More than a third of Dane County households are struggling to afford basic needs, and it’s not for lack of effort. Although 69% of Wisconsinites in the labor force work full-time, just 40% of employed state residents can say they have the security of a salaried, full-time job, according to a new report from United Way of Wisconsin.

Increasingly more working people are finding themselves living on or below the ALICE threshold, which stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, the new report from the United Way of Wisconsin outlines.

That means any unanticipated incident can wallop 83,124 households in Dane County. So while those families’ earnings may place them above the federal poverty line, they don’t make enough to afford basic expenses, nor do they qualify for financial assistance.

We’re all familiar with what those incidents can look like.

The baseball-sized hail from April blasted roofs, banged up siding and smashed windshields, amounting to about $158.5 million in damages across Wisconsin, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In Dane County, that figure was $66.5 million.

A trip to the emergency room can cost upward of $3,000 without insurance, but even with insurance, there’s significant sticker shock. Car repairs, anywhere between $120 to $1,500. If you’re a single adult without children, basic weekly food costs $84, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Living Wage Calculator. If you’re a single adult with two children, you’re spending $185 weekly on basics.

To live above the ALICE threshold in Dane County, you must earn $22 per hour, and it must be salaried and with benefits, according to researchers. Yet for the last 17 years, the minimum wage in Wisconsin hasn’t budged from $7.25.

MADISON (WKOW) — The 14th annual Women United Brunch hosted by the United Way of Dane County raised more than $130,000 on Wednesday.

The goal was to raise money to support programs for women’s financial independence and stability. People learned about the evolution of Women United, which is focused on helping families be better positioned to thrive.

“Individuals who perhaps are displaced in the workforce, oftentimes are shocked by the lack of resources they have, but they still have to keep paying for food and housing,” said Renee Moe, president and CEO of United Way Dane County. “And so what United Way can do is really help partner and be a bridge with nonprofits across the community to help individuals and families get to a place of self sufficiency so that they can grow and thrive.”

WKOW was a proud sponsor of the event.

Camille Carter has a familiar lament in the nonprofit world.

Carter, president of the Madison Black Chamber of Commerce, a nonprofit that provides services to Black-owned businesses, has run out of federal grants and is looking for new funding sources to maintain its support of Black-owned businesses and Black entrepreneurs.

Having used a $3.6 million American Rescue Plan Act grant from the COVID era to build capacity, a lack of continuing federal support has placed the organization in a position where it has to pivot in order to sustain that capacity, Carter said.

At the moment, she said none of the chamber’s remaining employees are getting paid a salary or benefits as the organization tries to make do with modest annual membership dues from its roughly 200 members in southcentral Wisconsin.

“We are going to have to potentially get creative,” Carter said. “We currently have some funding to keep the chamber’s doors open and support basic programming. What we don’t have is the budget to support staffing for the organization and right now my No. 1 mission is to refund the organization.

“This work takes people,” she said. “It does not run on its own and in order to uplift people and to support them, we have to have the staff in order to do that.”

Thanks to a shift in federal priorities — including what Carter called an attack on diversity, equity and inclusion under President Donald Trump — her plight is familiar to many nonprofit organizations across the country.

They have experienced the cessation of contractually obligated federal funds for programming, stop-work orders, disruption to payment systems, threats of targeting nonprofits and uncertainty due to recent government shutdowns.

According to some nonprofit executives, the shift has caused significant disruption of existing funding and relationships between the federal government and state and local government and nonprofit partners.

Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, said in February ahead of Trump’s State of the Union address that nonprofits are strained but resilient as payment delays and funding pauses disrupt their operations.

Nonprofits depend on consistency, clarity and reliability in federal policy, but now they need to navigate a new landscape.

Shifting priorities

The policy shifts are reflected in a variety of executive orders, agency directives and legislation. Among the most controversial alterations are cuts in Medicaid spending, including decreases in eligibility and increases in administrative and work requirements for food assistance benefits and health care access.

The shifts keep coming. The most recent example was on March 26 when the Trump administration, which views diversity, equity and inclusion programs as racially discriminatory, issued an executive order prohibiting the practice of DEI in federal contracting (e.g., vendor agreements), including program participation and the deployment of a contracting entity’s resources.

The sheer number of changes has prompted the United Way of Dane County and Goodman Nonprofit Center (a project of the Madison Community Foundation) to partner with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies to collect and assess information on the policy changes and their anticipated effects.

Lauren Martin, senior director of community impact for the United Way of Dane County, said the purpose of the partnership is to help nonprofits understand and react to the changes.

Martin said the Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies website offers updated information so organizations can make contingency plans when there is a change from a specific funding source.

The partnership began with a survey of local nonprofit leaders and its analysis focuses on the following community areas: basic and household needs; heath care; education, child care and the arts; workforce and immigration; and civic health and participation.

“What we have heard and have been hearing since the beginning of last year is just the fear of loss of potential funding,” Martin said. “There was an actual loss of some funding in our community but there has been significant disruptions to that reliability of contractual relationships that the study found as well.

