100+ Women Who Care – Madison board members vet each charity upon nomination to ensure it’s a 501(c)(3) and would spend our donations in Dane County. Each charity is eligible to present for two years after vetting. Three charities are randomly chosen from the list each quarter to present at the upcoming meeting.
If you don’t see your favorite charity, it can be nominated or re-nominated by any 100+ Women Who Care – Madison member by submitting the nomination form here.
View our past Impact Award winners here.
Current Nominated Charities
Eligible for the Summer 2025 meeting
Charities expiring September 2025:
1. Literacy Network. Founded in 1974, the Literacy Network serves approximately 1000 low-income adults each year in Dane County. They help individuals build skills and reach their goals through personalized education services and support. The adults we support improve their skills in English language communications, reading comprehension, and use of information technology. As a result, they advance their careers, help their kids succeed in school, become U.S. citizens, understand health information, or obtain their high school equivalency diploma or other degrees. www.litnetwork.org Expiring: September 2025
Charities expiring December 2025:
2. Greater Madison Resource Center. The GMRC is a serves as an initial point of contact for those experiencing issues due to homelessness or experiencing financial difficulties impacting their everyday life. They serve as a one stop resource center to provide individuals with the contacts and resources they need to resolve immediate crisis issues. Their staff works tirelessly and around the clock to respond to individuals whenever and wherever they have a need until they can get into a more stable situation, even if that is shelter. Groups that are an extension of them include Project Babies (which provides diapers and other infant needs to those in need) and Santas without Chimneys (which provides Christmas gifts to families referred by social works throughout the Madison area). www.gmrcmadison.com Expiring: December 2025
3. LOV, Inc (Living Our Vision Inclusively). Founded in 2008, LOV, Inc is a family-led community in which they mobilize their strengths and gifts to enrich the lives of people with disabilities and strengthen the civic life of the community as a whole. Their mission is to unite people with developmental disabilities to engage and build their best lives. www.lovinc.org Expiring: December 2025
4. Community Shares of Wisconsin. Started in 1971, Community Shares represents many people, many dreams, and one community. As a member nonprofit-directed organization, they bring donors together with over 70 nonprofits to address social, economic, and environmental issues. In addition to fundraising support, Community Shares supports member non-profits with shared technology, 401k plans, and leadership development training. www.communityshares.com Expiring: December 2025
5. Box of Balloons. Mission is to make each birthday happy and have every child feel celebrated. Unfortunately, that is not possible for many families. In America 18% of children live below the poverty level. Box of Balloons believes that a birthday celebration can give families the joy and hope they may be missing. Referrals come from Dane County Social Workers and advocates who identify children in need, children who otherwise would not have a birthday celebration. www.boxofballons.org/wisconsin-madison Expiring: December 2025
Charities expiring March 2026:
6. Outreach LGBTQ+ Community Center: Committed to equity and quality of life for all Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and all other people through community building, health and human services, and economic, social, and racial justice advocacy. Their vision is to create a community where the presence and contributions of LGBTQ+ people are welcomed and celebrated; where intolerance is challenged and defeated; where justice prevails; and where civil rights of all people are valued and respected. www.outreachmadisonlgbt.org Expiring March 2026
7. Omega School, Inc Omega School began as an alternative for young people over 18 years old who were not succeeding in the traditional high school setting. The school provides a homey environment, low student-to-teacher ratio, individualized instruction, and committed professional staff, creating a place where students can learn and complete their GED/HSED. www.omegaschool.org Expiring March 2026
8. Centro Hispano: Mission for Dane County to become a place where Latinx families can aspire upward to reach personal and professional goals while feeling engaged and strengthened with the tools for success. This is accomplished by Empowering Youth, Strengthening Families, and Engaging the Community. www.micentro.org Expiring March 2026
9. Sun Prairie Explore Children’s Museum: Mission is to provide meaningful opportunities, inspire participation in purposeful play, and promote lifelong learning. This is accomplished by creating a community space with meaningful content that inspires creativity, exploration, engagement, shared learning, collaboration, communication, critical thinking skills and fun for guests of all ages. Individuals take an active role in the learning environment, develop an understanding of diverse environments, and interact in social contexts. www.explorecm.org Expiring March 2026
10. The Latino Academy of Workforce Development: Mission is to strengthen our diverse communities by providing linguistically and culturally competent adult education programming that advances opportunities to ensure that individuals and families thrive socially, economically, and civically. Programs consist of education (GED, English, Digital Skills), mentorship, financial coaching and workplace skills training (construction, CDL, ServSafe, etc). latinoacademywi.org Expiring March 2026
11. Bikes for Kids Wisconsin – Formerly known as Free Bikes 4 Kidz Madison, Bikes for Kids Wisconsin has given away over 10,000 bikes to children in need. Their mission is to make bicycling sustainable, equitable, and affordable as a means of everyday transportation. They believe access to bikes betters the lives of all physically, emotionally, and economically. Now serving the Racine area as well, over 85% of the donated bikes are within Dane County. www.bikesforkidswi.org Expiring March 2026
