Ronald McDonald House Charities Eastern Wisconsin

What Ronald McDonald House Charities Eastern Wisconsin does

Ronald McDonald House Charities Eastern Wisconsin is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1984 and headquartered at 8948 Watertown Plank Road in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It operates as a local chapter of the global Ronald McDonald House Charities network (owned by McDonald's Corporation and affiliates) and provides free temporary lodging, meals, transportation, and supportive programming to families of children (21 years or younger) receiving inpatient or outpatient treatment at partner hospitals. The organization runs two primary facilities: the main Ronald McDonald House in Milwaukee and a Ronald McDonald Family Room on the Rogers Behavioral Health campus in Oconomowoc, which opened in August 2021 and is open seven days a week.

The organization's core service is free accommodation with private rooms, community kitchens, laundry, parking, and programming. Access is referral-driven through partner hospitals — Children's Wisconsin, Rogers Behavioral Health, Froedtert, and Aurora Women's Health — with a Family Services team managing intake. A suggested $20/night donation is requested but no family is ever turned away. The technology stack is non-proprietary and consists of standard nonprofit operational tools: GiveSmart for event fundraising, GoFevo for ticketing, Volgistics for volunteer scheduling, and Amazon Wish Lists for in-kind donations. There are no proprietary software systems, AI/ML capabilities, or technical platforms.

Revenue is generated through donations, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events. Major annual events include the Chefs' Dinner (raising over $200,000 in 2026), Golfing Fore Our Families (over $100,000), the Christmas Fantasy House home tour (33rd year), the Hearts & Home Gala, Bubbles & Bags Fashion Show, Food & Families Luncheon, and Tab Toss Day. Additional streams include the Adopt a Room corporate sponsorship program (with named sponsors like George Kress Foundation, Humana, Schreiber Foods, and Francie Luke Silverman Foundation), pop tab recycling (over $400,000 since 2000), branded merchandise, and cause-marketing partnerships with regional sports teams and restaurants. The organization is supported by 400+ active volunteers and held Charity Navigator 4-star, BBB Accredited, and GuideStar Platinum accolades. In 2024, it served 375 families from the Appleton area alone for 3,438 nights, saving those families over $420,000 in lodging expenses.

Name

Ronald McDonald House Charities Eastern Wisconsin

Legal name

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Wisconsin, Inc.

Website

https://rmhc-easternwi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ronald McDonald House Charities Eastern Wisconsin is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1984 that provides free temporary lodging, meals, and supportive services to families of children receiving medical treatment at partner hospitals in Eastern Wisconsin, including the Milwaukee House and a Family Room at Rogers Behavioral Health in Oconomowoc.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Family Lodging and Pediatric Healthcare Support Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Other Individual and Family Services (62419)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Social Adult Day Care (Non-Medical Supervision & Activities) (HSABANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD), Meals, Nutrition & Congregate Dining Day Programs (HSABANAM)

Keywords

• Family lodging services
• Nonprofit charitable services
• Pediatric family support
• Hospital hospitality programs
• Community fundraising programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Primary revenue through monetary donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Includes Adopt a Room sponsorships, general donations, and major gifts.
2. Special Events: Annual fundraising events including Chefs' Dinner (raised over $200,000 in 2026), Gala, Golfing Fore Our Families (raised over $100,000), Bubbles & Bags Fashion Show, Food & Families Luncheon, and Christmas Fantasy House.
3. Merchandise Sales: Branded merchandise shop (RMHC Eastern WI Gear) with proceeds benefiting families. New collection coming October 2026.
4. Pop Tab Recycling Program: Since 2000, recycling aluminum pop tabs from soda cans has generated over $400,000 for the House.
5. In-Kind Donations: Donations of goods, services, and wish list items including Amazon wish list donations, registries at major retailers, and community partner contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Ronald McDonald House Charities Eastern Wisconsin provides free temporary lodging and family support services to families of children (21 years or younger) receiving medical treatment at partner hospitals including Children's Wisconsin, Froedtert, Aurora Women's Health, and Rogers Behavioral Health. The core offering includes private guest rooms with bathrooms, community kitchens, dining areas, laundry facilities, free parking, van transportation, meal programs, and a Ronald McDonald Family Room at Rogers Behavioral Health in Oconomowoc. Services are provided at no cost with a suggested $20/night donation; no family is ever turned away for inability to pay.

