About
What we do
The Milwaukee Area Workforce Funding Alliance is a nationally recognized workforce funder collaborative, founded in 2008 by Bader Philanthropies, Northwestern Mutual Foundation, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, City of Milwaukee, and JP Morgan Chase, to improve workforce development in Milwaukee and Southeastern Wisconsin.
industry
partnerships
Focus on understanding and responding
to employer workforce needs and working with the workforce partner Nettwerk to implement regional job programs and
meet the needs of employees and seekers.
convener
Connect partners and stakeholders to align resources and create a shared vision for supporting job seekers in achieving family-supporting wage jobs and meeting labor market needs.
workforce investments
and grantmaking
Invest and support high-demand, sector-based training partnerships that prepare workers for career pathways and meet employers’ workforce needs.
building capacity
Champion strategies and resources
that develop the skills and competencies of providers and efficacy of the regional workforce system to be more effective
in-service delivery to job seekers and businesses.
systems change
and alignment
Collaborate with system stakeholders to coordinate and implement innovative workforce development strategies that reduce racial inequities and remove institutional barriers to training, placement, and advancement.
advocacy/policy
Affect systems change that promotes economic mobility through education and advocacy of workforce policy issues.
vision
Our Vision is to be first in class to grow our formalized structure of coordinated advocacy to eliminate duplicate case management data to maximize the efficacy of reducing barriers to successful employment for employees, employers, community based organizations. We aim to fill the gaps in recruitment, training, and support-services and bring the clout needed to realign the public workforce system and the private sector to better meet the workforce needs of employers and low-income workers.
Bring partners together.
We work with industry and workforce partners to organize and lead regional initiatives that meet industry needs and provide good jobs
racial equity in practice
The Milwaukee Area Workforce Funding Alliance collaborates with employers
and other workforce stakeholders to increase employment, earnings
and racial equity for historically excluded workers in the Milwaukee metro.
Make it easier for employers to participate.
We work across partners and systems to simplify and streamline program processes.
Leverage all available funding.
We use multiple funding sources, so programs are free for eligible participants and reduce employer costs.
Promote high-demand careers that lead to family-sustaining incomes.
Job seekers gain access to career information and resources and navigate through career pathways
Racial Equity as a Priority for the Funding Alliance:
The Funding Alliance recognizes that a variety of forms of racism are root causes of many challenges facing historically excluded workers and are a significant barrier to raising their employment and earnings. Over a century of racial segregation and discriminatory actions and policies, both intentional and unintentional, have produced and perpetuate disparate access to employment and workforce development opportunities for generations of our region’s residents. As a result, racial and ethnic minorities are under-represented in higher paying jobs in almost every industry category and over-represented in our region’s population of unemployed and underemployed.
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The Funding Alliance believes that increasing racial equity and closing racial gaps in outcomes requires the following:
- Applying resources as needed to advance equity and mitigate legacies of racism.
- Removing barriers for underprepared individuals, families, and communities.
- Tailoring program and policy responses to the specific situations faced by individuals, families and communities.
- Changing policies that perpetuate racially disparate outcomes.
MAWFA is a collaborative partner of the National Fund for Workforce Solutions, a national network promoting equitable economic opportunity and prosperous communities through investment and innovation. Based in Washington D.C., the National Fund partners with philanthropy, employers, workers, public and private community organizations and more than 30 regional collaboratives to invest in skills, improve systems and generate good jobs. The National Fund supports civic and business leaders in promoting evidence-based practices and policies that build shared prosperity. Learn more about the National Fund and its local partners at www.NationalFund.org.
What is a Funder Collaborative?
Funder collaboratives bring together funders to align resources towards a common mission. The Milwaukee Area Workforce Funding Alliance is a consortium of private and public entities that invest in a range of workforce approaches to address long-term and chronic unemployment, lift families out of poverty, and ensure regional economic health.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jerry Roberts – Executive Director
Milwaukee Area Workforce Funding Alliance
Shannon Reed – Board Treasurer
Senior Director of Youth Opportunity
Impact, Global Network Advancement Team
United Way Worldwide
Steven A. Mahan – Board Chair
Deputy Director of the Department of Administration.
City of Milwaukee
Celia Benton – Board Member
Director of Economic Development
Milwaukee County
Charlie Corrigan – Board Member
Executive Director, Central Region Philanthropy
JPMorgan Chase
INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS
Parks, Grounds & Maintenance
Energy Efficient Construction
Urban Forestry & Utilities
Automotive Maintenance & Alternative Fuels
Green Trades
Manufacturing
Construction
donate today!
Help us reach our collaborative goals that advocates for policies that sustain effective workforce partnerships, strengthening and expanding the workforce system.
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