Community Shares of Wisconsin

What Community Shares of Wisconsin does

Community Shares of Wisconsin is a Madison-based nonprofit federation, established approximately 50 years ago, that connects donors with ~80 member nonprofits working on social and environmental justice across Dane County and the rest of Wisconsin. Its core offerings are giving programs — Workplace Giving (employer-coordinated employee donations via ePledge and payroll deduction), The Big Share, and Community CHIP — rather than a technology platform. The organization earns revenue primarily through donations from individuals and workplace campaigns, supplemented by membership dues and administrative assessments paid by member nonprofits.

All member nonprofits hold a seat on the Community Shares board of directors, creating a member-governed federation structure in which operational decisions are made collectively. Community Shares provides member organizations with fundraising access, capacity building, and peer networking; it does not develop proprietary technology products or sell software/services commercially. Distribution runs through workplace campaign coordinators, an online donation portal at give.communityshares.com, organic social channels (Facebook, Instagram), email/newsletter, and annual events including the Community Change-Maker Awards and monthly Backyard Hero Awards.

Operationally, the organization runs with a lean staff (1-10 employees including an Executive Director, Program Director, Development Director, Database Administrator, Financial Director, Membership and Operations Manager, and Campaign Manager) out of a single Madison office. Recent strategic activity includes adding 16 new member nonprofits, 2022 bylaw changes requiring public commitments to racial and social justice from members, and formalization of dedicated fundraising and campaign leadership. Revenue, campaign totals, and growth metrics are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Community Shares of Wisconsin

Legal name

Community Shares of Wisconsin

Website

https://communityshares.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Community Shares of Wisconsin is a Madison-based nonprofit federation that connects donors with approximately 80 member nonprofits working on social and environmental justice across Wisconsin via workplace giving campaigns and other programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Workplace Giving: Facilitates workplace giving campaigns where employees can donate to member nonprofits through payroll deductions or one-time donations. Coordinate with employers to run annual giving campaigns and provide ePledge online portal for donations.
2. Individual Donations: Direct donations from individuals supporting social and environmental justice causes through the organization's donation platform.
3. Membership Dues: Member nonprofits pay membership dues and administrative assessments determined annually to be part of Community Shares of Wisconsin.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Community Shares of Wisconsin is a nonprofit federation of approximately 80 member organizations working in social and environmental justice across Dane County and Wisconsin. It operates three primary fundraising programs — Workplace Giving campaigns (coordinated with employers via payroll deduction and the ePledge portal), The Big Share (a community-wide online day-of-giving), and Community CHIP (a collaborative grantmaking program) — and distributes the proceeds along with capacity-building and networking support to its member nonprofits.

Product overview

Community Shares of Wisconsin is a nonprofit organization that does not offer a commercial technology product. It operates as a funding and membership organization for social and environmental justice nonprofits, providing programs including Workplace Giving, The Big Share, and Community CHIP. The organization facilitates charitable giving campaigns and connects donors with member nonprofits rather than offering a technology platform or SaaS product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Workplace Giving Program Annual workplace giving campaign coordinated with Wisconsin employers that lets employees donate to vetted CSW member nonprofits via payroll deduction or one-time gifts through the ePledge portal, with on-site campaign coordinators supporting each workplace.
• The Big Share A community-wide online day-of-giving event that concentrates fundraising activity for CSW's member nonprofits in a defined giving window, driving individual donor engagement through the online donation portal.
• Community CHIP Community CHIP is CSW's collaborative grantmaking program that pools and directs funds to member nonprofits working in social and environmental justice across Wisconsin.
• Online Donation Portal Direct online donation platform hosted at give.communityshares.com that allows individual donors to give to CSW and its vetted member nonprofits, supporting one-time and recurring contributions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100,000 participants educated through Sustain Dane programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• UW-Credit UnionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for the 2026 Community Change-Maker Awards event.
• 105.5 Triple MminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsors Backyard Hero Awards alongside Isthmus and Budget Signs.
• IsthmusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia sponsor for Backyard Hero Awards.
• Budget SignsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Backyard Hero Awards.
• 80 Member Nonprofit OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of ~80 nonprofit organizations focused on social justice, environmental justice, housing, civic engagement and related causes. All members have seats on the CSW board of directors and participate in governance.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/communityshares
• Facebookfacebook.com/communityshares
• Instagraminstagram.com/commshareswi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/communityshareswi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Community Shares of Wisconsin