Product overview

Ronald McDonald House Charities Eastern Wisconsin is a nonprofit organization providing essential services to keep families together when children need healthcare. The core offering is the Ronald McDonald House—a free temporary lodging facility for families of children receiving medical treatment at partner hospitals (Children's Wisconsin, Froedtert, Aurora Women's Health, Rogers Behavioral Health). The organization also operates the Ronald McDonald Family Room on the Rogers Behavioral Health Oconomowoc campus. Supporting programs include the Adopt a Room corporate sponsorship program, Family Meal Program, Pop Tabs Recycling Program, Wish List donation program, and Family Activities programming. Annual fundraising events include the Chefs' Dinner (raising over $200,000), Golfing Fore Our Families (over $100,000), Hearts & Home Gala, Bubbles & Bags Fashion Show, and Christmas Fantasy House. The organization serves families completely free of charge—no family is turned away for inability to pay.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ronald McDonald House: The main temporary lodging facility providing accommodations for families of children receiving medical treatment at partner hospitals.
• Ronald McDonald Family Room
• Ronald McDonald House Charities

Products and services

• Ronald McDonald House (Core Lodging) Free temporary lodging for families of children (21 years or younger) receiving medical treatment at partner hospitals including Children's Wisconsin, Froedtert, Aurora Women's Health, and Rogers Behavioral Health. Each family is assigned a private guest room with bathroom, access to community kitchens, dining areas, pantries, laundry facilities, and free parking.
• Ronald McDonald Family Room A welcoming, home-like space located on the Rogers Behavioral Health campus in Oconomowoc, open seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Provides families with entertainment options, baking activities, board games, streaming comfort shows, a Quiet Room for rest, and snacks. Families do not need to be staying overnight at the House to visit the Family Room.
• Adopt a Room Program Corporate sponsorship program allowing businesses and foundations to adopt guest rooms. Sponsors include George Kress Foundation, Humana, Francie Luke Silverman Foundation, and Schreiber Foods. In 2024, the program helped serve families from the Appleton area for 3,438 nights, saving families over $420,000 in lodging expenses.
• Family Meal Program Provides regular meals to guest families, alleviating the burden of meal preparation during stressful medical treatment periods.
• Pop Tabs Recycling Program Community fundraising initiative collecting aluminum pop tabs from soda cans at official collection sites. Includes annual Tab Toss Day events in Milwaukee and Green Bay.
• Wish List Donations Donation program accepting household items, comfort supplies, and gifts via Amazon Wish Lists and registries at major retailers. Categories include House Needs, Family Comforts & Resources, Family Room supplies, and Magic Room items (books, sports balls, baby dolls, and crafts for children).
• RMHC Eastern WI Gear (Branded Merchandise) Online shop selling branded clothing and accessories. Proceeds benefit the families calling the House 'home.' New Spring/Summer collection coming October 2026.
• Christmas Fantasy House Annual fundraising event celebrating its 33rd year in 2026. Features a 6,700 sq ft Lake Country home decorated by 20+ designers open for tours, Holiday Boutique, Sweet Shoppe, Festival of Trees & Wreaths raffle, and Silent Auction. All proceeds benefit RMHC Eastern Wisconsin.
• Golfing Fore Our Families Annual golf fundraiser held at Ironwood Golf Course. Raised over $100,000 in recent year. Includes breakfast, shotgun start, on-course activities, silent auction, dinner, and raffle prizes.
• Chefs' Dinner Annual gourmet dining event raising over $200,000 for RMHC Eastern Wisconsin.
• Bubbles & Bags Fashion Show Luncheon Fifth Annual fashion show luncheon event featuring runway show, plated lunch, silent auction, and shopping. Business attire preferred with complimentary valet parking.
• Hearts & Home Gala Annual black-tie gala held at the Baird Center. Major fundraising event for the organization.
• Food & Families Spring Luncheon 10th Annual spring luncheon held at Milwaukee Country Club. Major fundraising event supporting RMHC Eastern Wisconsin families.
• Tab Toss Day Annual community celebration of pop tab recycling efforts. Includes Milwaukee (May 16) and Green Bay (May 30) events.
• Team RMHC - Chicago Marathon Charity Entry Charity running team participating in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Fundraising commitment of $2,200 per runner with guaranteed charity entries available.

Quantifiable outcome

• 375 families served for 3,438 nights in 2024, saving families over $420,000 in lodging expenses
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Integration4 records

