Celebrating 20 Years of Health Impact
Join us as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Wisconsin Partnership Program, as we reflect on our proud history and legacy of impact, and celebrate the partnerships, projects and achievements that are moving health forward for the state of Wisconsin and beyond.
The Wisconsin Partnership Program has been moving health forward since 2004 – creating partnerships, propelling medical research and enhancing health education and workforce development to improve health and advance health equity.
A true embodiment of the Wisconsin Idea, the work of the Wisconsin Partnership Program and our grant partners has reached – and continues to reach – all corners of Wisconsin – across a wide range of communities, populations and geographic areas.
20th Anniversary News and Updates
We look forward to sharing stories, reflections and activities as we commence our anniversary celebration. Stay tuned for additional news and announcements.
Boosting Teen Health
Grants by the Numbers
The Wisconsin Partnership Program has awarded 615 grants since 2004.
Community grants to support projects that improve health and advance health equity in diverse populations across the state
Education grants to prepare future health professionals to meet the health needs of the people of Wisconsin
Research grants to improve health and health care for patients and populations and reduce health disparities
Funding awarded since 2004
Wisconsin counties impacted by funded projects
Additional funding leveraged by grantees to sustain their projects
Grant and funding totals were calculated using data available from 2004–February 2024.
Outcomes and Impact
The Wisconsin Partnership Program produces outcome reports that detail grantee outcomes and accomplishments.
Our History
The Wisconsin Partnership Program was established within the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health through a generous endowment resulting from the conversion of Blue Cross Blue Shield United of Wisconsin from a nonprofit service corporation to a stock insurance corporation.
In 1999, Blue Cross Blue Shield United proposed to convert from a nonprofit service corporation to a stock insurance corporation. The Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner’s Order (Order), issued in March 2000, approved this conversion. As part of the arrangement, the proceeds from the sale of stock were equally distributed to both the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and the Medical College of Wisconsin, with the primary purpose of improving the health of the people of Wisconsin. The funds are endowed at each school to ensure these resources will be available to impact health in Wisconsin now and for generations to come.
Since 2004, the Wisconsin Partnership Program has actively sought proposals and awarded grants, conducting our operations in accordance with the program requirements outlined in the Order.
Today these resources continue to provide the Wisconsin Partnership Program and the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health with an extraordinary opportunity to work in collaboration with faculty and communities across the state to address complex health challenges and create impactful outcomes that are transforming health for patients, populations and communities.
The Wisconsin Partnership Program remains steadfast in our commitment and responsibility to steward and administer these resources in full alignment with our mission to improve health and advance health equity through community partnerships, education and research.
Partnerships That Move Health Forward
Learn how Wisconsin Partnership Program grantees positively impact health in Wisconsin.
Understanding Impact: Partnerships are Key
The Wisconsin Partnership Program is one of many organizations that influence health in Wisconsin, and our unique placement within the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health provides significant university resources, talent and expertise that enhance our impact.
We recognize that people’s health is influenced through many policies, structures and systems. We partner with health care systems, government, public health, schools, non-profit organizations, faith institutions and other organizations to advance shared goals for improving health in Wisconsin.
Community Grants Evaluation Plan
To help us understand the impact of the diverse work we fund through community grants, the Wisconsin Partnership Program contracted with a company called Mathematica to help develop an evaluation strategy. Using input from a wide variety of Wisconsin Partnership Program stakeholders, including grant recipients, staff, Oversight and Advisory Committee members and others, a guidance document was created as part of this strategy. This document offers options for standardizing data collection. Working collaboratively with grantees, the Wisconsin Partnership Program leverages key portions of this guidance document to create an individualized reporting templates and metrics for each project. These metrics are then utilized to track each project’s outcomes and progress. These steps enable the Wisconsin Partnership Program to better understand the impact of the projects it funds through community partners.