Supporting People, Strengthening Communities

Supporting People, Strengthening Communities

As a private grantmaking institution, the Zilber Family Foundation remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering the well-being of individuals, families, and neighborhoods. 

We focus on meeting basic needs and creating pathways to social and economic opportunity. By collaborating with nonprofits and community stakeholders in Milwaukee and Hawaii, the Zilber Family Foundation can help improve quality of life and carry on the legacy of care, community, and support set by our founders, Joe and Vera Zilber.

Program Areas

Too many people and communities contend with limited social and economic opportunity and decades-long disinvestment. Often, communities of color face the most significant and perpetual disparities in accessing resources that lead to a good quality of life.

Building on nearly 20 years of community partnership and investment, the Zilber Family Foundation targets support across four program areas. Within each program area, we provide funding for general operating expenses, program support, capacity building, and capital projects. Our staff works in partnership with organizations to provide technical assistance and build organizational capacity to amplify impact.

Economic Stability

Creating pathways to safe and stable housing, cash, and capital

Basic Needs

Addressing the immediate needs of our community

Sector Supports

Creating a healthy and effective nonprofit ecosystem

Joseph & Vera Zilber Partners

Supporting partnerships initiated by our founders

WHERE WE WORK

For many years, we have worked in Milwaukee, especially the neighborhoods of Lindsay Heights, Clarke Square, and Layton Boulevard West; Hawaii, particularly on the Island of Oahu; and communities where Zilber Ltd. employees work and serve through employee and workplace giving.

Zilber Family Foundation’s resources benefit the people and places the Zilber family has called home.

Learn more about our funding opportunities.

Our Approach

Our approach centers the needs of the community and the knowledge of our nonprofit partners so that we can make the greatest impact possible to address immediate needs and long-term goals.

  • Drive Partnership: We build and engage in cross-sector partnerships to align and leverage resources that accelerate impact. We believe in the power of convening, connecting, and collaborating on shared priorities.

  • Invest in Solutions: We align our financial resources in pursuit of our mission, including grants and program related investments that catalyze change.

  • Build Capacity: We support organizations and their leaders to increase effectiveness and impact by prioritizing leadership development, skill building, coaching, training, and other offerings that meet the needs of our partners and communities.

  • Activate our Learning: We assess our performance and engage with our partners to achieve organizational excellence and continuous improvement through strong research, data analysis, communications, and advocacy efforts.

In 2022, the Foundation commissioned a Grantee Perception Report to get feedback from grantee partners on our performance and our relationship with their organizations. The survey is conducted by the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP), and contains a mix of quantitative and qualitative responses, benchmarked against peer funders who also work with CEP to administer the survey to their grantees. The Zilber Family Foundation’s full report can be found here.

Connect with us

We would love to hear from you! Whether you have questions, suggestions, or just want to learn more, reach out to our team.