Support Next Door
Help us give Milwaukee’s children a bright future!
Milwaukee’s future is in all of our hands. Next Door’s mission to help central city children and their families overcome challenges and build bright futures is only possible with the continued support of local businesses, community leaders, foundations and volunteers. Whether you’re best able to donate time, money or skills, your support helps us bring together the educational and social resources that our families and children need and deserve to succeed.
We have a variety of volunteer and donation opportunities — both large and small.
Ways to Give
Your support can make the most significant impact by giving to our greatest need. This flexible option allows us to allocate resources where they are needed most, ensuring that we can respond swiftly and effectively to the evolving needs of our community. Your generosity helps us provide essential services and support to those who need it most.
Read for Children
May 1 – 31, 2025
Building the future of our community is an important mission that will never go extinct. Read for Children is a month-long event that builds literacy skills and provides reading materials to young children in the Milwaukee community.
Volunteer
Your time and talents are valuable.
Next Door volunteers are some of our greatest resources! Our children, families and staff appreciate your skills, dedication and kindness. We have plenty of opportunities for you to support our students directly in the classrooms and in our libraries. You can also support special events/projects and lend a hand preparing thousands of donated books that come in every year for our Books for Kids program. Volunteer support also helps raise valuable funds for Next Door. For every hour a volunteer logs at Next Door, we can access $22.24 in federal funding.
Books for Kids
Promote Literacy
Research shows that the number of books available to a child may surpass all other variables in predicting their long-term success in school. Since the program started in 1990, Next Door’s Books for Kids program has collected and distributed more than 1 million books to Next Door students and children across Milwaukee.
Host a Book Drive
Stocking the Shelves
Filling the bookshelves at Next Door and at the homes of Milwaukee’s young people takes a team of generous and dedicated individuals. Learn about how you can host a book drive in your community, church or office.
Shop Wish Lists
Supporting Immediate Needs
Follow Us!
Stay Connected on Social
Looking for a way to stay connected to Next Door? Follow us on social media today!
By liking and following our social, you’ll be able to look inside Next Door classrooms, get introductions to our students, families & staff, stay up to date on research about the importance of our work in early childhood education, learn about our volunteers and donors, receive invitations to special events—and more! And please help us spread the word by sharing our posts.
Leave a Legacy
Make the Biggest Difference
At Next Door, we believe every child deserves a strong start to life no matter what background they come from. The majority of children served at Next Door live in poverty and lack critical resources for success in school and in life. Your support today can help build bright futures for Next Door students and a stronger Milwaukee!