WISCONSIN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES ARTS & LETTERS
Ideas that move the world forward
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The problem we aim to address is a lack of public awareness and understanding of the significant contributions to the Sciences, Arts & Letters by some of the state's best and brightest people.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Academy Talks
Academy Talks are a statewide series of public talks, featuring leading thinkers, scholars and artists, and engaging the public in a wide variety of timely topics in an atmosphere that fosters discussion and builds community.
Wisconsin People & Ideas magazine
Wisconsin People & Ideas is the only magazine covering contemporary Wisconsin thought and culture. It brings our readers the best of Wisconsin: innovations in science and technology, groundbreaking visual art, the best fiction and poetry, and news on environmental issues and challenges. Contributing writers have received awards and accolades for their fiction and poetry. Science reporting – like our articles on algae blooms and frac-sand mining – provides valuable and dispassionate context for issues with long-reaching implications for the state.
James Watrous Gallery
The James Watrous Gallery at the Overture Center for the Arts is devoted to exhibitions of Wisconsin visual artists, Wisconsin art and craft history, works owned by Wisconsin collectors, and projects that bridge the sciences, arts, and humanities. We support Wisconsin visual artists and arts through quality exhibitions and programs, while providing opportunities for viewers to actively engage in the visual arts.
Wisconsin Academy Fellowship Award
Recognition as a Fellow is the highest honor conferred by the Wisconsin Academy. Since 1982, the Fellows program has identified and honored individuals from the fields of science, arts, or letters who represent both an outstanding level of accomplishment in their field and an unwavering commitment to intellectual discourse and service to the state of Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Strategy Initiatives
Wisconsin Strategy Initiatives bring people together with a diverse array of experts and stakeholders to find solutions to statewide challenges. Through our Climate & Energy Initiative, the Academy seeks to understand and address Wisconsin's role in global climate change and explore diverse, sustainable energy choices.
Where we work
External reviews
Videos
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Our Mission: To create a better world by connecting Wisconsin people and ideas.
Our Vision: A brighter future inspired by Wisconsin ideas.
The Wisconsin Academy creates opportunities for people to connect, learn, and collaborate to improve life in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Academy showcases contemporary Wisconsin art at the James Watrous Gallery, examines science and culture in Wisconsin People & Ideas magazine, and explores pathways to a sustainable future through its Climate and Energy Initiative. The Academy Courses and public talks provide opportunities to learn and explore, while making connections with curious and creative people across Wisconsin. The Academy recognizes excellence through the annual Fiction & Poetry Awards and Fellows Awards for leadership in and across disciplines. We also support the Wisconsin Poet Laureate and many other endeavors that help the Academy create a better world by connecting Wisconsin people and ideas.
The Academy’s values include:
Curiosity: asking questions that spark deep thinking, creative problem solving, and rational decision making; spark the interest of citizens to continue learning throughout their lives.
Critical thinking: welcoming diverse perspectives to foster a better understanding of the world around us; promoting creativity and laying the foundation for scientific innovation and healthy democracy.
Creativity: celebrating and elevating imagination and creative expression across the rich cultural diversity that exists in Wisconsin; supporting excellence in the arts and literature, and the artists, writers, scientists, and problem solvers along their creative journey.
Civil discourse: convening leaders with diverse perspectives across the state in developing timely and impactful solutions to issues affecting all Wisconsin residents.
Our Core Activities
Academy programming aims to:
• Celebrate creativity and achievement across disciplines,
• Amplify Wisconsin ideas that inform and empower,
• Elevate our capacity to thrive and be resilient,
• Affirm the value of the sciences, arts, and letters in the lives of Wisconsin residents.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
TRANSFORMING VISION INTO ACTION
Desired Outcomes
Actualizing our commitment to the future outlined above and to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility requires us to move beyond vision and explore opportunities for intentional and meaningful change.
Our short-term action plan and metrics will be developed and guided by a strategic planning effort that is currently underway.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
WISCONSIN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES ARTS & LETTERS
Board of directorsas of 05/05/2023
Mr. Tom Luljak
Emeritus Vice Chancellor of University Relations, UW-Milwaukee
Term: 2021 - 2022
Richard Donkle
Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative
Kimberly Blaeser
UW-Milwaukee
Patricia Brady
University of Wisconsin System
Joe Heim
UW-La Crosse
Tim Size
Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative
Roberta Filicky-Peneski
Robert W. Baird & Co.
Tom Luljak
UW-Milwaukee
Robert D. Mathieu
UW-Madison
Kevin Reilly
University of Wisconsin System
Frank D. Byrne
St. Mary's Hospital
L. Jane Hamblen
State of Wisconsin Investment Board
Michael Morgan
Community Volunteer
Steve Ackerman
UW-Madison
Rafael Salas
Ripon College
Thomas W. Still
Wisconsin Technology Council
Chan Stroman
Landlord Counsel LLC
B.J. Hollars
UW-Eau Claire
Andrew Richards
UW-Madison
Steven Ackerman
UW-Madison
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 03/11/2021GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.