Get Involved

The Community is Listening, Our Momentum is Growing!

Led for and by the Black community: Over 300 Black donors and their honorees kicked off our fundraising effort.

In less than nine months, The Center has raised well over 60% of our $36M capital campaign goal, and we’re raising more dollars every day. We are so grateful for generous public and private support.

Join us in this historic moment for Madison and its Black community.

When the Black Community Thrives, the Region Benefits

Madison’s need for The Center is clear, and we can only make it a reality if the city’s philanthropic community, business community, and individual donors come together to build this project that will benefit all of us from Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin, and beyond. To learn more about the project, download our case statement.

The Black Excellence Campaign

More than 300 Black community members and their honorees donated the first, foundational gifts and with your help we plan to open the doors of The Center in 2024.

The Capital Campaign Leadership Committee

The Capital Campaign Leadership Committee is in charge of raising the $36 million necessary to bring The Center to life.

Anthony Cooper, Sr.

Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Reentry Services, Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership Development

Susan Pierce Jacobsen

Vice President, Director of Administration Operations, JLA Architects

Brian Burns

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Morgan Murphy Media

George Austin

President, AVA Civic Enterprises

John Milton

Minority Services Coordinator, La Follette High School

Kesha Bozeman

Marketing Executive

Kim Sponem

CEO/ President, Summit Credit Union

Marla Frank

Retired Chief Financial Officer, Frank Productions

Maurice “Mo” Cheeks

Senior Partnerships Manager, Civis Analytics and past City of Madison Alderperson

Mike Victorson

CEO, M3 Insurance

Peter Feigin

President, Milwaukee Bucks

Ray Allen

Former Wisconsin Secretary of Workforce and Development

Sverre Roang

Attorney and Local Business Leader

Rev. Dr. Alex Gee

Co-Chair, Lead Pastor of Fountain of Life Church, President and Founder of the Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership Development and Justified Anger

Hon. Frances Huntley-Cooper

Co-Chair, Madison College District Board of Directors, retired Dane County Human Services Professional, former Mayor of Fitchburg

Neil Heinen

Co-Chair, Retired Editorial Director at WISC-TV and Madison Magazine, civic leader

Jim Yehle

President & CEO, Findorff

Alan Fish

Retired Vice Chancellor of UW- Madison

Cedric Ellis

Executive Vice President & Chief Enterprise Services Officer, CUNA Mutual Foundation

Jim Bower

Principal, Bower Group LLC

Hon. Rick Phelps

Project Strategy, Former Dane County Executive, Chaired Redevelopment of East Washington Ave/ Capital East District

Betty Harris Custer

Founder & Managing Partner, Custer Financial

Michelle A. Behnke

Principal, Michelle Behnke & Associates

A Word from Our Co-Chairs

“It’s time! We are ready to showcase intergenerational Black achievement from yesterday, today, and for the future. Are you ready?”

– Hon. Frances Huntley-Cooper, Capital Campaign Co-Chair

“I am thrilled to be working with Rev. Dr. Alex Gee on one of the biggest ideas in the city’s history, The Center for Black Excellence and Culture. The Center will be transformative, changing the narrative of the Greater Madison region and its future to one that is truly inclusive and welcoming. It will celebrate the culture and contributions of the Black Madisonians who have been a part of the fabric of Madison since its inception. And it will be a Black inspired and designed space where all can gather, learn, create, celebrate, and promote Black excellence and culture.”

– Neil Heinen, Capital Campaign Co-Chair

With this campaign underway, we’re a step closer to improving the quality of life for Black Madisonians and enriching the region’s culture. You too can become a part of building The Center by contributing to its success today.

Thank You to Our $100,000+ Donors

$5,000,000 and higher

State of Wisconsin

$1,000,000 – $4,999,999

American Family Insurance

Ascendium

Summit Credit Union

CUNA Mutual Foundation

Rep. Mark Pocan earmark

(Supported by Sen. Tammy Baldwin

$250,000 – $999,999

Dane County

Oscar Rennebohm Foundation, Inc.

Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation

W. Jerome Frautschi Foundation

Dave & Terri Beck-Engel

Comer Family Foundation

Bill & Jan DeAtley

Bankers’ Bank

City of Madison

Lau & Bea Christensen

BMO Harris Bank

Evjue Foundation

Madison Gas & Electric Foundation

Green Bay Packers Foundation

$100,000 – $249,000

National Guardian Life Insurance

Company

TDS Telecom

Jack & Sarah Salzwedel

Marla & Larry Frank

M3 Insurance

Betty Harris Custer & Corkey Custer

Jim & Jessica Yehle

Mike & Karin Victorson

Dan & Patti Rashke TASC Family Foundation

UW Health

Peter Tropman and Virginia Graves

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