United Way brings together diverse stakeholders to address Dane County’s toughest issues. And Boardwalk Academy is one of the ways we engage community voice!   

This 9-week development series strengthens the interpersonal and professional communication skills of non-traditional community leaders, whose critical voices and perspectives are often absent from decision-making tables.  

In 2024, 17 participants completed this program. And another eight graduated our first cohort of 2025 last week!  

We’re proud of the role we play in helping the community define and understand the scale of our greatest issues, and to work collaboratively to best identify needs and solutions. This is how we achieve real change. Visit our website to learn more and get involved.  

Last month, the By Youth For Youth (BYFY) Committee – a collaborative program through the Dane County Youth Commission, United Way of Dane County, the City of Madison Community Development Division and UW-Extension Dane County’s Positive Youth Development Institute – awarded $26,130 to 10 local youth programs and projects! This year’s group represents 10 Dane County high schools. 

BYFY is a unique volunteer opportunity for Dane County high school youth to be leaders in our community. BYFY members identify critical issues impacting local youth, establish funding priorities, review grant proposals and recommend funding from County, United Way of Dane County and City Grants to support projects developed and implemented by youth to serve youth.  

“This is my third year on the BYFY committee, and I have loved every second of it. I have had the opportunity to learn more about issues in the community and ways to solve them which had never occurred to me before. I believe that youth are the future and BYFY is allowing me to take that first step in helping youth take things into their own hands by supporting meaningful projects which give back to the community.”  – Adriana, 2025 BYFY Committee member

More than 60 Lead United members and United Way donors gathered to learn from Lisa Barton, President and CEO of Alliant Energy, in a session facilitated by Lead United Council member, Brianne Gauder of M3 Insurance. The conversation offered a look into Barton’s approach to purpose-driven leadership, grounded in authenticity and community.  

Barton began by addressing the myth of perfection in leadership, and striving for balance doesn’t mean doing everything perfectly. “You need to accept that you don’t need to be perfect in everything you do,” she shared. “If you can’t take on more, it’s okay – there will be another opportunity. You can get a lot more done when you aren’t trying to be perfect.” 

Lisa emphasized her core leadership values: the power of collaboration, learning from others and creating an environment where people feel safe sharing challenges. “It’s not about being the smartest person in the company. As a leader, you need to build an environment where people are comfortable bringing you bad news, otherwise, you’re leading with blinders.” 

Her ability to amplify those unheard voices became a defining trait of her leadership style and a catalyst for her own professional growth. “I noticed there were quiet people in the room with really smart ideas that people weren’t listening to,” Barton said. “So, I became a translator.”  

As a new resident, Lisa called out what makes us special – our community’s spirit to uplift the people around them (and our impressive biking trails). Her formative experiences serving on nonprofit boards on the East Coast shaped her leadership perspective and that commitment has continued here in Dane County. In addition to joining our Tocqueville Society, Barton chairs United Way of Dane County’s Workforce Delegation, a task force that develops strategies to adapt to a changing economy, helping more families earn the income they need to thrive.  “You can’t just treat the symptoms [of poverty and homelessness] – you have to treat the root causes.” 

Following the conversation, attendees networked while assembling 1,000 Healthy Snack ImPacks to benefit families served by our partners at Community Action Coalition. While this project was originally funded by a recently eliminated AmeriCorps grant, Lisa and her leadership at Alliant Energy Foundation stepped up to provide an Impact Grant so our nonprofit partners and their clients can continue to receive this support. We’re so grateful for that commitment, and it’s a powerful example of what purpose-driven leadership looks like in action.  

We are excited to host a silent auction as part of this year’s Women United Brunch! More than 70 local businesses, volunteers and other supporters have generously donated items for our online silent auction. Items include hotel stays, activities and memberships, restaurant gift certificates, fine jewelry and goods, baskets from local businesses and more – there’s something for everyone! All proceeds support strategies and programs that help more women achieve financial security.

Check out our digital catalog and get ready to start bidding! You can participate in the silent auction even if you are not able to the attend the Women United Brunch on May 16 – you can be the winning bidder from wherever you are! Your generosity supports a Dane County where all women can succeed and reach their potential.

