What ThriveOn Collaboration does

ThriveOn Collaboration is a nonprofit, community-centered, place-based collaboration founded in 2019 by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation (GMF), the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), and Royal Capital Group, with a stated mission of eliminating racial, health, economic, and social disparities in three Milwaukee neighborhoods — Halyard Park, Harambee, and Brewers Hill — that together form the Bronzeville district. The Collaboration operates across five priority areas: Housing, Early Childhood Education, Health & Wellness, Social Cohesion, and Economic Opportunity, and is governed through a tri-sector co-chair model (Gregory M. Wesley/GMF, John R. Raymond/MCW, Kevin Newell/Royal Capital) with substantial resident input via a 15-member Community Advisory Council that holds grant-recommendation authority.

The Collaboration's core physical asset is ThriveOn King, a redeveloped ~455,000-square-foot historic Gimbels-Schuster's department store building at 2153 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., encompassing GMF's headquarters on the 4th floor (nearly 28,000 sq ft), MCW's community engagement programs on Floors 2-3 (nearly 56,000 sq ft), 89 mixed-income residential apartments including 27 independent senior living units, a 300+ space parking structure, and first-floor community programming. First-floor tenants and partners include the Malaika Early Learning Center, Versiti BloodCenter of Wisconsin (~3,500 sq ft donation and training center), JobsWork MKE, and the Kinship Community Food Center café. Seven reservable community rooms (Neighborhood Hall, Stage/Community Hub, Wellness Lab, Mezzanine Conference Room, Community Rooms A/B/C) are open to the public Monday-Friday 7am-7pm and Saturday 9am-5pm, and a public art program honors 48 African American leaders through work by 20+ commissioned artists.

ThriveOn Collaboration's business model is philanthropic rather than commercial. There is no product pricing, no commercial SaaS offering, and no disclosed revenue; the Collaboration itself operates with 1-10 employees and does not disclose standalone financials. Capital inflows are channeled primarily through GMF, including a $10 million GMF impact investment, ~$12.5 million in historic tax credits, ~$15 million in City of Milwaukee financing, and ongoing philanthropic donations across four themed funds (ThriveOn Collaboration, Community Engagement, Early Childhood Education, and Arts). Programmatic offerings include the ThriveOn Small Business Loans program ($1.5M+ deployed to 30+ minority-owned businesses, ~80% in target neighborhoods, part of a $30M five-year commitment), the MKE United Anti-Displacement Fund (seeded with $100K from GMF), a $2M endowed chair for health equity research at MCW, and a 15-member Community Advisory Council that has recommended $70K+ in community grants. The go-to-market model is community-led: neighborhood visioning sessions, one-on-one resident interviews, virtual and in-person office hours, and direct communications through the website (thriveoncollaboration.org), newsletters, and earned media in local outlets.

Name

ThriveOn Collaboration

Legal name

ThriveOn Collaboration

Website

https://thriveoncollaboration.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ThriveOn Collaboration is a nonprofit, place-based community partnership founded in 2019 by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Medical College of Wisconsin, and Royal Capital Group to eliminate racial, health, economic, and social disparities in Milwaukee's Halyard Park, Harambee, and Brewers Hill neighborhoods through ThriveOn King, a redeveloped historic community hub.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Community development services
• Affordable housing programs
• Early childhood education
• Health equity programs
• Small business lending

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Donations: The organization accepts donations through the Greater Milwaukee Foundation for various funds including the ThriveOn Collaboration Fund, ThriveOn Community Engagement Fund, ThriveOn Early Childhood Education Fund, and ThriveOn Arts Fund. These donations support the redevelopment of ThriveOn King and community programs.
2. Real Estate Development: Royal Capital Group serves as the developer for the approximately 455,000-square-foot ThriveOn King project, bringing over $100 million in reinvestment along the King Drive Corridor. The project includes mixed-income housing, commercial space, and community facilities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ThriveOn Collaboration is a historic, community-centered, place-based collaboration that operates ThriveOn King — a redeveloped 455,000-square-foot historic building in Milwaukee's Bronzeville district serving as an inclusive community hub with nonprofit offices, mixed-income housing, reservable community spaces, and anchor service partners in early childhood education, blood donation, workforce development, and food services. The Collaboration also operates philanthropic programs including low-interest small business loans, an anti-displacement fund for homeowners, and multiple themed donation funds supporting housing, early childhood education, health equity, and the arts.

