40 Ways You Can Create Change
This is a series of “40 Ways You Can Create Change” — to celebrate CSW’s 40th anniversary! And because our member groups work on so many worthwhile projects, we couldn’t limit our list to only 40.
- Thank a Long-Time Nonprofit Employee
Thank someone who has made a difference for nonprofits. Community Shares of Wisconsin began in 1971 with a small group of committed people, and thanks to them and to all our supporters, we have distributed over $13 million in 40 years! - Build the Movement
Consider donating in the online campaign now through August 12—to help benefit CSW and the Center for Change, which offers networking space to all of our groups (and office space to several groups). Collaboration has always been key for CSW but now, with the Center for Change, we’ve taken collaboration to a new level.
What Will Your Gift Support?
• 6 nonprofits
• Dozens of volunteers and interns
• Thousands of members/supporters/volunteers
• A million great ideas - Attend a Peace Event Aug 6-9
Attend a statewide peace event August 6-9 to remember the victims of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bombings in 1945. Find out how you can help work for peace through organizations like the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice and Physicians for Social Responsibility-Wisconsin. - Help Elderly and Low-Income Homeowners
Consider helping Project Home buy supplies for their hands-on work as they provide low-income people with home repairs and weatherization. - Make Your Voice Heard
Elections matter—make your voice heard. If you live in a recall district, vote for your candidate of choice in the recall elections either August 9 or August 16. Find out which date your district election is held, and get information about the candidates, from Wisconsin Democracy Campaign or League of Women Voters of Wisconsin Education Fund. - Learn About the Budget’s Impact on Our Environment
Learn how the new state budget affects our environmental protections—and what you can do to work for a cleaner, healthier state. Check out websites for Community Shares’ member groups: 1000 Friends of Wisconsin,Clean Wisconsin, Wisconsin Wetlands Association, Sierra Club Foundation-John Muir Chapter, Midwest Environmental Advocates, and River Alliance of Wisconsin. - Empower an Emerging Leader
Help Community Shares’ nonprofits that foster leadership among people in our community: Freedom Inc, Wisconsin Apprentice Organizers Project, WORT-FM Radio, and Grassroots Leadership College. - Attend Triangle Ethnic Fest
Make time for Bayview Foundation’s Triangle Ethnic Fest on August 21. Find out about their ethnically diverse community, enjoy food and entertainment, and get ideas on how to volunteer - Celebrate Wisconsin’s Children
Share an evening with Wisconsin Council on Children and Families on August 24 as they celebrate 130 years of advocating on behalf of Wisconsin’s children. Or get involved with other CSW nonprofits working to help families:Wisconsin Early Childhood Association, Nuestro Mundo, Inc., Center for Family Policy and Practice, and Legal Action of Wisconsin. - Work for Equality
Celebrate Women’s Equality Day on August 25 at an event sponsored by Wisconsin Women’s Network, held at Boardman Law Firm. Help Wisconsin Women’s Network work toward full equality for all. - Network for Social Justice
Attend the Center for Change open house August 31 from 4-6 p.m. Learn how the Center for Change not only provides office space to nonprofits, but also fosters collaboration with meeting space open to all CSW member groups. - Appreciate the Origins of Labor Day
When you’re celebrating Labor Day on September 5, take time to learn from Interfaith Coalition for Worker Justice how you can support issues affecting low-wage workers. - Make Sure You Can Vote in 2012
If you don’t have a photo ID eligible for voting, start the process now. You can ask for a free ID from the Dept. of Motor Vehicles. Find out more from the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin Education Fund or from the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups. - Teach Someone to Read
Volunteer to be a tutor: September 8th is International Literacy Awareness Day. Find out how you can become a tutor by contacting Wisconsin Literacy. - Learn About Housing Discrimination
Think housing discrimination has ended? It hasn’t. Learn about the housing discrimination people encounter today, and find out about the work of Fair Housing Center-Greater Madison. - Learn about Affordable Housing
If you attend the Willy Street Fair, hosted by Common Wealth Development on September 17-18, learn more about how low-income people can get affordable housing through CSW’s housing nonprofits like Common Wealth andMadison Area Community Land Trust. - Bike for Conservation
Register to be part of the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters’ “Election Cycle” on September 18—to have fun and raise funds to conserve our natural resources. - Celebrate 40 Years of Change
Celebrate with CSW at our 40th Anniversary on September 27. Suggested donation is $40, and you can find out some answers to the question: “What does 40 years of change look like?” RSVP by September 20: call CSW at 608-256-1066. - Get Involved in Racial Justice
Consider ways to become more culturally competent—or attend the YWCA Racial Justice Summit in Madison on October 5-7. Community Shares is a partner of this event. To attend, register through the YWCA by September 23. - Celebrate Our Community Leaders
Get to know our CSW Award winners this year: Bobby Peterson from ABC for Health, Susie Earley from Fair Wisconsin Education Fund, and Gricel Santiago-Rivera from UNIDOS Against Domestic Violence. Learn more about their service to the community here. - Participate in Workplace Giving
Did you know that CSW began in 1971 with just 14 member groups? You can now direct a gift to any of our 63 member groups, or you can donate to CSW and support all of our groups. - Read a Banned Book
