We help children grow strong from the roots up

Two of the greatest gifts you can give a child are roots to grow and wings to fly.

To help children grow strong from the roots up, Roots & Wings partners with nonprofit organizations that support low-income children and their families in reaching their full potential. Our nonprofit partners provide in-depth programming that changes lives. Learn more about who we are.

Program Areas

Roots & Wings funds nonprofit organizations that are helping low-income children and families reach their full potential. Our four areas of focus are basic needs, early learning, health, and safety & justice. Learn about our program areas.

Basic Needs

Basic Needs
Early Learning

Early Learning
Health

Health
Safety & Justice

Safety & Justice

Grantmaking

Mindful that our program partners are often overworked and under-resourced, we work hard to make grants that allow them to stay focused on their mission. That means providing multi-year, unrestricted support whenever possible, while minimizing distractions like lengthy applications, complex reporting and evaluation requirements.

Basic Needs

No Kid Hungry by Share Our Strength

Early Learning

Kids Forward

Safety & Justice

Just Dane

Health

Alameda Health System Foundation

We learn about prospective nonprofit partners through ongoing research, our growing network of grantees, community outreach and introductions through our webiste. Then we invite eligible nonprofits to apply. Given our small staff and lean approach, we do not accept or respond to unsolicited proposals. Learn about our grants.

Our Approach
Our Approach
Our Process
Our Process
Our Impact
Our Impact

“The funding provided by Roots & Wings has played a key role in the work we are doing, but, perhaps equally as important, has been the perspective we have gained through our conversations with you. We are proud of the work we do and honored to have been chosen by Roots & Wings to receive this funding and support.”

Jeanne McLellan
Executive Director, NAMI Dane County

Learn about our current grantee partners

Domestic Abuse Intervention Services

Empowering those affected by domestic violence and advocate for social change through support, education, and outreach.

Visit partner website Learn about all our partners

Visit Our Newsroom

Roots & Wings Newsletter—Spring 2025

In this issue: We are excited to highlight our Safety & Justice work with a pair of remarkable partner stories. The Alliance for a Safe Oregon is helping write a new playbook as they work to reduce firearm suicide in rural communities. And the Wisconsin Impact Network reveals what it takes to build a trusting, collaborative learning community among like-minded nonprofts.

April 1, 2025

Judy Faulkner Made $7.7 Billion From Healthcare Software. Here’s Her Unusual Plan To Give It Away.

Led by her youngest daughter Shana Dall’Osto, the Epic founder and CEO’s family foundation Roots & Wings will soon be granting around $100 million to hundreds of nonprofits each year.

October 19, 2024
View all news stories