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
These are the charities eligible for the Summer 2026 meeting.
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
Camp HOPE. Inspire Hope, Love and Joy for grieving children and their families through a free camp weekend 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
Canopy Center. We provide advocacy, support and therapeutic treatment for children and youth in Dane and Columbia County who have experienced abuse and neglect. Over the years, Canopy Center has adapted to the needs of the community with the advent and sunset of the Parent Stress Line, merger of the Dane and
Columbia County CASA Programs and most recently, the certification of Oasis as a mental health clinic – continuously evolving while maintaining a focus on strengthening families and supporting those impacted by trauma and adversity. www.canopycenter.org Expiring June 2028
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
CLIMB USA (Communities Learning to Invest and Mobilize for Business). Mission is to help teens and young adults improve their financial capability through education and capital market engagement. Developing a community of youth and families that are all learning the economic way of thinking and living within a strategically organized ecosystem. The key elements of our economic empowerment framework include youth development, building wealth through investment clubs, entrepreneurial training, and thought leadership. www.climbusa.org Expiring December 2027
Custom Canines Service Dog Academy. Volunteer professionals and individuals who embrace the endeavor of creating and supporting lasting partnerships between highly skilled service dogs and the community of mankind with diverse disabilities and impairments, thus greatly enhancing their quality of life. Service dogs have been proven to play a vital role in trauma recovery, helping to reduce stress, anxiety, and fear while fostering a sense of security and emotional well-being. www.customcanines.org Expiring September 2027
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
Encore! Studio for the Performing Arts. Celebrating 25 years as Wisconsin’s first professional theatre company for people with disabilities, and is one of the very few in the United States! Encore offers an innovative, inclusive, and professional environment where all people work together in the pursuit of artistic and
theatrical excellence. Working in the community of professional theatre, Encore actors develop their creative skills and talents to communicate a challenging and authentic message about disability and culture. The original work Encore! has produced has garnered local, regional, and national attention. With a troupe of 18
actors and 8 staff, Encore has produced 50+ original works to date, with many more to come. www.encorestudio.org Expiring June 2028
Extended Hands Pantry. A place where individuals facing low income or homelessness, can come for free groceries and fresh produce. It’s a welcoming space for immigrants and refugees, where children are offered wholesome foods like mangos and apples to support healthy growth. We rely on donations, and volunteers to continue our mission. Serving Dane County’s most vulnerable populations since 2019, we are committed to making sure every person who walks through our doors is nourished and cared for. www.extendedhandspantry.org Expiring June 2028
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
FEED (Food Enterprise and Economic Development) Kitchens. A project of the Madison Northside Planning Council, FEED Kitchens has five commercial kitchens, with specialized equipment for baking, produce preparation and processing, meal prep and packaged foods production. Kitchen space is available for rent so that food businesses, nonprofit organizations, vocational training programs and individuals seeking to prepare food to sell to the public have a safe and licensable commercial space to prepare their food. FEED Kitchens offers a supportive environment with members here from all around the world coming together to share their food and culture in the hopes of pursuing the American dream – operating their own business. www.feedkitchens.org Expiring September 2027
Fisher House – Wisconsin. Actively supporting military and veteran families today through the Milwaukee VA Fisher House, while also raising the funds needed to help build and sustain Wisconsin’s next Fisher House supporting the VA in Madison. Demand for free, nearby lodging continues to grow, and families traveling for care at VA medical centers rely on the comfort, stability, and support a Fisher House provides. Together, the Milwaukee and future Madison Fisher Houses will provide more than 11,680 nights of free lodging each year, saving families over $2.3 million annually. wwwfisherhousewi.org Expiring June 2028
Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness. The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness is a Wisconsin based non-profit organization committed to mobilizing African American women to pursue and sustain mind-body-spirit wellness, and to raise the visibility and support of Black women’s health as a community and public health priority. We energize, mobilize and support Black Women to transform their health and their lives through education, advocacy, support, and powerful partnerships. www.ffbww.org Expiring September 2027
Girl Scouts of Wisconsin – Badgerland. From kindergarten through high school, Girl Scouts will explore their interests, build real-life skills, and grow their confidence alongside friends who cheer them on every step of the way. This is accomplished by forging meaningful friendships and creating unforgettable memories, dreaming big and gaining the skills to help them reach their goals, building confidence while exploring STEM, the outdoors, entrepreneurship, and beyond, and belonging to a supportive community of Girl Scouts making a difference together. www.gsbadgerland.org Expiring March 2028
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
Green Pastures Living. Provides small-scale independent housing in a familiar, small town setting that fits seniors’ budgets. They strive to empower people by giving them the choice of where and how they want to age in place; retaining their sense of belonging and community connection. www.greenpasturesliving.org Expiring June 2028
