Championing Disability Inclusion in Wisconsin: From Aspiration to Action
By Eric DeGroot, Foundation Director, Wispact Foundation
In March, Nonprofit Quarterly published a timely and important piece: “Disability Inclusion Isn’t Special Needs—It’s Smart Philanthropy.” The article arrives at a moment when disability inclusion is facing both heightened awareness and real risk. Across the country, funding streams that support people with disabilities are under pressure, even as the need for inclusive systems, spaces, and opportunities continues to grow.
For those of us working in philanthropy, this presents a clear choice: retreat in the face of uncertainty, or double down on inclusion as a core strategy for stronger, more resilient communities.
At Wispact Foundation, we believe the answer is clear.
The Risk of Pulling Back
The Nonprofit Quarterly article outlines a troubling reality—recent and proposed funding cuts threaten programs that support disability inclusion across sectors. When inclusion is deprioritized, the consequences are not abstract. They are felt in reduced access to education, employment, healthcare, housing, and community life.
Excluding people with disabilities is not just inequitable—it is inefficient. It limits workforce participation, strains public systems, and diminishes the richness and diversity of our communities. Inclusion, by contrast, drives innovation, strengthens economies, and builds social cohesion.
Simply put: disability inclusion is not a niche concern. It is a public good.
A National Movement—And a Local Opportunity
The article highlights national leaders such as the Ford Foundation and Borealis Philanthropy, which have made significant commitments to advancing disability inclusion. Their work demonstrates what is possible when philanthropy treats inclusion not as an add-on, but as a strategic priority.
Here in Wisconsin, we are seeing a similar momentum take shape—one that reflects the unique strengths and partnerships across our state. At Wispact Foundation, our mission is rooted in enhancing the well-being of people with disabilities by expanding choice and opportunity. That mission is not theoretical. It is operational, strategic, and increasingly collaborative.
Three Pillars of Disability Inclusion—In Action in Wisconsin
The Nonprofit Quarterly article identifies three core pillars for advancing disability inclusion. Encouragingly, each of these pillars is already taking shape across Wisconsin—and Wispact Foundation is proud to be part of that progress.
1. Championing Disability Inclusion
Real change begins with leadership—organizations willing to prioritize inclusion and bring others along.
Wispact Foundation and Wispact, Inc. are committed to building a culture of equity and inclusion, not only within our organization but across the communities we serve. Our strategic direction emphasizes inclusive outreach, engagement with diverse communities, and expanding awareness of resources like Special Needs Trusts in both urban and rural areas.
We are not alone in this work. Initiatives like the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Greater Together campaign and the Wisconsin Partnership Program are helping to elevate inclusion as a shared statewide priority. Together, these efforts are fostering a more coordinated and visible commitment to disability inclusion.
2. Investing in Funding
Inclusion requires resources. Without sustained investment, even the most well-intentioned efforts cannot scale or endure.
Wisconsin benefits from a growing ecosystem of funders dedicated to disability inclusion. The Disability Inclusion Fund, the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities, and the SAC Developmental Disabilities Fund are all directing critical resources toward this work.
Wispact Foundation plays a complementary role by strategically investing in programs and partnerships that expand access, promote independence, and improve quality of life for people with disabilities. Our focus is not only on funding, but on ensuring those funds are deployed in ways that create lasting impact.
3. Creating Permission to Act
One of the most powerful—and often overlooked—drivers of inclusion is what the article describes as “permission to act.” Organizations are far more likely to prioritize accessibility when they are encouraged, supported, and sometimes incentivized to do so.
This is an area where Wispact Foundation has seen tangible progress. Through our grantmaking and partnerships, we support organizations in making their spaces and programs more accessible—whether that means installing ramps, investing in adaptive equipment, or offering sensory-friendly performances in museums and the performing arts.
These efforts send a clear message: inclusion is expected, supported, and achievable. Across Wisconsin, other grant makers are reinforcing this message, helping to normalize accessibility as a standard practice rather than an exception.
Aligning Strategy with Impact
At Wispact, our internal strategic roadmap reflects a deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and innovation. From improving outreach to diverse communities to embedding inclusive practices into our operations, we are working to ensure that our impact matches our intentions.
This alignment matters. It ensures that disability inclusion is not confined to a single program or initiative—it is integrated into how we think, plan, and act.
Moving Forward—Together
The challenges outlined in Nonprofit Quarterly are real, but so is the opportunity.
Wisconsin has the partnerships, the leadership, and the momentum to become a model for disability inclusion. What is required now is sustained commitment—from philanthropy, from public systems, and from communities across the state.
At Wispact Foundation, we are proud to be part of this movement. But progress will depend on all of us—funders, nonprofits, policymakers, and community members—working together to ensure that inclusion is not optional, but foundational.
Because when we invest in inclusion, we invest in a stronger, more equitable future for everyone.