Basic Needs Giving Partnership
About the Basic Needs Giving Partnership
The Basic Needs Giving Partnership supports the people and places advancing equity and economic well-being for everyone in Northeast Wisconsin.
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We are centralizing and coordinating all of our activities under a single regional organization where we will continue to collaborate, advocate, and distribute resources in ways that not only address current needs in our communities, but that also actively work to disrupt the systems, policies, and practices that hold poverty in place. We will live by our shared values of trust and collaboration, curiosity and learning, and equity with a systems-based approach as we work towards our vision of thriving, equitable communities across Northeast Wisconsin.
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To support our work, please donate to the U.S. Venture Open!
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Our Areas of Focus
Foundations to Thrive
Families and individuals have nurturing networks of care that support early childhood and youth development, food security, physical and mental health, and affordable housing.
Belonging and Connection
With relationships that cross traditional boundaries, neighbors are valued in the community, fostering mutual support, building power, and influencing what happens in our environment.
Economic Prosperity
Individuals have meaningful work that supports dignity and income that fosters thriving families, vibrant communities, and asset building.
Our Work in Action
Convene and learn
There’s deep wisdom to share across the region.
Partner across sectors
No one sector can transform systems; we have to work together. Learn more about the work of the Greater Fox Valley Child Care Alliance here.
Use our voice to influence change
Understand where we can lead, where we can amplify other’s efforts, and how we can coordinate and align.
Shift decisions to those closest to the work
Leadership has many forms; it’s not only positional. Those closest to and experiencing the problem often have the best solutions.
Change the narrative
Shift how we talk about and understand the root issues.
Invest
In communities through grants.
Trust and Collaboration
Enhance the collective assets of our region through a spirit of collaboration and sharing
Curiosity and Learning
Prioritize listening; draw information from a wide range of sources; learn from others’ experiences; seek out frequent feedback; and strive to make ongoing improvements
Systems Approach
Address complexity directly; adapt to a dynamic environment; and commit to the long term
Equity
Surface and challenge institutional and systemic inequities; acknowledge power imbalances and work to level them
In addition to distributing grants, we use our voice and resources to influence change. We know money alone won’t create the thriving equitable communities we envision. We aspire to show up in genuine partnership with organizations and individuals–whether working together to co-create solutions, or stepping back and listening while others lead.
—Lynn Coriano, Executive Director
Our History
Basic Needs Giving Partnership was formed in 2007, sparked by a unique collaboration between the families behind U.S. Venture and the J. J. Keller Foundation. Since 2008, the Partnership has granted dollars to nonprofits in a 10-county region in Northeast Wisconsin that collaborate to address the root causes of poverty.
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In 2016, the Basic Needs Giving Partnership launched the POINT regional poverty initiative to bring nonprofits together around continuous improvement methodology. This effort is focused on long-term change and works to transform systems that create barriers for individuals and families experiencing poverty. POINT will continue to operate under the Partnership and convene cross-sector partners to both learn from each other and coordinate efforts. Current efforts are focused on:
- connecting individuals to well-paying jobs via the POINT Jobs Action Group;
- accessing affordable, high quality early care and education through the Greater Fox Valley Childcare Alliance and;
- integrating trauma informed care practices via the Community Alliance for Trauma Informed Care.
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View our past Community Reports
U.S. Venture Open
The Basic Needs Giving Partnership’s origins stretch back to 1986 with the first U.S. Venture Open. Every year, the annual U.S. Venture Open draws hundreds of partners, golfers, and volunteers on the second Wednesday in August. Since its inception, the event has raised more than $60 million and granted $49 million to end poverty in Northeast Wisconsin.
To support our work, please donate to the U.S. Venture Open!
Donate Now
Grant Seekers
The Basic Needs Giving Partnership 2023 funding opportunity has closed. Read a message from our Executive Director, Lynn Coriano, about this year’s grant cycle.
