As a young professional, I first came to Milwaukee without local roots or a wealth of connections. True to its nature, however, this community welcomed me, providing me with the opportunity to participate and grow. Today, as I begin my journey as President and CEO of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, I am humbled by the opportunity to pay that generosity forward and help bring the community together around a shared vision of a thriving region.
I believe the Foundation is a key player in how Milwaukee works together. We must now take on the challenge of reducing the insularity that holds our community back by forging new bridges across sectors and among people to improve, and in some cases remake, systems that negatively impact our community’s well-being.
Trust remains fundamental to our success. I enter this role fully committed to people and their right to thrive. Among our Foundation team members and throughout the region, we will emphasize building trust and candor. As an organization, we will expand our capacity to serve by further strengthening our internal culture. We will continue to hold sacred the intent of donors who choose us as their philanthropic partner. And we will live our value of centering community voice and leadership to co-create solutions to the issues we face.
It is an incredible time to be a part of this community foundation, and I am honored to be just the fourth president in the Foundation’s nearly 110-year history. I thank my predecessor Ellen Gilligan and our Board for putting the organization in such a strong position for continued impact.
Our established commitment to our North Star of racial equity and inclusion is the scaffolding on which we can continue to innovate. Our vision of a Milwaukee for all offers a clear roadmap to a thriving region. Our strategic priorities – from early childhood education, to economic inclusion to housing – were developed through deep community engagement, data and experience, and they warrant continuity in our focus.
I especially relish the opportunity to now call the ThriveOn King building my home after cultivating so many close connections to people in the neighborhoods and partners associated with the ThriveOn Collaboration over the past six years. To help take this catalytic investment from idea to reality is truly special, particularly as we begin activating ThriveOn King’s first floor community hub and our fourth floor gathering space to convene and serve.
The Foundation’s future as a regional and national leader is ripe with possibility, particularly as we advance our practice of community development philanthropy. By leaning in to address systemic barriers and opportunity gaps in our community that impact people’s economic mobility – or ability to climb the economic ladder – we can play a key role in improving individual lives and livelihoods as well as increasing resilience and prosperity in the region overall.
As a community foundation, we are specially suited for this work because of our allegiance to place, our long-term vantage point and our ability to deploy a diverse set of tools and resources for addressing the region’s greatest needs and opportunities. Our strength lies in bringing grantmaking, convening, impact investing, advocacy, coalition-building, funding mobilization and other strategies to bear in a cohesive and community-centered way.
Still, this effort requires all of us. Much opportunity remains for every sector in greater Milwaukee to recognize the value in coalescing around a shared vision and aligning our strategies for maximum benefit. I am confident that if we lead on big issues, we can achieve big results together. Inviting durable partnerships across philanthropic, corporate, education, nonprofit and governmental entities is a promising pathway to enhancing the quality of life in our region.
The bridges we aim to build must be anchored in authentic relationships, which is why one of my top priorities in the coming months will be meeting with stakeholders throughout the four counties to listen, learn and establish the groundwork for further collaboration. Whether your connection is longstanding, recent or yet to be made, my hope is that you will see yourself in the Greater Milwaukee Foundation as a valued partner.
As I reflect on my life’s journey leading to this moment, I feel especially grateful for the inspiration and support my family provides. I am excited for the immense potential in our community and ready for the Foundation’s role in the work. I look forward to keeping you apprised of our commitments and results as we move forward together.
Gregory M. Wesley, JD
President and CEO
Greater Milwaukee Foundation