Basic Needs Giving Partnership Announces $3 Million in Grants
Impacting Poverty in Fox Valley, Green Bay and Oshkosh
Appleton, WI – The Basic Needs Giving Partnership, a unique collaboration between several of the region’s largest charitable giving organizations, has approved more than $3 million in new grants to fight poverty in Northeast Wisconsin. 164 organizations in the Greater Green Bay, Fox Valley and Oshkosh areas will receive 28 new grants and continued funding for 27 multi-year grants. Grants are awarded to projects equipping individuals and families to break the cycle of poverty.
The Basic Needs Giving Partnership is a collaboration between the U.S. Venture Fund for Basic Needs, the J. J. Keller Foundation, Inc., the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region and the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation. Donations to the annual U.S. Venture Open support the U.S. Venture Fund for Basic Needs established at each Community Foundation. The J. J. Keller Foundation in turn matches up to $800,000 of the annual grantmaking budget from the fund. The three Community Foundations complete this partnership, bringing their expertise in community needs and strategic grantmaking.
“The power of this partnership is that we are fostering and supporting collaborative projects that reach thousands of needy individuals throughout Northeast Wisconsin,” said Greg Vandenberg, U.S. Venture director of giving and community engagement. “Together we are able to make an impact far greater than any of us would be able to do individually.” In 30 years the partnership has given $16.9 million in grants to regional organizations. Last year $2.8 million in new grants were awarded to help residents move from poverty to self-sufficiency. Over 68% of these grants were collaborations which facilitated new nonprofit interactions.
“We are encouraged by the impact of our joint efforts,” said Mary Harp Jirschele, J. J. Keller Foundation executive director. “Nonprofits are thinking more strategically and creating long-term solutions to affect the residents of Northeast Wisconsin.” Since 2007, the J. J. Keller Foundation has contributed $5.9 million to this root-cause effort.
Click here to view Recipients of the Basic Needs Giving Partnership Grants for Fiscal Year 2015
###