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We are excited to share important updates about the future of Cream City Foundation and how we are evolving to better serve LGBTQ+ communities in Southeastern Wisconsin. This year marks a new chapter – one filled with a renewed commitment to equity, sustainability and community-driven impact. It also marks new opportunities for donors and our community to partner with us as we fund work impacting the very real challenges facing our community.
Strengthening Our Foundation for the Future
One of the most significant changes in our journey is our new partnership with the Greater Milwaukee Foundation (GMF) as a supporting organization. This transition ensures Cream City Foundation’s long-term sustainability while allowing us to focus on our core mission – mobilizing resources to support the most pressing needs in our LGBTQ+ communities. With GMF’s investment expertise and administrative support, we are well-positioned to expand our impact while maintaining our independent leadership and decision-making.
Returning to Our Roots: Grant-making & Community Investment
As we move forward, we are excited to reaffirm grantmaking as a key program of Cream City Foundation. Over the years, our grants have supported critical organizations advancing LGBTQ+ health, safety and equity. In 2025, we will focus on identifying the most urgent needs in our region in a balance of urgency and thoughtfulness in dialogue with our community. More announcements to come soon on further details!
We are also proud to continue our scholarship program into 2025, building on two years of awarding $50,000 annually to support the next generation of LGBTQ+ leaders. Investing in education and building capacity within our community is essential to fostering a more inclusive future, and we look forward to celebrating this year’s scholarship recipients at our Business Equality Luncheon on October 9.
Welcoming New Leadership
We are thrilled to welcome six new board members to our leadership team. Their diverse expertise and shared passion for LGBTQ+ equity will help guide Cream City Foundation into this exciting new era. Alongside our returning board members, we are poised to strengthen our impact, foster community partnerships and advance our mission.
Refocusing for Greater Impact
As we transition into this new chapter, we have made the strategic decision to wind down our fiscal sponsorship program by July 2025.
We are honored to have provided fiscal sponsorship support to three amazing groups: LGBT MilWALKee, WI LGBTQ History Project and Drag Queen Story Hour: Milwaukee Chapter. Cream City Foundation has dialogued with each of these organizations and is committed to working with them to ensure a smooth transition. Each are on paths to either becoming independent 501(c)(3) organizations or have identified successor organizations that can pick up 501c3 sponsorship. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with each of these organizations in new and exciting ways.
This change allows our all-volunteer board to focus more directly on Cream City Foundation’s fundraising, convening and core mission of grant-making, ensuring that we can maximize our impact and better serve LGBTQ+ communities across the region.
How to Join With Us
Donate – Consider making a donation to our operating fund for immediate impact or our scholarship and granting endowments for a lasting impact for years to come!
Join our State of the Foundation Event – Join us in community on Wednesday, April 9 from 6-8 PM at ThriveOnKing for our 2025 State of the Foundation. Enjoy light refreshments as we update our stakeholders on our 2024 impact and further detail plans for this year and beyond! The event is FREE, but registration is required.