2023 Grant Guidelines, Timeline, and FAQ
2023 Basic Needs Giving Partnership Grant Guidelines & FAQ
Timeline for 2023 Funding Cycle:
May 15: Intent to Apply due
June 15: Application due
End of July: Grants announced
To receive grant cycle updates, please sign up for our newsletter!
Lynn Coriano
Executive Director
Lynn brings a deep commitment to community to this role and a passion for working alongside individuals to realize change.
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Most recently Lynn served as the lead staff for the POINT Regional Poverty Initiative for six years, where she collaborated with place-based funders, service providers, nonprofits, and businesses to reduce poverty in NE Wisconsin. Before moving to Green Bay to be closer to family, Lynn lived in the Pacific Northwest where she spent 20 years in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors serving in programmatic, grant-writing, senior leadership, and board roles. She’s spent most of her career working to build capacities of nonprofit organizations and community leaders of all types through organizations and national networks like Communities In Schools and Social Venture Partners Seattle. She spent 8 years at SVP Seattle where she oversaw a multi-pronged million-dollar community investment strategy while also working with funding collaboratives across the state to align and support local and regional collective impact initiatives. She holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Washington and a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Syracuse University.
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Board of Directors
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- Amanda Chu, BNGP Co-Chair – Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, SLO Farmers Co-op, NEW Food Forum | Brown County
- Dawn Ruchala, BNGP Co-Chair – U.S. Venture | Fox Cities
- Jenni Eickelberg, BNGP Secretary – Thrivent | Fox Cities
- Keith Doxtator, BNGP Treasurer – Oneida Nation | Oneida
- Kathy Constantin – Brown County Health and Human Services | Green Bay
- Marycarmen Fabian – Reach Counseling | Fox Cities, Omro, and Oshkosh
- Kristen Gondek – People of Progression | Outagamie and Winnebago County
- Lisa Kogan-Praska – Boys & Girls Club of the Bays & Lake Region | Green Bay, Shawano, and Door County
- Angie Lee – EDEN | Oshkosh
- Teal VanLanen – Kinect M1 | Greater Green Bay
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Stephanie Gyldenvand
Director of Grantmaking
Email Stephanie
Stephanie is driven by a deep commitment to strengthening community through trust, collaboration, and action.
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Her approach is relational and her experience is rooted in centering the people most impacted to have voice and power in the decisions that affect their lives. Stephanie is a strong advocate for nonprofits and community-led groups across our region.
Throughout Stephanie’s career, she has worked to build alliances, shift systems, and take action toward equitable outcomes with a focus on health equity and racial justice. She brings 15 years of local and state policy experience focused on addressing social and structural determinants that drive inequities. Prior to this role, Stephanie served as a public health strategist at Winnebago County Health Department. Stephanie’s career also includes eight years of nonprofit experience as both an executive director and grassroots community organizer serving the Oshkosh, Fox Valley, and Green Bay region.
Stephanie has called Oshkosh her home for over 25 years and enjoys walking her golden retriever through local parks, joining in the Slow Roll community bike rides with friends, and supporting the Oshkosh Food Co-op that she worked with many amazing community leaders to build. Stephanie has a master’s degree in Public Administration and a bachelor’s degree in Human Services Leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
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Betty Winz
Senior Operations Manager
Betty comes to this role with a passion for community-driven change and a love for all things administrative.
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Throughout her time in nonprofit, startup, and small business contexts, she’s focused on supporting her teams by building behind-the-scenes infrastructure to make their work as effective as possible. From compliance to project management to software and systems, their goal is always to make the process seamless so that community, relationship, and connection can remain front and center in the work.
Prior to joining the Basic Needs Giving Partnership, Betty spent time in nonprofit project management and managing operations and HR for a rapidly growing business. They have a bachelor’s degree in Social Justice.
As a new Wisconsinite, Betty is excited to get to know the area and see her two samoyed pups experience their first real winter.
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For more information about Basic Needs Giving Partnership, please contact us.
