Building Capacity,
Compassion, & Care
We provide funding to nonprofit organizations, projects
and programs throughout Northeastern Wisconsin
A Legacy of Commitment
Over 30 years ago, John (Jack) and Ethel Keller began their philanthropic journey in the Fox Valley area, spanning from Oshkosh to Green Bay, Wisconsin. The J. J. Keller Foundation (JJKF), was established as a private, family foundation committed to supporting the most vulnerable in our community by providing basic needs, enhancing mental health services, fostering innovation, and promoting community collaboration. Their legacy of commitment is visible throughout Northeast Wisconsin, where over $80 million has been invested to build capacity, compassion, and care. Ethel Keller's belief that everyone can contributeβwhether through finances, time, or talentsβcontinues to inspire their ongoing impact.
Our Focus Areas
The J. J. Keller Foundation provides funding to positively impact lives in the greater Fox Valley, from Oshkosh to Green Bay, Wisconsin, with the intent of addressing the needs of the most vulnerable people in our community. Our work supports nonprofit organizations and programs addressing basic needs and mental health. We encourage collaboration and innovation as a means to address complex social issues such as poverty.
Food
Food
Physical & Mental Health
Physical & Mental Health
Shelter & Housing
Shelter & Housing
Clothing
Clothing
Life & Literary Skills
Life & Literary Skills
Social Feed
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Our local community is grappling with a growing maternal health crisis. New mothers and newborn babies who are experiencing the trauma of homelessness are more susceptible to physical and mental health problems, developing attachment disorders, increased chance of social and developmental delays, and educational challenges as they grow. Even more, homelessness during pregnancy is associated with higher rates of complications and numerous adverse health outcomes for both mothers and infants.
Supportive housing and services provided by Vida and its Trinity Home, can mitigate the impact of trauma and homelessness on newborns and their mothers. By addressing key social determinants like healthcare access and quality, social and community context, and economic stability, Vida's services contribute to vital support to improve maternal and infant outcomes for all residents served, breaking the cycle of inequities in health outcomes.
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Recent data from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction for 2021βreflecting the post-COVID environmentβhighlights troubling trends in mental health among students:
π¨ Over half of students reported experiencing anxiety (52.2%), a notable increase from 2017 (39.9%).
π¨ Approximately 1 in 3 students (33.7%) reported symptoms of depression, marking a significant rise from 2019 and a long-term upward trend.
π¨ One in five students (21.7%) disclosed engaging in non-suicidal self-harm.
π¨ A majority of Wisconsin high school students (58.1%) reported experiencing depression, anxiety, self-harm, or suicidal thoughts over the past year.
Rawhide Youth Services School-based Counseling Programs offer crucial support to these students by eliminating any barriers they may have in accessing care.
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The impacts of low literacy are far-reaching:
βοΈ Adults without a high school equivalency earn on average $10,000 less annually than those with one.
βοΈ Patients with low health literacy face four times higher medical costs annually.
βοΈ Children of parents with low literacy are 72% more likely to have low literacy themselves, perpetuating the cycle.
With about 21% of U.S. adults having low literacy, the range of challenges is vast, from limited job opportunities and difficulties in accessing public services to risks of social isolation and educational disadvantages.
These are only a few of the reasons JJKF celebrates its partnership with Fox Valley Literacy and Winnebago Area Literacy Council whose teams diligently work for every member of our community on a crucial basic need: literacy.