12. The Playing Field (TPF) – a unique, non-profit, early childcare education program that removes barriers to high quality childcare and intentionally integrates children ages 6 weeks to 6 years from varied racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. Enrollment is based on a unique funding model: One-third pay full tuition; one-third are supported with needs-based scholarships; and a third are funded by an Early Head Start grant. TPF provides transportation in the City of Madison and meets the most basic needs of children such as clean clothes, a bath or assurance that they may have food at any time. www.playingfieldmadison.org Expiring March 2026
Charities expiring June 2026:
13. Girls on the Run: At Girls on the Run South Central Wisconsin, teaching essential life skills is the cornerstone of our research-based programs. Trained volunteer coaches facilitate lessons that blend physical activity with life skill development, including managing emotions, fostering friendships, and expressing empathy. The Girls on the Run curriculum is structured around understanding themselves, valuing relationships and teamwork, and recognizing how they can help shape the world at large. Participants gain critical life skills that strengthen their potential at a time when societal pressures and conflicting messages about how to feel and act can cause doubt and uncertainty. www.girlsontherunscwi.org Expiring June 2026
14. Families & Schools Together – partners with community-based organizations and schools to implement evidence-based family engagement programs. Engaging in authentic, culturally responsive family engagement, involving families and communities in making decisions, and addressing innate power dynamics — while providing families an opportunity to connect with other families and the community — are critical to building trust and can foster a partnership between the family, school, and community to best support children to thrive. Families & Schools Together has transformed tens of thousands of lives and continues to evolve to best engage with our partners and providers, and the children and families whom they serve. www.familiesandschools.org Expiring June 2026
Charities expiring September 2026:
15. Yada Fair Trade & Resale – Like our parent organization, The Yada Project, our mission is to help people see God at work in the world and experience His love in tangible ways. Yada Fair Trade & Resale focus their efforts on finding ways to support and empower women who have been victims of sexual exploitation and trafficking. They want every woman they serve to feel known, valued and supported—to know they’re not alone and there is someone who sees them and cares about them. www.yadaftr.com Expiring September 2026
16. Madison Reading Project – The mission of the Madison Reading Project is to connect our community with free books and literacy resources that ignite a love for reading and affirm and reflect the diversity of young readers. In 2013, Madison Reading Project was started by founder and Executive Director, Rowan Childs. On a search for reading resources, Childs discovered the alarming statistics associated with literacy rates and book ownership of families experiencing poverty. With a $1,000 seed donation, they served their first 30 children at the Salvation Army of Dane County’s after school program. Over time, they have grown to serve thousands of families, schools and community organizations by providing free books, and offering fun and engaging literacy programs to children and educators. www.madisonreadingproject.com Expiring September 2026
17. Tri4Schools – Supporting the health and wellness of kids inside and outside the classroom. Tri4Schools recognizes that a child’s development is multifaceted. It involves physical health, mental and emotional well-being. Their programs help children build resilience and confidence and the events support the overall health of all kids within partner schools. By promoting active lifestyles, teamwork, and a positive approach to challenges, Tri 4 Schools is laying the foundation for a healthier future generation. Core Initiatives: after school programs, events, school grants, and financial support for kids. Each year, Tri4Schools provide thousands of dollars to Dane County physical education budgets. This funding allows teachers to enhance the educational opportunities for their students. www.tri4schools.org Expiring September 2026
18. Horizon High School – Horizon High School provides students with an alcohol- and drug-free school environment. We support high school students in recovery from substance use disorders (SUD), including those who may have co-occurring mental health disorders. The school fosters emotional, social, and academic growth for youth who would benefit from a student-centered learning environment with a low student-to-teacher & counselor ratio of 5:1. Students are encouraged to participate in a variety of activities, both at school and after school, in order to help them maintain their recovery and to grow into well-rounded community members. Since Horizon’s creation, over 200 young people have attended. Today many of these former students are enrolled in colleges and universities, in the military, or working as contributing members of our community. www.horizonhs.org Expiring September 2026
19. Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra (WYSO) Music Makers Program -WYSO’s mission is to provide transformational music education experiences for all kids. From orchestra programs that provide expanded experiences building on school music and private lesson training and the Music Makers program for kids who may not have ever picked up a musical instrument before, WYSO erases financial barriers for families and creates access to life changing music education programming. www.wysomusic.org Expiring September 2026
