Madison Nonprofits and Charities

Losing my sight was tough, but having a guide dog — and an organization like OccuPaws — was an amazing gift from God. May Polar rest in peace. I know there will be a long line of people from Caledonia, MN, and OccuPaws ready to give him pets in Heaven. I have applied for another guide dog with OccuPaws, and it will likely be a year or two before I am paired with a new partner. Selected from Mike's tribute to Polar in recognition of this Guide Dog's passing on August 24, 2026.

As a volunteer tutor for Literacy Network of Dane County, I help adults prepare for their U.S. citizenship examination. It is a great experience to help these earnest, aspiring members of our community work toward their goal of becoming citizens and of participating fully in the civic life of our country. Because of their dedication and focused effort, my relatively short-term work with them nearly always leads to their passing their exams. Their pride and happiness with this achievement is wonderful and so rewarding to see.

Disability Justice: What Is Claimed vs. What I Experienced For a long time, Movin’ Out had everyone fooled — including me. I believed in what they claimed to stand for. I lived in this housing for five years without issue. I paid my rent, followed my lease, and was stable. That changed only after Team Management took over management. Once that happened, I became a target. I came to understand that my disability did not fit their narrow, curated idea of what disability is supposed to look like. From that point forward, no amount of documentation, explanation, pleading, or proof mattered. Even after it was confirmed that I am disabled, the treatment did not stop. Instead, there has been a persistent, punitive drive to push me out of my home — not because I did anything wrong, but because I do not fit their preferred box. What I believed was support revealed itself to be stigma, exclusion, and an obsession with removing me rather than accommodating me. 1. INTERSECTIONALITY They claim to

It is an organization that provides significant support to initiatives working to protect and conserve the monarch butterfly migration phenomenon in Mexico. For over two decades, the Monarch Fund's work has resulted in improved living conditions for communities within the reserve through the implementation of projects both on the ground and in support of communication and research. Recently, they have provided significant support to citizen science initiatives that have enhanced our understanding of this iconic species.

I studied abroad with Ceiba's Tropical Conservation Semester program in Ecuador, where I participated in conservation research in the Galapagos, Andes, and Amazon. The opportunity to carry out my own projects in these crucial ecosystems and contribute to their protection was a glimpse into my future, and kickstarted my path in the field of conservation biology.

Canopy Center is an incredible place with the best volunteers and staff. You just need to go to any one of their events to get a feel for the amazing work they do.

I give to WI Microfinance because my donation makes such an outsized impact per dollar donated. Because the money is being lended, it gets paid back into the loan pool. This means that over time, my original dollars help countless people have access to the capital they need to start and build their businesses to support themselves and their families. Second, WI Microfinance is entirely volunteer run, meaning that a huge proportion of my donation goes directly to the individuals receiving the micro-loans. Lastly, I love that WI Microfinance gives people financial opportunities that they wouldn't otherwise have, allowing them to create sustainable income streams — versus traditional aid that is only helpful as long as it is flowing. If you're looking for an effective and impactful place to donate, WI Microfinance is the place!

Embolden WI is magical in every way. In my time as an intern, I was lucky to see firsthand the people, passion, and hope that fuel the essential work Embolden does.

I am a CLC member, have a blast at every meeting, and always have a great time.

I practiced Zen for decades in Montreal, Quebec, travelling there for long weekends and week-long<br>spiritual work there.<br>My teacher sickened and died, and there was no successor. Desperate, I could not find help until I located Chosei Zen morning practices online. <br>My gratitude is depthless.

My Dog Darla is alive and well because of this rescue and foster Mom, Erin!! A breeder reject born with a hole in her heart was given a second chance at life and we are forever grateful and thankful!!

Flavor Temptations has been associated with Rooted and the Badger Rock community center for the past 7-8 years. The kitchen facility at the center was used to create, develop and market Flavor Temptations Indian spice kits and curry sauces. Over the years, Rooted has been instrumental in supporting our small business to grow and pursue our dream of helping our customers learn about Indian culture by cooking wholesome and delicious Indian foods.

