FP FIVE: PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY
- joe26971
- Jul 13
- 7 min read
July 13, 2025
The Family Promise Five (FP Five) is a weekly newsletter whose purpose is to update, inform, and advocate for families who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness.
The mission of Family Promise of Waukesha County is to help low-income families and families experiencing homelessness achieve sustainable independence through a community-based response.
In this edition, you will find these stories:
Would you consider housing to be a right or a privilege?
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
01.MPC RADIO SHOW
Family Promise featured on the EIGs Milwaukee Philanthropic Community radio show.
Community
Family Promise of Waukesha County Executive Director took part in a discussion about homelessness and housing on the Ellenbecker Investment Group (EIG) radio show titled the Milwaukee Philanthropic Community (MPC). MPC is an hour long weekly radio show hosted by Jill Economou and features two nonprofits each week. The show broadcast on July 6 focused on Family Promise of Waukesha County and St. Vincent DePaul of Waukesha County. Bob Glowacki and Jodie LaChapelle spoke about the services of St. Vincent DePaul. One aspect of the discussion was on how these two agencies work together to respond to the needs of those experiencing homelessness.
Besides being featured on the radio show, Ellenbecker Investment Group has selected Family Promise of Waukesha County as their third quarter charity. Joe gave a presentation to their team during a lunch and learn session. Financial donations and supplies from staff and clients will be directed to serve families experiencing homelessness. Thank you Ellenbecker Investment Group.
Listen to the podcast here:
02. BID EARLY, BID OFTEN
Participate in the Golf Outing Silent Auction Remotely.
Fund Development
The deadline to participate remotely in the Family Promise of Waukesha County Silent Auction has been extended! To view and bid on items from anywhere, please complete this form by Monday, July 14 at noon. This form is only for individuals who will NOT be attending in person.
Once you have submitted the form, you will receive confirmation of your participation, a bidder number, and instructions for accessing the silent auction through the Givi App. It is the responsibility of those who bid remotely to pick up any item they win from the Day Center 139 E North Street Waukesha 53188 by Friday July 25. The credit cards of winning bidders will be charged immediately after the auction closes.
Important Dates:
Registration Deadline for Remote Bidders: July 14 at noon
Super Silent Auction Items Opens: Monday, July 14 at 10am
Silent Auction Bidding Opens: July 17
Bidding Closes: July 21 at 6:00 PM
Using the Givi App, you can:
Track items you're interested in
Enable automatic bidding with your chosen limits
Set a maximum bid cap to stay within your budget
If you have any questions or need help setting up the app, please contact Julie
THANK YOU, SPONSORS
Thank you to all those who are supporting the Family Promise of Waukesha County as a sponsor of the outing. These sponsorships make a direct impact on the lives of families experiencing homelessness. Please frequent these sponsors and let them know that you appreciated their support of Family Promise of Waukesha County.
BOTTLE BONANZA
We need your help to secure bottles of beverages for the the Bottle Bonanza Putting Contest. During this game bottles of a variety of beveages will be spread out on the practice putting green. If a golfer hit the bottle with their putt they can take it home!
If you would be able to donate a bottle or two of an adult festive beverage it would be much appreciated. Please drop off any donation at the Day Center, 139 E North Street Waukesha 53188 by end of the day on Wednesday, July 16.
03. STATE OF HOMELESSNESS IN WAUKESHA COUNTY
You are invited to an informational session about homelessness in Waukesha County
Community
The Wisconsin Balance of State Continuum of Care will be making a presentation about the State of Homelessness in Waukesha County. The presentation to be held on July 31 at the Waukesha Public Library at 10am will cover data about those who have been experiencing homelessness in our county. This deep dive into the homeless management database and national data sources will provide insight into the realities of homelessness in our county. Learn more about the trends and resources as well as discuss solutions to the homelessness crisis.
Questions?
POLL OF THE WEEK
Would you consider housing to be a . . .
Right
Privilege
04. WELCOME CORI!
Cori Prahl joined the Board of Trustees in June 2025
Volunteer
Family Promise of Waukesha County is pleased to announce that Cori Prahl has joined our board of trustees. Cori is a lifelong resident of Wisconsin. She graduated from the UW- Madison law school in 1990. Currently, she is a shareholder attorney in the Waukesha County law firm of Stone Ridge Law Offices of Prahl & Snedeker, Ltd. Her focus is on practicing insurance defense litigation.
