By Shayna Mace
Giving Tuesday is tomorrow! Check out these worthy Madison-based nonprofits that our Women to Watch have founded or are passionate about — plus a few others that BRAVA has covered recently.
Uchenna Jones: Madison Gospel 5K
Jones founded the Madison Gospel 5K in 2019 and it’s grown to not only include a 5K race, but a 10K race, mentoring opportunities, a health fair and meal program.
Jazmynn Appleton: Progress Center for Black Women
This hub for Black women offers networking events, a coworking space and mentoring and education opportunities.
Rosa Thompson: Black Girl Magic Educational Services
This organization is geared toward girls in fourth through eighth grades who identify as Black, African and multiracial. The nonprofit’s yearly conference is a joyful celebration, and Black Girl Magic Educational Services has since grown their footprint to serve even more students in the Madison Metropolitan School District.
Ann Catlett: Solace Friends
This nonprofit provides end-of-life care for people who are housing insecure, impoverished or don’t have a place or people to turn to at the end of life.
Marsha Mansfield: LIFT Wisconsin/Legal Tune Up
LIFT Wisconsin’s goal is to make legal services accessible to everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status. The organization’s Legal Tune Up online tool (legaltuneup.org) helps people search the Department of Transportation, the Department of Justice’s criminal records and the state’s circuit court records for any issues — such as a suspended driver’s license or a dismissed eviction record.
Yimmuaj Yang: Groundswell Conservancy
Focused on land conservation, Groundswell Conservancy “seeks to remove barriers that prevent all people from enjoying the benefits of land, especially those communities historically disenfranchised from land.”
Megan Sollenberger: The Village Diaper Bank
Did you know that public assistance benefits (SNAP and WIC) don’t cover diapers? This local nonprofit works with partner organizations to distribute diapers to nonprofits and food pantries so that no baby or toddler goes without this essential health care need.
Angela Wallace: Logan’s Heart and Smiles
A nonprofit that makes accessibility and safety modifications to the homes of families with children with disabilities. In 2024, Wallace says Logan’s Heart and Smiles made 80 home modifications for families.
Other Nonprofits
Affordable Dental Care
A nonprofit that provides reduced-cost dental services to the underinsured and uninsured. The organization recently opened their new clinic at 1709 Aberg Ave. affordabledentalmadison.org
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County
BBBS’s mission is to “ignite the power and promise of youth through one-on-one mentoring relationships between kids and volunteer mentors.” bbbsmadison.org
Madison Reading Project
Through Dec. 6, donate books or money to the Madison Reading Project’s Community Book Drive. There are easy drop-off locations throughout the city or purchase a book from their Book Drive Wish List online. This local nonprofit distributes new and gently-used books to schools and other local organizations. madisonreadingproject.com
The Road Home Dane County
Committed to ending family homelessness in Dane County, monetary donations help families with case worker support, rental and utility assistance, and more. trhome.org
NBC15 Share Your Holidays Fund and Food Drive
In conjunction with Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, NBC15 is promoting this citywide food drive. Food donation barrels are set out now at various locations around Madison (see the map here). Or, donate money. Ten dollars provides 25 meals! secondharvestmadison.org/syh
United Way of Dane County
United Way supports a breadth of community needs, from education to housing to equity. Their focus on “big-picture” issues means that they work with a number of local organizations to tackle problems for lasting change. unitedwaydanecounty.org
Gilda’s Club
If you or a loved one are navigating a cancer journey, Gilda’s Club Madison provides “free emotional support, cancer education and hope to children and adults with any kind of cancer and those who care for them.” gildasclubmadison.org
OPEN (Out Professional Engagement Network)
This nonprofit welcomes all LGBTQ+ people and allies by hosting social, networking and community engagement events. The OPEN Foundation, an arm of OPEN, is aimed at helping unemployed and underemployed people from the LGBTQ+ community find jobs or change careers, connect with mentoring opportunities, and pursue professional development and career services. openmadison.org
The River Food Pantry
On Giving Tuesday, The River Food Pantry is raising money for milk and eggs — two staple foods for families. The River notes: “While a portion of our milk and eggs are donated or rescued through our recovery program, we must purchase the rest, which can cost over $5,000 per month!”South Central Wisconsin’s busiest food pantry also operates a number of innovative food programs, including a mobile meal truck, a food locker program, curbside grocery pickup, ePantry online grocery shopping and meals to go. riverfoodpantry.org
