Strong communities are built when people have their basic needs met and when local leaders work together to improve the conditions that shape everyday life. For almost 35 years, Bader Philanthropies has partnered with community-based organizations working to make Milwaukee a place where all residents can live with dignity, stability, and opportunity.
Through the Community Matters grants area, we support trusted nonprofit leaders who are deeply connected to their communities and committed to addressing the most pressing challenges facing Milwaukee residents. These organizations provide essential support in times of crisis while also working collaboratively to strengthen the systems that impact community wellbeing.
Our work focuses on two key strategies:
- Foundations of Wellbeing
We support organizations that help individuals and families meet their most essential needs. This includes access to food, clothing, shelter, housing stability, physical and mental health supports, financial stability, and assistance overcoming barriers to employment. By strengthening these foundations, we help create the stability people need to move forward and thrive. - Collaboratives & Coalitions
Many of our community’s most complex challenges require organizations to work together. Through this strategy, we support partnerships, coalitions, and collaborative initiatives that bring nonprofits, community leaders, and stakeholders together to address shared issues, deepen learning, and develop coordinated solutions that improve conditions across Milwaukee.