Fact Sheet

Community Shares of Greater Milwaukee is the only workplace funding organization that supports Social and Economic Equity and a Healthy Environment in metro Milwaukee. Founded in 1981, Community Shares has been funding the important work of its member agencies for 27 years. Community Shares is unique in that it encourages donors to direct their gift to the charity of their choice – connecting employees directly to the issues they care about most.

Community Shares of Greater Milwaukee is a non-profit, tax-exempt, 501(c) (3) corporation, raising funds cooperatively on behalf of its member agencies. Our member agencies are community-based groups that work to create lasting solutions to significant problems confronting the Milwaukee area and beyond.

CSGM was formed in 1981 as ACHOICE (an acronym for A Campaign for Helping Organizations to Improve the Community for Everyone) as a way to help more nonprofit organizations gain equal access to workplace donors in the Milwaukee area. The name of the federation was changed to Community Shares of Greater Milwaukee in 2002.

Today, our organizations address a range of issues including: the environment, crime and drug abuse, racism, sexism, homophobia, unemployment, homelessness, civil liberties, child abuse, the education of our children, people with mental illness, and other areas of social justice and environmental advocacy.

Community Shares belongs to two national organizations working to expand choices in workplaces across America:

  • Community Shares USA (35 chapters around the country)

  • Our Giving Community (formerly National Alliance for Choice in Giving)

Community Shares today is much more than a vehicle for workplace-giving. It is a family of local organizations that also provides free member workshops and a great deal of collaboration and information-sharing to raise the operational standards of its organizations.

    Our Mission:

    Community Shares of Greater Milwaukee is building a community that ensures social equity and a healthy environment by connecting donors with issues they are passionate about.