Product overview

ThriveOn Collaboration is a historic, community-centered, place-based collaboration formed by Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Medical College of Wisconsin, and Royal Capital Group. The core offering is ThriveOn King, a redeveloped historic building serving as an inclusive community hub with office space for anchor tenants (Greater Milwaukee Foundation and MCW), 89 mixed-income apartments, and first-floor community spaces. The portfolio includes reservable community rooms (Neighborhood Hall, Stage/Community Hub, Wellness Lab, Mezzanine Conference Room, and Community Rooms A/B/C), a public art program featuring over 20 artists, and tenant partners including Malaika Early Learning Center, Versiti Blood Center, JobsWork MKE, and Kinship Café. Related programs include ThriveOn Small Business Loans, the MKE United Anti-Displacement Fund, and several themed donation funds (Community Engagement, Early Childhood Education, and Arts). The Collaboration focuses on five priority areas: Housing, Early Childhood Education, Health & Wellness, Social Cohesion, and Economic Opportunity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ThriveOn King Community Hub An inclusive community hub in Milwaukee's Bronzeville district housed in the redeveloped historic Gimbels-Schuster's building, providing space for the Greater Milwaukee Foundation headquarters, Medical College of Wisconsin community engagement programs, nonprofit tenant partners, 89 mixed-income apartments, and first-floor community services.
• Neighborhood Hall Large reservable community gathering space ideal for community events, with projector screens, microphones, podium, public wi-fi, and AVER camera for virtual meeting integration. Capacity: 30-96.
• Stage/Community Hub Reservable space ideal for speaking engagements, panels, DJ sets, and presentations with projector, HDMI connections, four microphones, and virtual meeting capabilities. Capacity: 1-90.
• Wellness Lab Non-traditional reservable space for intergenerational programming, youth-focused sessions, and retreats with AV features, monitors, Zoom camera, and streaming audio capabilities. Capacity: 5-25.
• Mezzanine Conference Room 1 Small group reservable retreat space with display monitor, public wi-fi, HDMI setup, and virtual meeting support. Capacity: 1-5.
• Community Room A Reservable space ideal for training sessions, meetings, and workshops with projector screen, AV setup, public wi-fi, and HDMI connection. Capacity: 10-30.
• Community Room B Reservable space ideal for training sessions, meetings, and workshops with projector screen, AV setup, public wi-fi, and HDMI connection. Capacity: 10-25.
• Community Room C Reservable space ideal for lunch meetings, informal gatherings, and small groups with glass surround, attractive lighting, and public wi-fi. Capacity: 12.
• ThriveOn Small Business Loans Low-interest loan program providing access to capital for small businesses owned by people of color in Milwaukee, with loans ranging from $25,000 to $50,000 and ongoing technical assistance. Funded through Greater Milwaukee Foundation's impact investing program.
• MKE United Anti-Displacement Fund Fund providing financial assistance to help ensure long-time, income-eligible homeowners are not displaced due to rising property values and new developments. Has helped numerous homeowners, predominantly Black and Brown residents with majority age 62 and older.
• ThriveOn Collaboration Fund Donation fund providing critical, long-term, flexible funding to fuel and scale interrelated strategies centered on place, program, and neighborhood development.
• ThriveOn Community Engagement Fund Donation fund supporting the Collaboration's approach to putting residents at the center of their work through ongoing community engagement activities.
• ThriveOn Early Childhood Education Fund Donation fund helping build out a leading-edge early childhood center in the ThriveOn King building and support existing early childhood education providers in the area.
• ThriveOn Arts Fund Donation fund supporting art in ThriveOn King public spaces, reflecting the rich history, inclusive community, and thriving future of the surrounding Bronzeville area.
• ThriveOn King Mixed-Income Residential Housing 89 mixed-income apartments at ThriveOn King, with 27 units set aside for independent senior living. Includes community and media rooms, fitness center, and underground parking.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1.5 million in small business loans distributed to 30+ businesses owned by people of color; nearly 80% located in target neighborhoods
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered tenant partner, anchor tenant, founding partner, tenant, design partner, contractor, collaborative initiative and community partner.

