About Partnership for a Healthy Wisconsin
Since 2022, Partnership for a Healthy Wisconsin, a groundbreaking collaboration between the Wisconsin Partnership Program and Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin, has made significant strides in supporting the regional nonprofit sector. This partnership is founded on a shared mission of promoting health equity and community health advancement.
By leveraging the strengths of the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment at the Medical College of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Partnership Program at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, a comprehensive program, "Healthy Wisconsin," was launched in partnership with Catchafire. This initiative is a beacon of hope, enhancing the capabilities of state health organizations and driving forward a healthier Wisconsin.
Addressing the need for capacity support
The primary objective of this partnership is to provide robust capacity support to health organizations across Wisconsin, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The two foundation arms recognized the need to extend flexible support beyond their grantees, incorporating county health departments and human service departments into their fold.
By collaborating with Catchafire, Partnership for a Healthy Wisconsin has bridged a crucial gap. Catchafire’s capacity building resources and global network of volunteers gives nonprofits the support they need to strengthen their operations and programming, focus on their mission, and serve their communities. This partnership is essential in bolstering the health sector and aiding communities.
Through this partnership, grantmakers can extend their reach beyond traditional grant resources, offering tangible support to a broader spectrum of organizations and state agencies. The support for county health departments and human service departments has been especially invaluable during the challenging period marked by the pandemic and subsequent staffing shortages.
Together with Catchafire, we’re connecting skilled volunteers with nonprofits in need. We’re pleased to partner with Catchafire and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment to support community partners across Wisconsin in strengthening their capacity and advancing their work and missions.
Executive Director
Advancing health equity and community outcomes
Skills-based volunteers on Catchafire contribute to organizational resiliency and sustainability. By spending less time worrying about resources and focusing more on their mission, nonprofits are able to advance community health outcomes.
Since 2022, volunteers on Catchafire have donated over 5,300 hours to 87 health organizations, creating over $1.1 million in nonprofit impact. Some of the top nonprofit needs served by volunteers include translation, technology assistance, organizational strategy, and website development.
Hours saved allow nonprofits to redirect their focus and impact on advancing community health outcomes and programming that targets the social determinants of health. This includes:
- Access to health care and coverage
- Public health workforce development
- Health literacy and quality education
- Equitable housing for people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity
- Addressing racial disparities
- Employment and economic stability
- Food security
As we strive to build a healthier Wisconsin, our collaboration with Catchafire has been instrumental in addressing the pressing challenges faced by nonprofits in our region. It’s a testament to the power of skilled volunteers coming together to support these vital organizations in their missions.
Senior Associate Dean and Director
What does health equity look like?
For Wood County Health Department, their vision for health equity is to ensure that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to thrive, be healthy, and live their best life. Their community initiatives and partnerships focus on address complex health problems and multiple aspects of health equity, including:
- Access to healthy food
- Family health
- Housing
- Leadership development
- Mental health
- Substance use
- Transportation and recreation
The Department has a Health Equity Team made up of people from every division at the organization, with the goal of ensuring that Wood County residents do not have their health outcomes determined by aspects such as race, ethnicity, geography, income, class, gender, and education.
By working with Catchafire, the Department can focus on their health equity programming, while volunteers provide support in areas such as organizational strategy, graphic design, and leadership coaching. With 43 hours saved, they can redirect their focus towards supporting the quality of life and health for Wood County’s 74,000 residents.
Catchafire has been an incredible resource for our team at the health department. Not only are the webinars on the website helpful, but our volunteers have been very knowledgeable, professional, supportive, and friendly. This work will help us set a new direction for our health department.
Health Officer
Partner with Catchafire
We’re excited to continue our work with Partnership for a Healthy Wisconsin to help them fulfill their community grant partners' unmet needs. Together, we will amplify the impact of skilled volunteering, unlocking new opportunities for social good and fostering a brighter future for the Wisconsin region.
CEO
Interested in learning how Catchafire can elevate your organization's impact and support your community's health outcomes?
Request a demo below or speak to our team today to explore how partnering with Catchafire can empower your organization and contribute to healthier, more equitable communities.