When the Greater Milwaukee Foundation embarked last year on its new strategic vision for building a Milwaukee for all, we insisted that achieving different results to age-old racial inequities would require a change in the status quo. While grounded in the values we’ve long shared as a region, our strategic actions – reimagining philanthropy, recentering communities and remaking systems – are aimed at transformation.
Innovation alone, however, isn’t enough. Lasting change requires consistent commitment – new ideas paired with the perseverance to see them through. Community foundations were built for this work. Our permanence means we will not rest until everyone in Milwaukee has an opportunity to thrive, while our resourcefulness and connectivity give us the flexibility to meet any moment head on.
In December, Darren Walker, president of the Ford Foundation, joined me in a conversation about the power of philanthropy to bring about lasting change. Darren reminded us of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assertion that “philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary.”
Dr. King wrote those words nearly 60 years ago, and they resonate just as strongly today as both a validation and a challenge. We – as a Foundation and as a generous region – have done good, important work. But we can do more, and we must do more to ameliorate the root causes of our persisting disparities if we are to truly realize a Milwaukee for all.
Whether it is infusing capital into small businesses in Black and Brown neighborhoods, leading coalitions to transform the early childhood education sector or collaborating with other anchor institutions to holistically expand health and economic equity – we are rewriting the playbook for philanthropic impact. And we will add to our story in 2022 through new investments, partnerships and results.
A Milwaukee for all is how we lean into true change, together
We at the Foundation are continuing to listen and learn new ways of working in partnership with, and guided by those, whose lived experience has been shaped by unjust systems. I am grateful for their commitment and determination in working to bend the curve of our community toward racial equity. Our family of donors, our cross-sector partners, our peer funders are leaning in with us. The Foundation, after all, is how Milwaukee works together, and my faith in the ability of everyone in our region to honor the dignity of others and to fully recognize our common humanity inspires me every day and gives me hope that lasting change is possible if we all do our part.
I am encouraged by the groundswell of people in our community who raise their hands and their voices, who give generously of their time and talent, and who stir the collaborative spirit that continues to be a defining characteristic of Milwaukee. Just look at how we’ve come together over the past year to advance racial equity and community change:
- Our ThriveOn Collaboration with the Medical College of Wisconsin and Royal Capital is further taking shape as a one-of-a-kind, catalytic model for advancing health and economic well-being in Milwaukee, particularly in neighborhoods along King Drive where our ThriveOn King development and other placed-based investments are focused.
- The MKE Civic Action Team, after nearly two years of spearheading cooperative pandemic relief and recovery efforts – including major funding mobilization and policy advocacy – has committed to continued collaboration to advance equitable systems change and to specifically examine lead remediation as a focus area.
- The Community Development Alliance, an affiliation of community development funders and practitioners, advanced Milwaukee’s first collective affordable housing plan and is currently building its leadership structure to support its goal of a quality, affordable home for every Milwaukeean.
- Through the generosity of generations of donors, the Foundation was able to provide more than $65 million in grant support in 2021, according to preliminary figures, and we’ve leveraged our assets to introduce additional forms of capital into the community where it’s needed most.
- In a tremendous demonstration of engagement, over 1,000 people joined the Foundation for our three A Milwaukee for All virtual convenings, which brought national experts together with local changemakers around key levers for change in our community.
Philanthropy connects our past, present and future
As we move forward, partnering with the Foundation to invest in access to affordable housing, high quality early childhood education, expanded economic opportunities, and our ThriveOn Collaboration are just some of the ways we can build a better Milwaukee together. These are the issues that will fundamentally change people’s lives and the trajectory of our community. It will take all of us, working together, learning together and investing together – in other words, building on our strengths.
Our philanthropic bedrock is secure. Let it be the base from which we think bigger and take bold action to achieve impact on a scale greater than ever before!
Ellen M. Gilligan
President & CEO