• JobsWork MKEtenant partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 January 2023JobsWork MKE is a nonprofit that helps community residents achieve sustainable employment while strengthening neighborhood economies. Relocated to ThriveOn King as a tenant partner aligned with the economic opportunity focus area.
• Versiti BloodCenter of Wisconsinanchor tenantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 May 2022Versiti operates a nearly 3,500 square-foot community resource and permanent blood donation center at ThriveOn King. Provides phlebotomy training and employment opportunities, education on donor diversity for patients with conditions like sickle cell disease and cancer, and blood donation services. Versiti has been part of the Milwaukee community for 75 years.
• Malaika Early Learning Centeranchor tenantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2022Malaika Early Learning Center offers high-quality early childhood education for infants and toddlers in the neighborhood. Also oversees professional development programs for early education providers. Part of ThriveOn Collaboration's commitment to expand access to quality early childhood education.
• Greater Milwaukee Foundation (GMF)founding partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 March 2019GMF is Wisconsin's largest community foundation and one of the founding partners of the ThriveOn Collaboration. Manages more than $900 million in assets and has awarded more than $800 million in grants. The Foundation's approximately 58 employees will be based on the 4th floor of ThriveOn King (nearly 28,000 sq ft). GMF provided $10 million impact investment and $100,000 seed funding for the MKE United Anti-Displacement Fund. Racial equity is the Foundation's North Star guiding investments and strategies.
• Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW)founding partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 March 2019MCW is a major national research center and the largest research institution in the Milwaukee metro area. Founded in 1893, MCW enrolls more than 1,200 students in medical school and graduate programs. MCW occupies nearly 56,000 square feet on Floors 2 and 3 of ThriveOn King for community engagement programs including Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin, Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Institute for Health & Humanity, Community Engagement, Cancer Center Outreach, Comprehensive Injury Center, and Center for Advoting Population Science.
• Royal Capital Groupfounding partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 March 2019Royal Capital Group is an urban development company led by founder and CEO Kevin Newell. RCG is the developer for the ThriveOn King project and committed to bringing over $100 million in reinvestment along the King Drive Corridor. RCG is known for quality sustainable communities while achieving double bottom line for investors and partners. RCG was the first African American to partner with an NBA team (Milwaukee Bucks) to develop a commercial entertainment district.
• Kinship Community Food CentertenantStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates café at ThriveOn King offering scratch-made, healthy food while providing paid workforce training in culinary arts, urban farming, and hospitality. Café open to public Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Engberg Anderson Architectsdesign partnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture firm involved in ThriveOn King redevelopment, working alongside Kahler Slater (design firm) to restore and redevelop the historic Gimbels-Schuster's building.
• Kahler Slaterdesign partnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDesign firm involved in ThriveOn King redevelopment, working with Engberg Anderson Architects to restore and redevelop the historic Gimbels-Schuster's building while preserving its historic integrity.
• JCP ConstructioncontractorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMilwaukee-based, family-owned construction company established in 2008 by brothers Clifton, James and Jalin Phelps. Selected as contractor for ThriveOn King project with commitment to employing workforce reflecting the community they serve. Has contributed to Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport remodel, and Northwestern Mutual tower.
• CG SchmidtcontractorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMilwaukee-based construction company selected as contractor for ThriveOn King project.
• MKE United Anti-Displacement Fundcollaborative initiativeStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished at Greater Milwaukee Foundation in 2019 to help prevent resident displacement due to rising property values. GMF provided $100,000 in seed funding. Both the Foundation and MCW are active in raising money to support and grow the fund. Has helped numerous homeowners over the past years, predominantly Black and Brown residents, majority age 62 and older.
• Wisconsin Black Historical Society/Museumcommunity partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with ThriveOn Collaboration to document and share the stories of 48 African American leaders honored through public space naming at ThriveOn King.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Habitat for Humanity International: Habitat for Humanity is the largest U.S. nonprofit housing organization, building affordable homes and supporting community development across hundreds of metros. While operating at vastly greater scale, it shares ThriveOn's emphasis on affordable housing, anti-displacement, and neighborhood revitalization with philanthropic and volunteer support.
• Enterprise Community Partners: Enterprise is a national nonprofit focused on affordable housing and community development, combining real estate development, capital deployment, and policy advocacy. Like ThriveOn, it bridges housing, health, and economic opportunity in underserved communities, though at portfolio scale across many U.S. cities.
• The Kresge Foundation: The Kresge Foundation is a major national foundation with a focused place-based strategy in Detroit and select other cities, deploying multi-year programmatic grants across health, education, and economic opportunity in low-income neighborhoods. Comparable to GMF's role backing ThriveOn, with similar integrated community development thesis but at national scale.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): LISC is a major national community development financial institution (CDFI) that invests in affordable housing, economic development, health, and education in disinvested communities. It operates at much greater scale and geographic breadth than ThriveOn but pursues substantively the same integrated community development thesis with philanthropic and impact capital.

