The Greater Milwaukee Foundation is among a select group of community foundations across the nation collaborating to prioritize economic mobility in their respective communities.
As part of this work, the Foundation participated in the Community Foundations Leading Change Economic Mobility Action Network Intermediate Cohort (EMAN) in 2024-2025. CFLeads is a national network of community foundations that aims to empower change and build strong communities.
The cohort consisted of cross-sector teams led by community foundations from 19 communities that learned from one another and found strategies to strengthen local economic mobility and deepen their resources.
“One of our key takeaways from EMAN was to think more broadly about what economic mobility means to individuals and the community.” Janel Hines, vice president of community impact, said. “It’s not just ending poverty. It’s building wealth.”
Each cohort member received an individualized case study. The Foundation’s case study provides an overview of how the Foundation and partners are engaging residents and prioritizing the issues that matter most to them from housing to education to economic opportunity.
Efforts highlighted in the report include the Foundation’s impact investing work and its partnerships with the Community Development Alliance to address affordable and accessible housing as well as Data You Can Use to support the “Wealth in Milwaukee” report.
- Read the Foundation’s case study: “A focus on thriving, inclusive neighborhoods in Milwaukee, Wisconsin”.
- View all case studies in CFLeads’ full report: “Paving the Way”