My name is Jill. I was sexually assaulted by the director of the Luke House. According to other women that have gone there I have heard that Matt has sexually assaulted others as well. How can such a monster be allowed to be running a soup kitchen and still be there.

This is an all-volunteer-run Non-profit. They have a wonderful space for the Circus Arts right here in Madison. They offer Free clubs. All Paying members have 24-hour access to the training facility. They offer affordable rental space for events and teaching classes. <br><br>It is a wonderful space, with Wheel Arts, Arial Arts, Juggling, Dance and so much more. Sunday Night they have a Free flow Jam, for hulla hoopers and Poi and Staff Spinner. They also just added a Trapeese element to the space. <br><br>This is an amazing community space. That is open to more than Just Circus Arts. <br><br>I Love working with these guys.

Our school has worked with Innovative Schools since we first opened. Their expertise and support has been invaluable as we continue to learn and grow as a school.

Volunteering for this organization has been indescribable. The community that has been formed has impacted so many individuals living with CHD. Conquering CHD's mission is to create visibility and empower all impacted by CHD through raising awareness, knowledge, community, and research. As a CHD patient myself, I have found so many helpful resources that I wish I had known about earlier.

When there is a crisis in the world, Seva Circle finds a way to help out. They are pure of heart.

With the mission of fostering performances written and directed by women, the company does unusual work, original work, and traditional work.

22 veterans a day die by suicide-a stark reality. Ketchum’s Got Your Six, Inc. was started up to make a change, to bring that number down to 0. To accomplish this, we provide essential training for veterans suffering from PTSD and their service dogs. To hear stories of the impact service dogs have on the lives of our veterans instills in me and feeds the passion as a volunteer to make a difference. Ketchum’s Got Your Six, Inc. is growing and making a difference in the lives of our veterans. Our organization consists of leaders and volunteers dedicated to our veterans.

Saying thank you to whoever is in charge of this charity home , You are doing a good job and may the lord strengthen you

I am grateful that DAIS exists to support survivors of intimate partner violence. I often referred therapy clients to them for support groups, legal advocacy, and other services. I've watched them grow throughout the years and hear many positive stories about the support they provide. It's been difficult for them to meet the needs of survivors in the midst of the pandemic but they've risen to that challenge.

My mom was diagnosed with early-onset dementia, and my brother and I had no clue what to do. The ADAW was there for us, and still is as we adjust to a new normal with our mom. <br>

Camp HOPE has been providing free bereavement camps to grieving children, teens and their adult family members at the Wisconsin Lion's Camp since 1989. Kids attend camp after the death of a family member or close friend. At camp, they connect with other kids who are also grieving similar losses. Camp HOPE provides a safe space and environment to open up, share, heal and learn to smile again. This is a beautiful organization and operates purely on generous donations, volunteers and fundraising efforts. With support from the community and you, Camp HOPE will continue to offer free camps at no cost to all participants.