To commemorate Banned Books Week, read a banned book like Huck Finn, Catcher in the Rye, Harry Potter, Beloved,etc. Find out more from the ACLU of Wisconsin Foundation, and learn how they protect our civil rights. - Empower People with Mental Illness
October 2-8 is Mental Illness Awareness Week. Find out how you can help nonprofits that empower people with mental illness—groups such as Women in Transition, Housing Initiatives, Wisconsin Family Ties, Grassroots Empowerment Project, and Chrysalis. - Support Women and Children in Dire Need
Did you know that in the late 1960s, Wisconsin had no domestic violence shelters. Today 112 programs across the state provide shelter and other support. During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, find out more about the work of Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence or UNIDOS Against Domestic Violence. - Thank Those Who Work for LGBT Equality
October 11 is National Coming Out Day. Thank those who work for LGBT advocacy groups who have helped create a safer and more supportive environment for gay and lesbian Wisconsinites today: Fair Wisconsin Education Fund,Gay Straight Alliance for Safe Schools, OutReach, and New Harvest Foundation. - Get Your Facts Straight: View the Data
Badger Stat, a nonpartisan nonprofit, organizes and clearly presents data about Wisconsin so you can detect spin when you hear it. Badger Stat is a tenant in the Center for Change, a collaborative work space spearheaded by Community Shares of Wisconsin. - Help 65 Grassroots Nonprofits
It’s member appreciation weekend at Willy Street Co-op; when you go, don’t forget to say yes to CHIP. Did you know that CHIP was the first fundraising tool used when Community Shares was formed back in 1971? Since that time shoppers have donated $1.25 million to local nonprofits through CHIP! - Work for Equality
Forty years ago people with disabilities or mental illness were more likely to be living in institutions, whereas today they are contributing members of our communities. Learn more from disabilities advocacy groups like Disability Rights Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired. - Support Our Local Farmers
Don’t miss out on the last couple weeks of the Dane County Farmers’ Market, where you can support local farmers. Learn more about CSW groups involved in local foods: REAP Food Group and Community GroundWorks. - Give Your Time to Others
Trade your time and skills through Dane County TimeBank. Learn how you can help others as they provide needed help to you. - Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Reduce your carbon footprint: wear a sweater, dial down the heat, create a truly “greener” back yard, and learn from Sustain Dane how small projects can yield big rewards to make your home more sustainable. - Find Out How Tenants Rights Are Protected
Did you know that 40 years ago, landlords were often able to discriminate and tenants had very few rights? Groups that helped tenants and minority groups gain equal footing are CSW members Tenant Resource Center and the Fair Housing Center of Greater Madison. - Help Keep Our Public Lands Preserved
If you used our state parks this year or appreciate preserving our lands, consider volunteering for groups likeFriends of Wisconsin State Parks, Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger, Madison Audubon Society, and Gathering Waters Conservancy. - In Your Gift-Giving, Cut Down on Clutter
Give a commemorative gift to recognize an event or a person who doesn’t need to accumulate more “things” in life. Visit the CSW Donate page to find out more. - Learn How Much Nonprofits Have Done to Reduce Sexual Violence
Did you know that 40 years ago, there were very few laws protecting women from sexual violence, especially if the perpetrator was the woman’s husband or partner? Consider helping the work of nonprofits like Rape Crisis Center, which has for decades been our community’s leader on this issue, NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin Foundation, andWisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault. - Read a Great Local Publication
Read a great local publication: subscribe to The Progressive. Founded by Fighting Bob La Follette, The Progressive is still going strong 102 years later. - Attend the Fair Trade Festival Dec 3
Attend the Fair Trade Festival December 3 to find fair trade items from around the state and around the world. Find out more about the work of Community Action on Latin America and Working Capital for Community Needs, two of our nonprofits that work on fair trade issues. - Find Out What’s Being Done for Utility Ratepayers
Did you know that last year alone, Citizens Utility Board saved $82 million for Wisconsin utility ratepayers? Find out more about how this group advocates on your behalf. - Thank Nonprofits That Keep Jobs in Our State
Did you know that without the arts, Wisconsin could lose 44,000 jobs? Find out more about the work of Arts Wisconsin to prevent this from happening. - Learn How Wisconsinites’ Rights Are Protected
Did you know that the Bill of Rights became effective December 15, 1791? Go to the ACLU of Wisconsin Foundation website to learn how this nonprofit defends the Bill of Rights for Wisconsinites. - Donate to the Wish List from UNIDOS Against Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is devastating for anyone—but much harder for those who don’t speak English or for immigrants who don’t know where to turn for help. View the Wish List on the UNIDOS Against Domestic Violence web page to find out what items you can donate—and learn how UNIDOS assists Latina survivors of abuse. - Give to Say Thanks to CSW for 40 Years of Change
When you do your year-end giving, please donate something extra to commemorate CSW’s 40 years of creating positive change in our community. Our 63 member groups appreciate your support!