Featured News
Milwaukee Area Health Education Center
The Milwaukee Area Health Education Center received a thorough overview of its organization with key recommendations for the Board and staff to discuss. These recommendations will be used to enhance organizational capacity and effectiveness.
Community Shares of Greater Milwaukee
Community Shares of Greater Milwaukee requested funds for the development of a new, interactive website.
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Past Initiatives
The Funders Collaborative for
Strong Latino Communities Initiative
Creating the Initiative 
During 2001 and 2002, several representatives of the national affinity group, Hispanics in Philanthropy, met with local foundation leaders in Milwaukee. The leaders of the Nonprofit Management Fund shared similar capacity-building goals as the HIP representatives as well as a commitment to Milwaukee communities. Through a series of focus group discussions and interviews with Latino leaders, a multi-pronged initiative was developed. A blended funding model, with national dollars being matched by local funds, was created.
Nonprofit Inventory
The Roberto Hernandez Center at UW-Milwaukee, with assistance from the Center for Urban Initiatives and Research, compiled an inventory of community assets, a database of both organized and informal activities initiated by and serving the Spanish-speaking communities of Milwaukee. In addition to gathering demographic and descriptive information on the programs, additional information was sought to understand management and capacity-building challenges.
Supporting Emerging Leaders
Based on a RFP, a team of the Leadership Center at Cardinal Stritch University and the Roberto Hernandez Center at UW-Milwaukee, was selected to develop a Latino Nonprofit Leadership Program. The program was targeted at current and potential community leaders, both individuals employed by nonprofits and others active in community affairs. Through engagement with the national organization, local leaders were also offered an annual opportunity to attend a national leadership conference on an annual basis.
Grantmaking
Adapting the national model from the Hispanics in Philanthropy/Funders Collaborative for Strong Latino Communities, two types of grants were available. Technical Assistance Mini-Grants were awarded to grass roots groups for one-time needs ranging from Board training to office equipment. Capacity Building Grants ranged up to $25,000 per year and covered a wide variety of needs, including staff support and technical assistance. New partners were added to the Fund’s partnership through this effort. Miller Brewing, Rockwell Automation, and the Otto Bremer Foundation (MN) were added to the mix. The legacy of this work can be seen in several successful Latino led organizations; over 200 graduates from the Latino Nonprofit Leadership Program; and, in the Fund’s guidelines and interest in supporting minority-led organizations.
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