20. The Rainbow Project – Restorative healing and hope for young children and their families who have experienced trauma, building a foundation for the mastery of life-sustaining skills. Providing a full continuum of prevention, early intervention, deep trauma treatment and crisis/emergency services that are comprehensive, best practice, evidence based & trauma informed services for young children and their families (infants through middle school age) who have experienced trauma/s, including, child abuse, neglect, exposure to community violence, gun violence child sexual abuse, domestic violence, community violence, natural traumas, severe accidents, child sex-trafficking, grief/loss, drug endangered children. www.therainbowproject.net Expiring September 2026
21. NewBridge – Imagine a world where every older adult is well fed, has a place to live, has access to affordable health care, and does not live in isolation. On January 1, 2019, four area Senior Coalitions merged to form NewBridge, a non-profit organization serving older adults in Madison and Monona. NewBridge provides a variety of services and activities for older adults, age 60+; access to programs and essential services, engaging them in a variety of activities that allow them to remain active, independent and happy as they age. A special emphasis is placed on reaching out to individuals from marginalized communities and those in the lower income brackets. www.newbridgemadison.org Expiring September 2026
22. YMCA of Dane County – Helping people of all ages reach their full potential, improving community health, and supporting local families. Purchased memberships serve to cover the overhead expenses for the organization so that donated dollars can all be used to support their mission. Their strategic plan identifies five areas of focus: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI); Community Support; serving their Membership; and addressing the needs of Families and their children aged 13 and younger, as well as Seniors. They offer a variety of programs, including preschool, 4-year old kindergarten, and before and after school care with 33% of participants receiving financial assistance. Each year they give back a minimum of 5% of revenue dollars to make sure everyone can join their programs through financial assistance and scholarships. For example, the YMCA worked with school social workers and other non-profits to identify kids and provided $250,000 in camp scholarships to enable them to attend camp. www.ymcadane.org Expiring September 2026
23. The Salvation Army of Dane County – The Salvation Army of Dane County Social Services is committed to supporting women and families in their journey from homelessness to housing. They provide a safe warm environment for all seeking shelter while eliminating barriers to stable housing through concentrated strength-based case management and holistic service delivery. They work to nurture resilience and a legacy of empowered self-sufficiency. www.centralusa.salvationarmy.org Expiring September 2026
Charities expiring December 2026:
24. Waiting to Exhale – Committed to celebrating Black culture by providing a space where women can release their vulnerabilities and find solace. www.waitingtoexhaleevents.org Expiring December 2026
25. Boys and Girls Club of Dane County – Leads the way in youth development programs by working with local businesses, foundations, and community programs to produce positive outcomes for thousands of young people and their families. www.bgcdc.org Expiring December 2025
26. CC Cattle Company – Philanthropy farming: raises beef and agricultural products to help feel the food insecure in Madison and Milwaukee. Future plans are to build an equestrian program to help wounded vets and first responders suffering from PTSD. www.cccattleco.org Expiring December 2026
Charities expiring March 2027:
27. Morgan’s Caring Connection – Committed to support and education for families with special needs dependents by providing grants to cover legal fees for critical documents. www.morganscc.org Expiring March 2027
28. Camp HOPE – Inspire Hope, Love and Joy for grieving children and their families through a free camp week-end; where they’ll connect and share with others who have also experienced the pain of loss and are committed to healing together. www.camphopeforkids.org Expiring March 2027
29. Ryan’s Case for Smiles – With a chapter in Madison, one of the few organizations solely dedicated to addressing the emotional aspects of pediatric cancer and other life-changing childhood illnesses and injuries. While other great organizations focus on research and finding a cure, we work to improve the quality of life of children and their families as they undergo treatment. Studies show that the enhanced emotional well-being of patients paves the way for physical recovery. We have developed one of the first initiatives to address pediatric medical traumatic stress (PMTS) and include an insert card with each pillowcase to alert caregivers to the risks and provide resources for self-assessment, referrals, and coping tools. www.caseforsmiles.org Expiring March 2027
30. Madison Starlings Volleyball Club – Founded in 2010, the local chapter is committed to providing high quality club volleyball to all athletes, regardless of income. All are welcome and encourage to become involved as players, coaches or volunteers. Madison Starlings believe in the inherent dignity and worth of every player and guide our decisions as best we can to reflect this principle and eliminate financial and other access barriers. The athletes to compete at the highest level in volleyball, while attempting to equalize access regardless of economics www.starlings.org/madison Expiring March 2027
31. Zeteocommunity – Serving women who have been sexually exploited by providing residential programming and a supportive community in which they are free to dream and thrive, no matter where they are on their journey. We work with women who have children as well as those who don’t. We come alongside women of all cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds www.zeteocommunity.org Expiring March 2027
