MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Devin Lopina
Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin
devinl@cacscw.org | 608-673-7254
www.cacscw.org
MADISON, WIS. — Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin (CAC) has been named a finalist in BizTimes Media’s 2026 Nonprofit Excellence Awards in the Nonprofit Collaboration of the Year category.
The awards are designed to shine a light on the community impact of southeastern Wisconsin nonprofits and salute the work of for-profit organizations, executives and professionals donating their time, talent and treasure to community causes.
Finalists will be recognized at an awards event on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at the Italian Community Center, 631 E. Chicago St. in Milwaukee, from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Dozens of nominations were submitted for the program this year, and 38 finalists were named in 10 different categories. An overall winner in each category will be announced at the event.
CAC was selected as a finalist for its collaborative work with Jefferson County government to launch the Jefferson County Financial Empowerment Center, a free financial counseling program designed to help residents build financial strength, confidence, and long-term stability.
Through conversations with community partners, public agencies, and residents across Jefferson County, CAC and Jefferson County identified a growing need for accessible, one-on-one financial counseling. In response, they worked together to launch the Jefferson County Financial Empowerment Center, which provides free, professional financial counseling to adults who live, work, or attend school in the county. Counselors support clients with budgeting, legacy planning, debt reduction, and personal financial goals.
Since launching in September 2025, the program has received strong feedback from the community. By helping people build financial strength and confidence, the Financial Empowerment Center supports individuals and families at every stage of life and addresses financial stress that can impact housing, employment, health, and overall stability.
“We are honored to be recognized as a finalist for Nonprofit Collaboration of the Year,” said Meghan Mietchen, Executive Director of Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin. “This recognition reflects the breadth of our work across Dane, Jefferson, and Waukesha counties, where we partner with communities to expand food access, support housing stability, and strengthen financial well-being. The Jefferson County Financial Empowerment Center is a strong example of what can happen when local government, nonprofit partners, funders, and community members work together around a shared need. By helping residents build financial confidence and stability, we are helping create stronger families, stronger communities, and more opportunity across Jefferson County.”
CAC is grateful to be recognized alongside other finalists in the Nonprofit Collaboration of the Year category, including Jewish Family Services, Milwaukee’s Youth Homelessness Demonstration Project Collaborative, and Violins of Hope. A complete list of finalists and their designated categories can be found at www.biztimes.com/npawards.
To register to attend the Nonprofit Excellence Award Ceremony, visit www.biztimes.com/npawards.
