Russell and Betty Jane Shaw Fund

Wisconsin natives Russell J. and Betty Jane Shaw wanted to make a difference in the lives of children, specifically through research on childhood diseases. While no one can guarantee a cure for any disease, the couple wanted to try -- and wanted to be absolutely sure their money would be spent according to their wishes.

The savvy investors, who had a friendly competition to see who fared better in the stock market, created a fund at the Greater Milwaukee Foundation upon their death to support research that addresses health issues of low-income children and/or prevents childhood diseases associated with poverty.

The fund was created in 2000 and set up specifically to last for 20 years. Since that time, it has given more than $588,000 in grants to support research on a variety of health issues including how alternative strategies such as yoga can be used to combat pediatric obesity, how trauma impacts a child’s brain development and behavior and what the barriers are to awareness and diagnosis of autism among underserved populations.

Russell and Betty Jane Shaw Fund Grant Guidelines

Please note: The Foundation has implemented an invitation-only grantmaking process for the Shaw Fund. When appropriate, we will invite proposals from organizations that best fit the fund’s priorities.