Wisconsin Partnership Program

**About** The Wisconsin Partnership Program (WPP) is a grantmaking program within the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health committed to improving health and advancing health equity in Wisconsin through investments in community partnerships, education and research. The Wisconsin Partnership Program represents a far-reaching commitment by the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health to greatly improve the health of people in Wisconsin now and for years to come. Since the Wisconsin Partnership Program began making grants in 2004, our approach to grantmaking has harnessed the power of academic research combined with community knowledge to address some of Wisconsin’s most pressing and complex health challenges. Our principles and practices are integrated with the time-honored concept of the [Wisconsin Idea](https://www.wisc.edu/wisconsin-idea/), recognizing the tremendous opportunity for an exchange of knowledge and resources between the university and communities to improve life within the state of Wisconsin and beyond. Our mission and work are strongly aligned with the School of Medicine and Public Health’s mission to advance health through innovative research, outstanding education and remarkable service to communities. **Mission** To bring about lasting improvements in health and well-being and advance health equity in Wisconsin through investments in community partnerships, education and research. **Vision** Everyone in Wisconsin will live healthy and full lives. **Guiding Principles** Since inception, the Wisconsin Partnership Program has employed strategies of stewardship, innovation and collaboration to advance its mission to serve the public health needs of Wisconsin and reduce health disparities. Its strategy and framework for grantmaking are detailed in its [Five-Year Plan](https://wpp.med.wisc.edu/about/five-year-plan/). As its name implies, the success of the Wisconsin Partnership Program resides in the connections it creates among people and communities across the state. Whether in the laboratory, classroom or community, the Wisconsin Partnership Program and its collaborators are working together to achieve the shared mission of improving health and advancing health equity for the people of Wisconsin. **History** The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health is home to the Wisconsin Partnership Program, a grantmaking program within the School of Medicine and Public Health established as a result of a generous endowment gift from Blue Cross Blue Shield United of Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Partnership Program operates in full accordance with the Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner’s Order of March 2000, which approved the conversion of Blue Cross and Blue Shield United of Wisconsin from a nonprofit service corporation to a stock insurance corporation and the distribution of the proceeds from the sale of stock to the School of Medicine and Public Health and the Medical College of Wisconsin to improve the health of the people of Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Partnership Program has been engaged in seeking proposals and making awards since 2004. Today the resources continue to provide the Wisconsin Partnership Program and University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health with an extraordinary opportunity to work in collaboration with faculty and communities across the state to address Wisconsin’s most pressing and complex health problems.