With a mission to unite the community to achieve measurable results that change lives, United Way is committed to being a catalyst for inclusion and systemic change – but we couldn’t do our important work without you!

Despite the ongoing challenges we face as a community, you stepped up in 2024 to help us reach our goal of raising $17.3 million – and we’re so grateful!

Our Community Impact Report celebrates the remarkable success you made possible for more than 82,000 neighbors – and showcases just how much change we can make when we come together.

They are not just students — they are our future leaders, artists, scientists and changemakers. But right now, hundreds of bright young minds are at risk.

With the recent loss of the federal AmeriCorps grant, hundreds of Dane County students have lost access to the tutoring support that helped them believe in themselves, build confidence and envision a future full of possibility.

For most students, tutors were more than academic helpers – they represented trusted adults and mentors. They were the ones who showed up consistently with patience, kindness, encouragement and belief that every child deserves a chance to learn, grow and to be seen.

This academic year, 1,032 students were matched with 178 volunteer tutors thanks to 27 tutor coordinators. Student attendance rates, feelings of self-confidence and literacy and math scores measurably outperform their peers. For nearly three decades, our signature AmeriCorps programs, Elementary Schools of Hope and Achievement Connections, have been supporting students and their teachers. Close to 23,000 trained community volunteers and AmeriCorps members have provided critical literacy and math tutoring to more than 113,000 local students.

In the absence of AmeriCorps, we will work alongside our school district partners, school families and tutors. We are committed to continuing this critical support to advance our Plan for Community Well-Being Youth Opportunity and Academic Success goals. We will once again evolve our programs — to preserve a generation’s future – supporting the vision that all students read at grade level, pass algebra and graduate.

Your gift today is more than a donation – it is a signal of hope and investment in continuing effective tutoring this school year and beyond. Together, we will keep Dane County’s youth learning and experiencing their community’s belief in their futures.  Donate at www.unitedwaydanecounty.org

We’re excited to announce Kim Sponem as this year’s Community Campaign Chair! Kim has been CEO/President of Summit Credit Union since 2002 – Wisconsin’s largest credit union with a mission to help women and their families build financial security. Kim leads by example in creating a culture of philanthropy and community at Summit, inspiring her employees to give back through their annual campaign, which has resulted in $2.1 million over the last 30 years!

Additionally, Kim has been a United Way supporter since the very beginning of her career. She has held several volunteer roles at United Way since the early 2000s. Most recently, Kim serves as a United Way Board Member and has served on our Women and Wealth Building Delegation.

We’re so grateful for her commitment to our community and honored to have her leading this year’s campaign!

In January, United Way’s Board of Directors approved how the dollars will be invested across our community. Investment recommendations were made by Community Solutions Teams and Vision Council volunteers after reviewing nonprofit proposals for services aligned to Plan for Community Well-Being strategies and goals, advancing solutions for our community’s greatest needs. The Board also approved donor designations to nonprofits of donors’ choice. 

We’re proud to continue uplifting family well-being in holistic and multigenerational ways – focusing on investing in and leading impact in the areas of:  

• Youth Opportunity – helping young people realize their full potential.  

• Financial Security – building financial stability and strength.  

• Healthy Community – improving health and well-being for all.  

• Community Resiliency – addressing urgent needs today and advancing a better tomorrow. 

At United Way of Dane County, we’re working to close gaps and open opportunities so more neighbors have what they need to thrive. We know there are a lot of great services and programs in our community, but we’re better together!  

Thank you to our network of dedicated nonprofit partners doing incredible work each-and-every day to help our neighbors lead healthy, thriving and secure lives.  

Thank you to those of you who make it a priority to give back outside of your workplace campaigns – whether that be through time or dollars.   

Thank you to the campaign volunteers who mobilize the caring power of our community. 

Thank you to the business leaders who step up and encourage their employees to get involved – and to those employees who step up to meet the challenge.  

And, Thank you to our community leaders, families and those with poverty-related lived experiences for helping to increase understanding of community issues and inform solutions.  

Together, we are The Power of Caring. Working for All.