“And there is the ongoing uncertainty and work that has to be done once something is announced,” Martin said.

Since early 2025, there has been a steady drumbeat of alterations as the Trump-appointed Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE significantly altered funding to programs such as AmeriCorps and disrupted the payment system for programs like Head Start.

One local casualty of reduced AmeriCorps funding is the shuttering of long-standing elementary school Schools of Hope and high school Achievement Connections programs of the Madison Metropolitan School District and UWDC.

Starting in the 2026–27 school year, the organizations will try to provide student support by other means, and they cited reduced federal support of AmeriCorps, the independent U.S. agency through which they are funded, as the reason.

Also, the 43-day federal government shutdown in the fall delayed payments to 700,000 beneficiaries of Wisconsin’s FoodShare program until a federal judge ordered the payments released. The benefits are fully funded by the federal government as part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

While FoodShare benefits are used at grocery stores, nonprofit organizations and food banks that distribute food for those in need would have been relied on more heavily in the absence of those payments.

“At the end of last year, when there were some potential changes to FoodShare, that was one direct place where changes were happening,” Martin said. “Individuals were looking for additional resources to plan to meet their needs but in general there’s also changes that are affecting nonprofits that are also affecting our communities.”

One adjustment the United Way made in response to this instability was extending its impact grants into a third year to support affected nonprofits — an approximately $5 million commitment, pending the results of its annual community campaign.

Mary Beth Collins, executive director of the Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies, said nonprofits should lean into collaborations.

“We’re seeing conversations happening with cross-sectors, potential activities and collaborations that can address some of these more specific policy shifts,” she said.

For example, regarding new work requirements for Medicaid, Collins said there are already conversations happening about how the nonprofit sector can work with public sector agencies and those that provide basic needs services to make sure people are getting the information they need to meet those work requirements.

“We will continue to update the (website) with further information because … it’s a fluid situation and we’re continuing to learn things about impacts and whether certain executive orders and other actions will even stick because some of them are being challenged (in court),” Collins said.

“It’s about working double time. It’s having to be more creative. It’s having to be more and more anticipatory about what is actually happening, and it is, as usual, being extremely dedicated and creative in that,” she said.

“It is a lot to ask of a sector that is often the last stop for our communities, especially those that are most vulnerable.”

Transition period

For the Madison Black Chamber and the services it provides local entrepreneurs, Carter said membership fees only covered 5 to 7% of its budget historically, so a restoration of grant funding would enable it to better serve minority businesses.

“Right now, we are retooling our budget,” Carter said, “and we’re still going to do our best to deliver on a lot of our promotional services that really elevate our businesses and help our businesses connect with their customers via some of our events, in particular.

“I imagine that the way that we’ve done them before will shift because it will require a great deal of financial resources to support those efforts,”

Carter said. “So, there will be some changes and some transitions. I just don’t know to what level at this point in time.”

MADISON (WKOW) — United Way of Dane County announced Wednesday that the fundraising campaign raised more than $18.1 million.

This amount exceeded the goal of $17.5 million. Now United Way can use the donations to provide the community with resources and services related to rent deposits, food pantries and housing.

“Dane County’s donors and businesses didn’t just meet this moment, they led. At a time of shifting public funding, and rising costs of living creating growing demand for services, our community continues to show extraordinary commitment to one another,” United Way President and CEO Renee Moe said.

This year, the fundraising campaign saw a $10-$15 million commitment from the Dan & Patti Rashke Family Foundation, the largest multi-year philanthropic commitment in the organization’s history.

“Because of increased giving, more dollars are being invested in effective strategies and urgent needs. Undesignated giving, a cornerstone of the Rashke’s belief in trust-based philanthropy was up by almost $1.5 million, allowing United Way to invest the funds where they are needed most,” United Way stated.

For more information, visit the United Way website.

MADISON (KOW) — United Way of Dane County will host its Women United Brunch on May 13 at the Madison Marriott West in Middleton.

The event brings together more than 400 women for networking and celebrates the caring power of women across Dane County.

Women United is a network of more than 1,200 women committed to helping women and families find pathways toward financial security, which strengthens families and creates opportunities for future generations. The organization provides opportunities for professional and personal growth and volunteer work in Dane County.

The brunch will honor Karen Kallerud as the 14th recipient of the Women United Philanthropy Award, recognizing her service to the community.

Renee Moe, president and CEO of United Way of Dane County, and Molly Schumacher, director of donor engagement for United Way, stopped by our WKOW studios to talk about the inspiring morning.

WKOW is a proud sponsor and Amber Noggle will serve as emcee.

Check-in and networking begins at 8:30 a.m., with the brunch and program starting at 9 a.m. The event includes a silent auction and raffle.

The public can register on the United Way of Dane County website at unitedwaydanecounty.org/events. People can participate in the silent auction, join Women United or donate without attending the event.