Direct peers

• Purpose Built Communities: Purpose Built Communities is a national nonprofit that partners with local leaders on holistic neighborhood revitalization across mixed-income housing, cradle-to-college education, and community health — closely mirroring ThriveOn's integrated priority areas. Both organizations pursue place-based, multi-decade community transformation with anchor institution partnerships.
• Invest Detroit Foundation: Invest Detroit is a CDFI and place-based community development organization focused on Detroit neighborhoods, deploying catalytic capital for housing and small business. It shares ThriveOn's place-based urban revitalization thesis with philanthropic capital backing, though in a different Midwest city.
• Living Cities: Living Cities is a collaborative of major foundations, financial institutions, and corporations that pools capital and expertise to tackle urban inequality through place-based investing in U.S. cities. Its multi-sector collaboration model (foundations + financial institutions + corporations) is structurally similar to ThriveOn's medical college + foundation + developer partnership.
• Healthy Neighborhoods Healthy Families (Nationwide Children's Hospital): This Columbus, Ohio initiative is led by a major hospital system (Nationwide Children's) investing in housing, education, employment, and safety in surrounding neighborhoods. It is one of the closest analogs to ThriveOn's medical-college-led place-based model with MCW, validating the hospital-as-anchor-institution thesis that ThriveOn pursues.
• The Cleveland Foundation: The Cleveland Foundation is one of the largest U.S. community foundations with a substantial place-based community development strategy in Cleveland neighborhoods, deploying tens of millions annually toward housing, education, and economic opportunity. Comparable to Greater Milwaukee Foundation's role within ThriveOn, both use foundation assets to anchor multi-decade neighborhood revitalization.

Others

• MKE United: MKE United is the broader Milwaukee coalition of which the MKE United Anti-Displacement Fund (a ThriveOn program) is a part. It is a directly related ecosystem organization addressing gentrification and racial equity in metro Milwaukee — not a competitor but a strategic coalition partner for ThriveOn's housing and equity work.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/thriveoncollaboration
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thriveoncollaboration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 ThriveOn Collaboration