How Collaboration and Connection Drive Real Community Change

Nonprofits across Wisconsin are tackling big challenges with creativity, collaboration, and heart. Our Nonprofit Spotlight series highlights organizations turning those values into measurable results and lessons others can use to grow, adapt, and thrive.

For our first feature, we spoke with Shawn Carney, Executive Director at Catholic Charities of Madison, a nonprofit proving that innovation often starts with cooperation.

Serving the Whole Person

Each year, Catholic Charities reaches more than 15,000 people across southwest Wisconsin, guided by its mission to “demonstrate Christ’s love and justice by caring in faith for the human family.”

With 16+ programs spanning housing, recovery, mental health, and immigrant support, the organization builds bridges between services to meet community needs efficiently and equitably.

Integrating Care Through Connection

Community challenges rarely exist in isolation, and neither do Catholic Charities’ solutions.

Its 5 Door Recovery program supports adults in residential treatment for substance use disorder while addressing trauma and mental health simultaneously. The 30-day, evidence-based model is one of the few in the region accepting Medicaid. This helps ensure financial barriers don’t block participation.

“We are particularly proud of the number of people who complete the program,” says Carney. “In 2024, 142 individuals successfully graduated from 5 Door Recovery.”

Partnerships That Multiply Impact

Catholic Charities also operates The Beacon Day Shelter, serving more than 250 people daily with meals, showers, and laundry, seven days a week.

What sets The Beacon apart is its co-location model, a public-private partnership with Dane County, the City of Madison, and 20+ local agencies providing housing, medical, and case-management services onsite. By centralizing care, The Beacon reduces barriers and strengthens continuity across organizations.

When nonprofits align space, systems, or outreach, the impact extends far beyond what any one group could do alone.

Planning Ahead, Together

Looking forward, Catholic Charities is focused on sustainability through collaboration. But what does that look like in practice?

This August, Catholic Charities did just that by welcoming the Catholic Multicultural Center (CMC) in into its fold. The CMC had outgrown the capacity of its original parish, and by assuming operational and programming responsibilities, Catholic Charities made sure those crucial community services could not only continue but flourish. It’s a perfect example of how partnership and a little forward-thinking can uplift everyone involved.

“The needs of those we serve will only grow over time,” Carney shared. “We must anticipate change, focus on what we do best, and collaborate when others can serve more effectively.”

Lessons for the Sector

Catholic Charities offers a grounded example of how nonprofits can align mission with management to achieve lasting impact. Its approach proves that innovation often means coordination over creation.

“Concentrate on the work you excel at,” Carney concludes. “If someone else in your community is better suited to provide certain services, don’t hesitate to seek collaborations or transfer programs. The nonprofit sector should work toward eliminating duplicate services to better serve both our clients and the community members who fund us.”

Stay tuned for future Spotlights highlighting nonprofits driving change through creativity and collaboration.