In April, PBS Wisconsin Education will launch its new series, Field Notes on Climate, developed to connect learners in grades 6-12 to climate science and solutions.

In each episode, host Ami Eckard-Lee asks a question about climate change, leading her to meet experts and changemakers around the state. They explain the science around climate change impacts and share innovative solutions happening right here in Wisconsin.

A key element of the series is centering student voices. Youth perspectives are featured in every episode, not just as participants but as leaders and changemakers.

Reya Khatri is one of the young changemakers featured in an episode on youth action. She was member of By Youth For Youth (BYFY), a committee of Dane County high school students who identify needs around issues important to them and make investment decisions about youth-led projects developed to address those needs. She was also a member of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Youth Climate Action Fund (YCAF), which provides technical assistance and funding to help young people around the world design, produce and govern climate solutions in their communities.

PBS Wisconsin Education recently spoke with Khatri to learn more about her involvement and what others can learn from her experience.

PBS Wisconsin Education: How did you become involved in BYFY and YCAF?

Khatri: My involvement with BYFY first began during my junior year of high school. As a passionate and advocacy-focused individual, I was looking for initiatives to get involved in where I could apply these values and be a part of a program making tangible change. Through collective research efforts and communication from the BYFY team, I was able to apply and be selected as a member of this incredible organization. After my first year in BYFY, I was extended the offer to apply for the YCAF, which I found very interesting as I enjoyed the more specific goal of the program in climate-focused initiatives.

U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI-04) introduced the Perinatal Workforce Act, legislation to address the urgent maternal health care crisis in the United States. Specifically, the bill will help grow the perinatal workforce by creating grant programs to increase the number of maternity care providers and workers who provide care during and after pregnancy.

“No mother should have to worry about whether she can find quality care during one of the most important moments of her life. Sadly, the reality is that too many women — especially women of color — face dangerous gaps in maternity care that put their and their babies’ lives at risk,” said Senator Baldwin. “That’s why I am proud to work with my colleagues to help address disparities and ensure that every mother has access to the care and support that she not only needs, but deserves.”

“More than 80 percent of maternal deaths are preventable, so we must make critical interventions to save lives. Our Perinatal Workforce Act helps build the maternal workforce that we need to keep mothers and their babies healthy while meeting their cultural needs and addressing the shortage of perinatal workers. Congress must pass the Perinatal Workforce Act as well as the other bills in the Momnibus, as they are critical first steps in addressing the maternal health crisis,” said Congresswoman Moore.

“It is disturbing and unacceptable that Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native women are two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women—a glaring sign that the inequities in our health care system are costing lives and hitting communities of color the hardest,” said Senator Merkley. “We must do everything we can—including supporting more diversity and representation within our perinatal workforce—to fix this and ensure that every person in America receives high-quality maternity care.”

For 25 years, Madison Magazine has recognized extraordinary business leaders and their contributions to greater Madison’s economic vitality and nationally recognized livability. These four leaders have demonstrated their commitment to helping Madison grow and have the success stories to prove it. Join us for the 25th Anniversary Business Lunch on Friday, Feb. 27.

Renee Moe

President and CEO at United Way of Dane County

Boldness is necessary to achieve the “next thing,” says United Way president and CEO Renee Moe, who started at the nonprofit as an intern in 1998. “Especially in this day and age with so many changes, leaders are inventing the future every day,” she says. While her work involves daily problem-solving to help individuals and families move from crisis and poverty into self-sufficiency and well-being — whether they need access to housing, food, health care or employment — Moe always has a big-picture, future-focused outlook. United Way of Dane County works toward its goal of community wellbeing in strategic ways. “I get to be a part of the hard conversations that actually make lives better for people, and that is so inspiring and so motivating,” Moe says.

Her Advice: “By aligning your values and being courageous with what needs to get done, that’s when you see things really swing forward.”

Madison College opened its new Early Learning Campus at its Goodman South Campus to provide childcare and train the next generation of early childhood educators.

On Jan. 15, Madison College unveiled its new Early Learning Campus in the old fire station next to its Goodman South Campus. The new building, coupled with its early childhood education program, will allow for much-needed childcare for its students while they pursue their studies. The Early Learning Campus is planned to officially open on Jan. 20, serving up to 85 children Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

“This new facility couldn’t come at a more important time for many families,” said Gov. Tony Evers. “It costs more to put two young kids in child care than it does to pay for the average rent and mortgage. And even if folks can find and afford child care, families may be waitlisted for months due to space and lack of child care options.”

The opening of the new childcare center comes at a perfect time, Gov. Evers said. He noted the increased costs many face due to federal funding cuts in health care that already leave many in dire financial straits.

“That is no joke, folks. Our workforce [and] our economy cannot afford more parents leaving their jobs because they can’t find care,” Gov. Evers said. “The Early Learning Campus is filling a critical childcare gap here in Madison and connecting the dots for families that have local and high-quality care they deserve.”