks to grow.

This project is a step toward ensuring women gain the skills, confidence, and access needed to thrive in nontraditional careers.

MOUNT MARY UNIVERSITY, Summer Leadership Academy

The SLA offers young women a unique chance to explore interests beyond high school, providing a transformational experience that can shape their lives and future careers.

Days are packed with leadership training, college admissions workshops, and hands-on career exploration. Participants choose a college or career pathway to focus on, engaging in a variety of workshops tailored to their interests. Evenings emphasize personal growth with activities like self-defense, yoga, athletics, and fitness. During the Young Professionals’ Dinner, local women professionals connect with students to share career advice and build networking skills.

By the end of the program, students not only strengthen their college applications but also gain essential skills and knowledge that set them up for long-term success… while earning two college credits.

MUJERES CON PODER DE TRANSFORMACION SOCIAL, WOMEN WITH THE POWER OF SOCIAL TRANSFORMATIÓN, Sustaining Latina leadership for community health and transformation

Mujeres con Poder de Transformación Social, a group of Latina leaders dedicated to developing their leadership skills and addressing health inequities in Milwaukee, empowers Latine residents to access resources and create safe, healthy, and engaged neighborhoods.

This WF Grant supports the group’s transition into an independent organization by funding operational needs, leadership salaries, and stipends. With guidance from the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Partnership’s Technical Assistance Program (TAP), Mujeres is developing a strategic plan for the future while maintaining flexibility to address community needs. This funding ensures continued progress into 2025 as Mujeres builds capacity and strengthens its impact.

SHERMAN PHOENIX, Sherman Phoenix Women and Mom Entrepreneurship Network (WMEN) Program

The Women and Moms Entrepreneur Network (WMEN), launched in December 2023, supports women and gender-expansive entrepreneurs by addressing intersectional barriers to success and fostering economic security in greater Milwaukee.

WMEN offers tailored programming, including business strategy workshops, mentorship, and mental health resources. A brand accelerator cohort helps participants refine business models, secure funding, and build connections. Mental health sessions and panels with successful women entrepreneurs create a supportive community for shared learning.

By equipping women entrepreneurs with the tools to grow their businesses, WMEN drives equity, leadership, and economic impact in the region.

WISCONSIN WOMEN’S NETWORK, Policy Institute

The Policy Institute empowers women to advocate in their communities and navigate Wisconsin’s legislative and budget processes to advance policies benefiting women and girls for generations.

The Wisconsin Women’s Network (WWN), a non-profit, non-partisan organization, promotes the advancement of women and girls through education, advocacy, and connections.

It prioritizes advocacy training for women from diverse socioeconomic, racial, LGBTQ+, and generational backgrounds, with a focus on women of color, low-income women, and those lacking access to similar opportunities. Their mission is clear: when women and girls thrive, the world improves.