I do not have a stomach, in 2017 i had Cancer of the oesophagus, anyway i was supposed to have a part of it removed and the top of my stomach and the lymph nodes removed, which happened but the surgeon who was going to do it was on holiday, and because the op had to be done within the chemo window i had to have it done on Saturday 22nd July 2017, so the surgeon who did it was a bariatric surgeon who specialised in keyhole surgery, my original surgeon was going to do it open, but this stand in surgeon convinced me that keyhole would be a whole lot better for all kinds of reason so i agreed and it seemed to work and quite quickly the moved me from the ITU to a ward, apparently i passed all the tests, my partner came to see me and as the hours went on he realised something wasn't quite right, and within hours my chest had turned black, i cannot remember anything about all this, but at 3am on the Monday morning the head of upper GI called my partner saying that he had had to rush me back into surgery and remove my entire stomach and majority of my oesophagus because it had gone gangrene due to the main artery to my stomach getting blocked (if it had been done by open surgery it would have been spotted, downside of keyhole) , any how as a result of this gangrene i got sepsis of the lungs that tore them apart and i had to have stents fitted to fix my lungs, i was then in a coma for 8 weeks and they were preparing my family for me to die, i eventually got out of hospital in early October 2017 after having to learn to walk again, i had a stoma bag fitted to my neck for fluids, and a feeding tube in my jejunum, when i came out of hospital i was in and out of the local hospital with chest infections due to the stents getting infected, i eventually had them removed in April 2018 and they said one of three things could happen 1) the tears could be fixed (which they doubted) 2) the tears could still be there and the stents needed replacing and 3 ) i could die so my theory was i wasn't supposed to be alive so i told them to do the op knowing it might kill me, but strangely option 1 was the outcome the least expected. I still had the stoma bag and the jej tube until i had my reconstruction op in Feb 2019, the op was called a colonic resection, where part of my colon was removed and put in place to act as my new oesophagus. My problems are very much like what you are all suffering, i.e. dump syndrome, reflux that ends up with aspiration of my lungs was in hospital twice in August with IV antibiotics to shift the infection, but i think i have it again, my hair falls out, my skin is flaky and dry, i have skin peeling off my feet in sheets and lots of pain, i have to take Creons (pancreatic enzymes) with meals that helps the pancreas digest my meals apparently. Before i had my resection i got admitted to hospital to have my appendix out, now i am waiting to have my gall bladder removed (i am on morphine til they do this but its not causing any blockages so no urgency as yet, so with covid everything is delayed, i seem to have excess space in my abdomen area ?????? I had a bout of diarrhea which was black so my docs did a sit test and found it was blood they took a 2nd one and i thought it looked ok but they said there is still blood so i am now waiting for a colonscopy as well, as you can imagine i do not feel well BUT all my stats and bloods are fine so thats all they worry about, and i did drop from a UK size 22/24 (US 18/20) to a UK size 8/10 (US 4/6) but i have gained enough weight now to be a UK size 14 (US 10) So i am obviously eating enough to stay healthy, plus i take multi vitamins just to make sure. I now want to go on a diet but as my eating problems are getting to me i think i may end up not eating for a while and losing weight.<br>Sorry for the long story but i thought i would explain my situation.<br>I am in the UK and under gthe care of Mr Maynard at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford.

FFRF has been an invaluable ally and asset to our local freethought community here in SE Wisconsin. On two separate occasions, FFRF lawyers have written letters in response to violations of the establishment clause in our towns. Both times were efficient and effective, with a very short response time.<br><br>In 2017, a teacher in the public school district festooned her classroom with bible quotes and other Christian propaganda. After many complaints and lengthy meetings with the principal failed to convince the school to remove the material, FFRF lawyers drafted a letter challenging the constitutionality of the displays and demanding their removal. The resulting investigation by the school district resulted in a sweep of all schools and the eventual removal of the offending material.<br><br>More recently, the Racine, WI county government was discovered to have been awarding $50,000 annually to an Evangelical Christian nonprofit called Youth For Christ, in the form of a community and cultural grant. Similarly, the obvious nature of this violation prompted a letter from the lawyers at FFRF. Although the facts of the letter were denied by the county, the grant subsequently disappeared from the next budget, due to fiscal shortfalls.<br><br>FFRF is well run on a rarely seen level. Beside their legal support, they are extremely available to aid local chapters and members, including making appearances, welcoming visits to Madison, and lending support of any kind to chapter efforts. Both administration and staff are unfailingly pleasant, kind, patient and responsive. Every year they host an extravagant convention in a different city around country for the benefit of all members, everywhere. <br><br>With podcasts, tv shows, newsletters, original entertainment, a world-class headquarters, it's hard to catalog all the ways in which this nonprofit serves its constituency and the nation. Its spokespeople routinely appear before congress, or on national news outlets to fight for the rights of all Americans, while simultaneously creating community and solidarity on a grassroots level for their members.<br><br>Keep up the Amazing work!<br><br>Rob Moore<br>FFRF-Southeast Wisconsin Chapter