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• George Kress FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAdopt a Room sponsor from Green Bay area providing recurring support that allows families from Northeastern Wisconsin to stay free of charge. Each spring they renew their adoption.
• HumanacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAdopt a Room sponsor from Green Bay area supporting families traveling for medical treatment. Renews adoption annually each spring.
• Schreiber FoodscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner with executive serving on RMHC Eastern WI Board of Directors. Supports through Adopt a Room, pop tab collections, fundraising activities, and monetary and wish list donations.
• Francie Luke Silverman FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAdopt a Room sponsor from Appleton area supporting families from that region. Contributed to 375 Appleton-area families staying for 3,438 nights in 2024.
• Wisconsin Landscape Contractors Association (WLCA) Metro Milwaukee ChapterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDay of Service project with over two dozen landscape contractors donating approximately $33,000 worth of labor, materials, and equipment for backyard and retaining wall beautification.
• LandCrafters (Mike Manke)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesigned the landscaping project for RMHC Eastern WI backyard beautification as part of WLCA Day of Service.
• LandWorks (Rob Holly)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManaged the landscaping project from beginning to end for RMHC Eastern WI backyard beautification project.
• Big White Yeti Candles CominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCause Candle partnership producing 'Opes & Dreams' candle. 10% of each candle sold (priced at $20) goes directly to RMHC Eastern Wisconsin.
• Pizza RanchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Impact Fundraiser partner at Green Bay location. 10% of all sales donated back to RMHC during designated fundraiser evenings.
• Bobby's Bar Great Place Good TimesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharity of the Month partner. During February, June, and October, 5% of daily sales donated to RMHC Eastern Wisconsin.
• Timber Rattlers (Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharity of the Game partner for NEON Night event. First 1,000 fans receive foam glow stick giveaway. Post-game fireworks and glow-in-the-dark Kids Run the Bases.
• Lake Country DockHounds (Wisconsin Brewing Company Field)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharity of the Game partner at Wisconsin Brewing Company Field in Oconomowoc. Portion of ticket proceeds donated to RMHC.
• Milwaukee Milkmen (Franklin Field)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharity of the Game partner. RMHC hosts Ball Toss Game and 50/50 Raffle; $1 Hot Dog and $2 Draft night promotions benefit the House.
• Complete Recycling ServiceminorOthersOfficial pop tab collection site accepting aluminum tab donations that generate revenue for the House.
• Goldin IronminorOthersOfficial pop tab collection site for aluminum tab donations supporting RMHC revenue generation.
• Appleton Police DepartmentminorOthersOfficial pop tab collection site accepting donations from community members.
• First Federal BankminorOthersOfficial pop tab collection site at banking locations.
• FDLCU (Fond du Lac Credit Union)minorOthersOfficial pop tab collection site at credit union locations.
• Great ClipsminorOthersOfficial pop tab collection site at Great Clips salon locations.
• House of Harley-DavidsonminorOthersOfficial pop tab collection site at House of Harley-Davidson.
• IBEW Local 494minorOthersOfficial pop tab collection site for aluminum tab donations.
• Mak MealsminorOthersOfficial pop tab collection site at Mak Meals restaurant locations.
• Summerfest (Henry Maier Festival Group)minorOthersOfficial pop tab collection site during Summerfest events.
• Children's WisconsincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary partner hospital. Patient Relations Department (414.266.3465) and social workers submit referrals. Free van service provided to/from hospital. Over 40% of RMHC families travel from Northeastern Wisconsin for treatment here.
• Rogers Behavioral HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner hospital hosting Ronald McDonald Family Room on Oconomowoc campus. Families at any Rogers location can use Family Room (open 7am-5pm). Intake specialists, social workers, program managers, and care coordinators submit referrals.
• Froedtert HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner hospital accepting RMHC referrals for families of children receiving treatment.
• Aurora Women's HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner hospital providing RMHC referral access for families of women and children receiving healthcare services.
• Christmas Fantasy HousecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual home tour event celebrating 33rd year in 2026. 6,700 sq ft Lake Country home decorated by 20+ designers. All proceeds benefit RMHC Eastern WI. Shop the Holiday Boutique, Sweet Shoppe, Festival of Trees & Wreaths raffle, and Silent Auction.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Healthcare Hospitality Network: Industry association of nonprofit hospitality houses serving patients and families. Provides benchmarking, standards, and visibility to RMHC Eastern WI's core service category.

Broad incumbents

• March of Dimes: National nonprofit focused on maternal and infant health. Comparable as an established health-services nonprofit with strong cause-marketing and corporate partnership infrastructure.
• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: Major pediatric medical and research institution providing free care and family housing. Comparable in mission (family-centered pediatric healthcare) and donor engagement model, though at much larger scale.
• Children's Miracle Network Hospitals: National nonprofit raising funds for children's hospitals including Children's Wisconsin, RMHC Eastern WI's primary referral partner. Operates in overlapping donor and corporate-cause-marketing space.
• Make-A-Wish Foundation: National nonprofit granting wishes to children with critical illnesses. Competes for similar donor mindshare, corporate sponsorships, and volunteer pipelines in Wisconsin, and shares the pediatric healthcare mission.

Direct peers

• Ronald McDonald House Charities of Madison: Sister RMHC chapter serving Madison, Wisconsin. Operates the same free family-lodging model for families of pediatric patients at American Family Children's Hospital and other UW Health facilities; closest geographic and operating-model peer to RMHC Eastern WI.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities (Global): Global parent organization supporting 175+ Ronald McDonald House, Family Room, and Care Mobile programs worldwide. Directly comparable as the parent brand under which RMHC Eastern WI operates and from which it receives shared best practices, branding, and donor visibility.
• Fisher House Foundation: Provides free temporary lodging to families of military and veterans receiving medical care. Closest non-RMHC comparable in family-hospitality-house model, donor sponsorship programs, and operational structure.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana: Larger neighboring RMHC chapter operating multiple Houses and Family Rooms around Chicago. Directly comparable in mission, donor programs, and Adopt-a-Room sponsorship model; provides a benchmark for scale.
• Brent's Place (Denver): Nonprofit providing safe-housing for immune-compromised patients and families near Colorado medical centers. Closely analogous in free family-lodging mission, hospital partnership model, and donor-funded operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RMHCMKE
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/rmhcmke
• Facebookfacebook.com/RMHCMilwaukee
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rmhcmke
• Instagraminstagram.com/rmhcmilwaukee

Compliance4 records

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 Ronald McDonald House Charities Eastern Wisconsin