WE DREAM. WE DO.

Every child can reach their full potential and achieve their dreams with the right support.

A woman and three children posing together indoors, smiling. The children are wearing navy blue sweatshirts with a circular logo, and the woman is dressed in a gray jacket and glasses. Art in the background.

who we are

  • The “I Have A Dream” Foundation – Milwaukee (IHDF) empowers students from historically marginalized communities to thrive at school, at home, and in the community through individualized social, emotional, academic, and family support from first grade to first job, along with guaranteed post-secondary tuition assistance. Scroll down to watch our video and see how Dreamers, families, and our community are building brighter futures together.

Who We Are

what we do

See how we support Dream Scholars and their families from first grade through first job.

explore our programs

GET INVOLVED

Choose how you want to make an impact.

A woman and a young girl sitting together at a table in an office, smiling at the camera, with a sunset beach scene painting on the wall behind them.

VOLUNTEER

Mentor a Dream Scholar and make an impact through consistent connection.

BECOME A MENTOR
A group of seven people, including children and adults, posing together indoors in front of a plain wall. Some are smiling, and one person is gesturing with a peace sign. The group appears to be gathered for a casual photo.

PARTNER

Expand opportunities for Dream Scholars through resources, programs, and experiences.

PARTNER WITH US
An elderly man in a dark suit and yellow vest, wearing glasses, stands with four young children in front of a glass door. The children are smiling and have visitor badges around their necks.

DONATE

Invest in the programs and scholarships that support Dream Scholars for the long term.

GIVE TODAY

OUR IMPACT TO DATE

90%

Across the IHDF network when compared to like peers, 90% of Dreamers graduate High School, as compared to 66% non Dreamers.

100%

IHDF-MKE actively serves 100% of our Dream Scholars

93%

Dream Scholars actively participating in our program have a 93% school attendance rate.

We love what our dreamers and our community have to say about our work.

“I Have a Dream Foundation Milwaukee has helped my family tremendously. They give children opportunities they usually wouldn’t have, and they make a way, not only for the Scholars, but for their families too.”

Carmen Reynolds
IHDF-MKE Parent

“May graduation. GPA last year 4.0. Dreamer from 2008. I made it!”

Juanita Lipsey, Milwaukee Dreamer
Dillard University Graduate

“Hearing about the scholarship took the weight of the world off my shoulders. I didn’t know how I was going to get all my kids to college. She’s so young, it grows with her, and she has mentors that help her. That made me fall in love with the program.”

Natasha Clinton
IHDF-MKE Parent

I Have a Dream Foundation – Milwaukee is proudly supported by:

Milwaukee Bucks Foundation logo with a green outline of Wisconsin, the word BUCKS inside, a basketball, and text beneath that reads Milwaukee Bucks Foundation.
Logo with a bridge graphic above the text 'Bridging the Gap' and the subtitle 'Connecting Research and Policy'.
Fruition MKE logo with large stylized text and small decorative symbols.
Wintrust Town Bank logo in black text on a white background.
Logo of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation with blue wave symbol and text 'Greater Milwaukee Foundation' and slogan 'greater together'.
Herb Kohl Philanthropies logo with black, blue, and gray letters
A logo featuring green hands holding a cityscape with multiple buildings above the text 'Community Advocates Public Policy Institute'.
Logo with the text 'ARTS @ LARGE' and a colorful target symbol in the center.
Logo for Milwaukee Academy of Science featuring a circular design with swirling shapes in the center and text around the perimeter.
Logo of Brewers Community Foundation featuring a shield outline, the words 'Brewers Community Foundation' in large text, and a fist holding a baseball in the center.
Logo for Hunger Task Force with a wheat stalk graphic, the words 'Hunger Task Force' in blue, and the tagline 'Free & Local' in yellow.
FMP Fathers logo with silhouettes of a father and child, and the text 'FMP Fathers' and 'Making Progress'.
Logo for Foley & Lardner LLP featuring a blue square and black text.
The logo of We, a company brand, featuring a white lowercase 'we' on an orange oval background.
Logo for the City of Milwaukee featuring a historical building and the text 'City of Milwaukee'.
Logo of The Links, Incorporated featuring a globe with chain links and the tagline 'Linked in Friendship, Connected in Service'.
Milwaukee County logo with a stylized number 1 and a curved yellow road.
Logo of Mentor Greater Milwaukee featuring stylized geometric shapes in red, yellow, blue, and teal forming a heart.

the DREAM continues with you.

Help us provide Dream Scholars and their families with the support, opportunities, and resources they need from first grade through first job.

make an impact