Basic Needs Giving Partnership awards new grants of $2.50 million to end poverty

Grant Distribution and Focus Areas - The Basic Needs Giving Partnership awarded $2.50 million in one-year grants to 58 organizations in Northeast Wisconsin, bringing the total 2024 grantmaking to $5.35 million, including $2.85 million previously awarded in multi-year grants [1] - Grants focus on addressing root causes of poverty in rural, urban, and suburban communities across a ten-county region, supporting areas such as early care education, housing access, mental health, and substance use [1][2] - Funding for the grants is generated by the U.S. Venture Open, which raised $4.83 million in 2024, with 100% of donations going toward ending poverty [2] Key Organizations and Their Initiatives - ADVOCAP received $50,000 to empower families to reduce poverty and increase self-sufficiency through crisis support and skill-building [5] - African Heritage, Inc. received $50,000 to provide culturally-responsive academic enrichment and social-emotional learning for African and African American children [6] - Boys & Girls Club of the Tri-County Area received $50,000 to expand child care services for children from birth to 5 years old [7] - Casa Alba Melanie received $50,000 to address basic needs such as education, housing, and socialization for Spanish-speaking residents in Green Bay [9] - Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services received $50,000 to provide emergency shelter, transitional housing, and mental health support for domestic abuse survivors [12] - Diverse and Resilient received $50,000 to improve health equity and safety for LGBTQ individuals, particularly people of color facing systemic barriers [18] - Fox Valley Veterans Council, Inc. received $50,000 to support housing stability, mental wellness, and substance use recovery for veterans [25] - NeighborWorks Green Bay received $50,000 to address housing challenges by building and repairing affordable housing and providing financial literacy education [39] - SEPO received $50,000 to co-create community-led support for Black, Brown, immigrant, and refugee households, focusing on mental health and housing [50] Funding Sources and Partnerships - The U.S. Venture Open, the nation's largest one-day charitable event dedicated to ending poverty, has raised $60 million over its 39-year history to support regional nonprofits [2] - A grantmaking match of $600,000 from the J. J. Keller Foundation, $250,000 from Oshkosh Corporation, and $200,000 from ThedaCare and the Thrivent Foundation contributed to the funding effort [3] - U.S. Venture covers all expenses for the U.S. Venture Open, ensuring that 100% of donations go directly to ending poverty [3] Community Impact and Vision - The Basic Needs Giving Partnership envisions thriving, equitable communities in Northeast Wisconsin by addressing the root causes of poverty through collaborative efforts and systems-based approaches [65] - The partnership supports nonprofits providing critical services and organizations working to change systemic issues that perpetuate poverty [65] - U.S. Venture emphasizes its commitment to community support through its family of brands, including U.S. Energy, U.S. AutoForce, Breakthrough, U.S. Lubricants, and IGEN [67]