Cori and her husband Paul have been married since 1996. Paul also graduated from UW- Madison. They raised their three children in Waukesha County. All three of their children graduated from Waukesha Catholic Memorial High School and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Outside of work Cori enjoys all UW sports, time on Pewaukee lake, St. Charles Church, and is looking forward to becoming more involved in Waukesha Family Promise and serving it’s mission.
Needless to say, Cori contributed a UW Badger themed basket to the silent auction for the Golf Outing!
Cori, thank you for getting involved.
05. STRATEGIC GOALS
Six months into the year, an update on how is Family Promise doing with its 2025 goals?
Mission
It is important to us that all of our friends, supporters, volunteers, and donors know what we are focusing on to develop the organization. We pride ourselves on being transparent with both our sucess and failures. Therefore we share with you now an update on our goals for 2025. These goals were established in the fall of 2024 during a board planning session faciliated by Lindsay Moore, the Regional Director for Family Promise. Here is a summary of our four goals and an update on their progress. This includes our success as well as opporunities still in front of us.
Goal 1: Financial Stability.
Family Promise has seen a significant growth in services, clients served, employed staff and
expenses over the past five years. Our budget jumped from $212,000 in 2019 to $1.1 million in 2025. At the end of the 2025 we hope to increase our reserves to 4 months of operating expenses. We typically have 2-3 months of operating on hand. The ultimate goal would be to have a minimum of six months of reserves or even an endowment fund to ensure the long term viability of our agency. After six months our success include:
Success
Hiring Julie Bice as Director of Outreach and Development
Creating a Fund Development Committee
Exceeding $125,000 on Giving Day
Opportunity
Increase the number of recurring donors
Move retention rate to 60%
Develop ongoing partnerships with corporate donors
Goal 2: Space Evaluation
Over the past few years we have been open about our hopes to secure a property for a non-congregate shelter. In this area our goal is to have a site identified by the end of the year. There have been many opportunities that have not panned out. We are on target to have this goal accomplished by the end of the year.
Success
Progress has been made on securing a viable site. More to come in the next few months.
Opportunity
Next step will be to secure funding.
Goal 3: Organizational Structure
Growing from 2.5 to 8.5 staff member has been a significant change. This goal is focused on ensuring that we have the systems in place to hire, train and support the staff, provide clear direction, evaluation and accountability, examine pay structure and benefits, strategies for board recruitment, and orientation of board members.
Success
Hiring 6 new staff members who are excellent!
Updating employee manual
Opportunities
Develop an Operational Manual
Become more intentional in board recruitment
Goal 4: Community Building /Program
Moving to the Apartment Shelter Program has been beneficial to families but has challenged us in finding meaningful ways to engage volunteers. This goal will focus on implementing volunteer opportunities that are helpful for the families, meaningful for clients, and grow the partnerships with new groups.
Success
Redefined partnership expectations
Established monthly collections and activities
Return to regular VC meetings
Opportunities
Build relationships with an additional 10-15 partners
Fine tune criteria for stabilization program
These are important strategies for the future of Family Promise of Waukesha County. We know you love and are committed to the families we serve. We welcome your thoughts, questions and feedback .
FIVE PLUS
Happy Birthday, Cassidy!
Join us in wishing Cassidy, our Family Advocate for the Apartment Shelter Program a Happy Birthday this Wednesday, July 16!
Cassidy is responsible for providing case management for all families in the shelter program, transitional housing and some stabilization.
Office Hours
The week of July 21 will result in some unusual hours for our team. Due to the Golf Outing on Monday and the PIT Count on Wednesday night, which our team participates in, there will be less office hours and availability. Please know staff will get back to you ASAP.
During the summer our offices will close on Fridays at noon.
There is No Place For Us Book Discussion
Come learn and reflect on the reality of the working homeless in our country by participating in a book discussion about There is No Place For Us. Complete the inquiry form if interested.
CALENDAR
July 14 Staff Meeting
July 16 Presentation to Women in Banking
July 21 Family Promise of Waukesha County Golf Outing
July 22 Affordable Housing Workgroup
July 23 Point in Time Count
July 23-28 Joe out of office
July 28 Waukesha Family Homelessness Workgroup
July 28 Staff Meeting
July 28 Finance Committee Meeting
July 31 State of Homelessness in Waukesha County
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