32. Joey’s Song – Fighting epilepsy with music in memory of Joseph Gomoll, who died in 2010 just shy of his fifth birthday after suffering a debilitating form of epilepsy called Dravet Syndrome. The organization raises money to provide vital funding to find treatments and cures for epilepsies that are taking lives and stealing futures. We are a 100% volunteer organization with no paid staff or office overhead so we have an operational expense rate ~5%. www.joeyssong.org Expiring March 2027
33. Meriter Foundation – Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) – Serves young people 6-18 who are experiencing severe mental health challenges, such as depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, ADHD, or self harming behaviors. These disorders are often further complicated by trauma, neglect, sexual abuse, or race or sexual orientation discrimination. CAP’s compassionate team provides support and services to children who have reached a critical point in their lives. Last year CAP cared for 1,000 children traveling from across 48 counties and as far as Arizona. www.unitypoint.org/locations/unitypoint-health—meriter—child–adolescent-psychiatry Expiring March 2027
34. Art House 360 – Provides a multicultural co-workspace supporting individual artists, arts educators, and arts organizations, and to create access and inclusion to arts education and arts programs for our diverse, multigenerational community so more people may experience the transformative power of the arts. www.arthouse360.com Expiring March 2027
35. Safe Communities – The Falls Free Dane coalition of Safe Communities builds partnerships with people and organizations, collaborating to reduce older adult injury and complication from falls. Falls are preventable and we utilize both evidence-based and evidence-informed programming to help older adults remain independent, upright, and healthy. www.safercommunity.net Expiring March 2027
Charities expiring June 2027
36. Prairie Music and Arts*. An arts education organization taking artistic opportunities directly to kids, by fostering artistic exploration and inspiring personal growth through collaborative, holistic and creative experiences. The programs occur at community sites throughout the area, removing barriers to essential arts education and meeting youth where they already are. www.prairiemusic.org Expiring: June 2027
37. Yoga Accessible for All – YAFA is a fiscally sponsored project of Center for Community Stewardship (C4CS). The mission is to help anyone who wants to experience the universal benefits of yoga, and to find a class that meets them where they are. Turning an “I can’t” to an “I can” yoga experience. The program consists of three pillars – self awareness, self compassion, and self agency and operates out of local community centers, Senior Centers and other social service agencies. www.yafayoga.org Expiring June 2027
38. GSAFE – Creating just schools for LGBTQ+ youth in Wisconsin by developing the leadership of LGBTQ+ youth, supporting Gay-Straight Alliances, training educators, advancing educational justice, and deepening racial, gender, trans, and social justice. GSAFE increases the capacity of LGBTQ youth and students, educational staff, and families to create school environments where all LGBTQ youth and students thrive. www.gsafewi.org Expiring June 2027
39. UNIDOS* – Empowers the community to break the cycle of domestic violence, end sexual assault and promote healthy family systems. They provide services, programming, and support to those affected by domestic or sexual abuse in and around Dane County. Services are free, confidential, and available regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, or disability. To that end, UNIDOS has become a leader around the state as a resource for training and technical assistance to a variety of agencies around the state working with abused Latinas. They also provide statewide education and technical assistance to colleagues and professionals who wish to improve their services to Latinos in Wisconsin. www.unidoswi.org Expiring June 2027
40. Rooted WI* – Committed to collaborations rooted in food, land, and learning so that people can grow and thrive in healthy, equitable, and sustainable neighborhoods. Our work is grounded in racial justice, food sovereignty and sustainable neighborhoods. Sites are all around the city, with partnerships with 12 Madison schools. www.rootedwi.org Expiring June 2027
41. Dane County Multi-Agency Center (Dane MAC) – Empowers young adult sexual abuse survivors by building solutions that make it easier for them to access the help they want, whenever and wherever they want it. We’re establishing a new standard of care, making it easier for them to connect with post-assault support, no matter their income, race, gender, sexual identity, religion, or primary language. We adapt to the ever-evolving needs, cultural norms, and expectations of the community we serve. www.danecenter.org Expiring June 2027
42. Lighthouse School – Providing holistic bilingual education to over 350 students from 4k-8th grade, as well as childcare, before and after school care and summer enrichment camps. www.lcsmadison.net Expiring June 2027
43. Operation Fresh Start – Empowers emerging adults (ages 16-24) on a path to self-sufficiency through education, mentoring, and employment training. OFS graduates earn their high school diploma, driver’s license, certifications in the construction and conservation fields, and gain college/career readiness skills. Since 1970, OFS has empowered more than 9,000 adults on a pathway to a life-sustaining career. www.operationfreshstart.org Expiring June 2027
44. Zinovae Foundation – Committed to empowering the next generation of soccer players by breaking down financial barriers and expanding opportunities for underrepresented and marginalized communities, including those from lower-income households and single-parent families. Our mission is to cultivate untapped potential and champion talent based on merit, passion, and perseverance—not financial circumstances. we believe soccer is more than a sport—it is a platform for growth, inclusion, and unity. www.zinovaefoundation.org Expiring June 2027