$5 million committed to Milwaukee Succeeds

Milwaukee Succeeds, the cradle-to-career community education collaborative that launched nearly four years ago, today announced that five prominent funders have joined together to commit $5 million over the next four years to help sustain and accelerate its efforts. The funding will ensure ongoing support of best practices driving educational improvements in Milwaukee. Annual review against performance metrics will determine year-after-year commitments.

Bader Philanthropies, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Herb Kohl Charities, Northwestern Mutual Foundation and United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County have formed a funders’ collaborative committed to support Milwaukee Succeeds. This pooling of resources will fund priority pilot strategies identified by Milwaukee Succeeds networks, and support systemic interventions that take evidence-based practices and proven strategies to scale. Milwaukee Succeeds is an initiative that is housed within the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, which has served as the backbone organization of this community-wide initiative since its inception.

“This is an unprecedented commitment in the world of education in this community,” said Danae Davis, executive director of Milwaukee Succeeds. “It validates what more than 400 volunteer leaders, coordinators, mentors and tutors are working toward – changing our children’s future and putting them first.”

“As you can see in our 2015 Milestone Report, we have helped create many bright spots across our educational landscape. This generous investment will help us achieve the 2020 goals,” said Davis.

The three co-chairs who continue to lead this expansive community partnership are Jackie Herd-Barber, Greater Milwaukee Foundation Board Member; Mike Lovell, Marquette University President; and John Schlifske, chairman and CEO of Northwestern Mutual.

The vision for Milwaukee Succeeds, and by extension the funding collaborative, is simple: success for every child, in every school, from cradle to career.

The goals of Milwaukee Succeeds reflect that vision, including:

• All children are prepared to enter school.
• All children succeed academically and graduate prepared for meaningful work and/or college.
• All young people use postsecondary education or training to advance their opportunities beyond high school and prepare for a successful career.
• All children and young people are healthy, supported socially and emotionally and contribute responsibly to the success of the Milwaukee community.

By focusing on the important touchstones between early childhood, elementary and secondary schools, college and/or post-secondary training and then career and community involvement, Milwaukee Succeeds has engaged the community, its educators and businesses and nonprofit organizations that call Milwaukee home.

2015 Milestone Report

Each year, the Milwaukee Succeeds Milestone Report shows the value of collaboration, and 2015 is no different.

Milwaukee Succeeds is beginning to see successes while laying the groundwork for systemic change.

Ten of the 11 educational benchmarks are moving in a positive direction. These are important indicators for reaching the initiative’s educational goals, but as with all complex issues, the Milwaukee community still faces challenges.

“Milwaukee Succeeds and our partners are implementing strategies that are making impressive gains in reading skills in pilot programs at schools across sectors,” said Davis. “With a better understanding of what is working and what is holding us back, we are building the support needed to embed these strategies in our education delivery system and scale them community-wide.”

To view the Milestone Report in its entirety or the Milestone Report Executive Summary, please visit www.milwaukeesucceeds.org.