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
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
Journey Mental Health. Journey is the leader for specialized behavioral health services committed to ensuring people’s mental health is prioritized and barriers to care are overcome. Sharing the path from hope to recovery, we provide innovative behavioral health services for individuals and families. www.journeymhc.org Expiring September 2027
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
Madison Birthday Boost. Dedicated to making sure every child in our community feels celebrated on their birthday, regardless of financial circumstances. We partner with local volunteers, families, and referral agencies to assemble and deliver birthday boxes filled with party supplies, gifts, and personal touches. Our mission is simple: to spread joy and show every child that they matter. www.madisonbirthdayboost.org Expiring December 2027
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
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
Madison Street Medicine (formerly MACH Onehealth). Bridging gaps in the Madison area healthcare system by connecting with people experiencing homelessness and home insecurity. Offering services like street medicine, food care, and a clinic. www.madisonstreetmedicine.org Expiring September 2027
Monona Grove Nursery School. MGNS strives to develop life-long learning skills in young children in a safe, comfortable, relaxed, age-appropriate, play-based learning environment enhanced by active parent participation. The underlying philosophy of our program at Monona Grove Nursery School is that young children
learn best through play in a relaxed environment. Children are accepted as individuals with individual abilities and interests allowing for the development of a positive self-concept. www.mgns.org Expiring March 2028
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
Olbrich Gardens Botanical Society. Supports the Gardens through fundraising, programming, education and a membership program over 8,000 households strong; keeps the Gardens free and accessible to over 370,000 annual visitors. www.olbrich.org Expiring September 2027
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
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
The River Food Pantry. South Central Wisconsin’s busiest food pantry. Services include free groceries for pickup or delivery, to-go meals, online grocery orders, mobile meals, and after-hours food lockers. The River also recovers food and resources from local retailers that would otherwise go to waste. Since 2006, The River has grown to serve over 4,000 people every week in pursuit of its vision: a fully nourished community. www.riverfoodpantry.org Expiring March 2028
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
Rubin For Kids. Devoted to recognizing and rewarding achievement of Dane County youth. Scholarships and awards are devoted to recognizing and rewarding the achievement of personal goals at school, at home, or in the community. The programs are both achievement-centered, and need-based. We uphold the belief that a key to success for children is positive interaction with adults. Our awards reinforce existing relationships with significant adults in the child’s life. www.rubinforkids.org Expiring March 2028
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 September 2027
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
Special Olympics – Wisconsin. Special Olympics is a global movement to create a new world of inclusion and community through sports. In Wisconsin, we want every person to feel accepted and welcomed, regardless of their ability or disability. We are helping to make the world a better, healthier, and more joyful place—one athlete, one volunteer, one family member at a time. www.specialolympicswisconsin.org Expiring June 2028
Tenney Preschool and Childcare. At Tenney, we cultivate a joyful, inclusive and nature-connected learning environment where children, families and educators thrive together. Rooted in cooperation, creativity and care we honor every child’s individuality while nurturing a lifelong love of learning, belonging and community. www.tenneykids.org Expiring December 2027
Three Gaits. Three Gaits exists to provide equine-assisted activities and therapy to enhance the lives of people with physical, emotional, or intellectual disabilities. We partner with families, community centers, social services, residential facilities, and senior centers to provide learning experiences to people of all ages who have physical, emotional, cognitive, or social disabilities with the help of our equine partners. www.three-gaits.org Expiring March 2028
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
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
Woodland Montessori School. Woodland educates children, families, and our community through the Montessori philosophy, with an emphasis on inclusivity, diversity and environmental stewardship. We understand that affordability can be a barrier for many families when it comes to securing a kindergarten experience that differs from traditional public classrooms. Our smaller class sizes ensure that every student receives the personal attention they need from their teachers. With your support, we can not only expand our availability but we can also continue to foster kindness, thoughtfulness, and consideration in our future leaders, creating a more compassionate world for all. www.woodland-montessori.org Expiring September 2027
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
Yahara House. Yahara House’s (YH) mission is to transform the lives of people living with mental illness by replacing despair, stigma, and isolation with hope, dignity, and community. YH is a community of members who are working together to achieve common goals using an evidence-based, community mental health program that focuses on recovery through social connection, meaningful activity, and reintroduction to community employment. www.yaharahouse.org Expiring March 2028
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
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
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
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