United Way of Dane County

Dane County Human Services, Division Administrator of Children, Youth and Families 

Each year, Women United honors a woman committed to making our community a better place to live, for all. The Women United Philanthropy Award recognizes her achievements in educating, empowering and inspiring young women and girls to be leaders in Dane County. This year, we are thrilled to honor Dr. Martha Stacker!  

Hailing from Milwaukee, Dr. Stacker brings an acute understanding of the challenges that impact families. She understands social service systems firsthand – both as a former recipient and now as a leader driving change within them. Throughout her career, she has held positions in the nonprofit sector, at public schools, the Department of Health Services, the Department of Corrections and the Department of Children & Families. Currently, she serves as the Division Administrator of Children, Youth, and Families at the Dane County Human Services Department.  

“I don’t like to say I have lived experiences, but rather that I’m living experience,” says Dr. Stacker. “I’ve been in poverty – I’ve been on the brink of homelessness, been on welfare, worked three jobs to get off of those systems and finally found my way back to college.”  

Fast forward through several years of hard work, Dr. Stacker became the first doctor in her family. While her journey has been nothing short of impressive, it is her humility that inspires others. She is a champion for vulnerable populations in our community, and her passion and   expertise have helped keep hundreds of families together, protected and thriving. 

“Throughout my life, I’ve worked within systems that are filled with inequities,” she says. “Gender, race, wealth inequities – these are very pervasive things, and they need to be disrupted and dismantled. That’s not easy work, but it’s the work I’m charged with and passionate about. And I surround myself with others who feel the same responsibility to build a better more equitable community for us all.”  

Her commitment doesn’t end with her nine-to-five job. Dr. Stacker serves on the board of Wisconsin Women in Government and is an active member of the Wisconsin Women of Color Network. She is also a member of the National Society of Leadership & Success and National Organization for Human Services Honor Society. Additionally, she volunteers with the University of Wisconsin—Madison, presenting regularly to the School of Social Work Masters students and mentoring in the Criminal Justice program – to name just a few of her accomplishments.  

It is this commitment to and passion for the work that gives Dr. Stacker the experience we rely on at United Way, where she has been an active volunteer since 2012! She’s been a Chair and Co-Chair of our Financial Security Community Solutions Team, Chair of our Women and Wealth Subcommittee, and a member of our Board of Directors and Vision Council. To this day, she remains a committed advocate, noting that our Financial Security and Women and Wealth strategies are the way to open the door to better futures for women and children. We would not be where we are within these initiatives without her steadfast support.  

“I can only hope that my work creates a ripple effect and inspires the next generation of people who look like me – women and people of color – to continue tackling these issues,” says Dr. Stacker. “Even when times are challenging and it feels like everything is working against us, I always ask myself ‘what can I control? What can I keep moving forward?’ At the end of the day, that’s what empowers more women and families to lead the best lives they possibly can.” 

We’re incredibly grateful to Dr. Martha Stacker for her invaluable contributions to our community. And we’re honored to recognize her after all she has given back! Congratulations to this year’s Women United Philanthropy Award Recipient.