Welcome to the Madison Forward Fund 2.0

A guaranteed income to support health, opportunity and wellness!

42

participants

$500

monthly payment

March 2025 - February 2026

program dates

*With orientation activities starting in January 2025.

Who is Eligible? Past or current participant of a Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness Maternal Child Health program between May 2022 and November 2024.

Must be a Dane County resident, 18 and older with a household income less than 200% of the Federal Poverty level, currently pregnant or have at least one child in your custody who is age three or younger at the time of application.

Willing to work with an FFBWW Community Health Worker to address your family health and well-being needs.

Applications are now closed.

A guaranteed income to support health, opportunity and wellness!

Welcome to the Madison Forward Fund 2.0 (MFF 2.0) guaranteed income program designed  to support health, wellness, and opportunity for women and families in Dane County, Wisconsin. 

The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness (FFBWW) is the official host of year two of the Madison Forward Fund, a guaranteed income pilot program which will provide monthly payments of $500 over twelve months to women, mothers and birthing people in Dane County who have been clients of the FFBWW’s maternal child health programs. 

As a current or past recipient of services provided by our organization, you have been invited to this page to learn more about the MFF 2.0 Program and to consider applying for one of 42 available spots to participate in this empowering 12 month opportunity.

Features of our program include:

  • Reliable, Direct Support: Receive $500 each month to help you and your family thrive—because parenting is challenging enough!
  • Your Choice: You decide how to spend the funds—parents know what’s best for their families.
  • Opportunity to Grow: Monthly support that can open doors to better health, happiness, and well-being.
  • Community & Resources: Access to social support and wellness programs tailored to help you reach your physical, mental and economic health goals.

We know that financial stress can take a serious toll on health. Guaranteed income is a powerful tool to improve health outcomes, especially during the critical early years of a child’s life. By supporting mothers, children, and families through the Madison Forward Fund 2.0, FFBWW invests in brighter, healthier futures.

What is FFBWW’s Guaranteed Income Program?

Building on the success of the City of Madison’s original Madison Forward Fund, FFBWW’s program provides monthly financial support along with wraparound social and health resources. This program aims to improve health and wellness for families by addressing differences in health outcomes by race and gender and by promoting respect, choice, and giving families control over their own lives.

As a potential participant, you will have the chance to connect with one of our Community Health Workers (CHWs) for resources, information, and support, as well as join our health and wellness programming. These programs are designed to build health literacy, support healthy lifestyles, and encourage wellness for your mind, body, and spirit.

If selected, you’ll receive $500 each month for a year along with access to community resources and wellness programming to support you and your family’s well-being.

Eligibility Requirements

To participate in our GI program you must be able to answer yes to each of the following:

  • I am at least 18 years old
  • I am a resident of Dane County
  • I am a past or current participant of a Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness Maternal Child Health program between May 2022 and November 2024. You are being invited to apply to this program because you are a past or current participant!
  • My household income is no greater than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) based on my family size at the time of application. Household size is the number of people (adults and children) who live with you. Please consult the household income chart below.
  • I am either currently pregnant or have at least one child in my custody who is age three or younger at the time of application.
  • I am willing to work with an FFBWW Community Health Worker to address my family's health and well-being needs.
  • I agree to be responsive to information requests, including completing surveys and program data collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

[click to open each answer]

Guaranteed income is a monthly payment sent directly to families to provide flexible, easy-to-access support. It values the hard work people put in—whether through paid jobs or essential unpaid roles like caring for children, elderly family members, or people with disabilities. This program is based on the idea that those facing financial challenges know their needs best and can make the right choices for their family’s well-being. Guaranteed income adds to our current social safety net, supporting joy, respect, and fairness for all families.

The information you provide in your application will help us check if you’re eligible for the program, so please be sure to complete it fully. After the application period ends, we’ll review all submissions to confirm eligibility. Incomplete information could affect your chances of being selected. All applicants will also have the option to connect with an FFBWW community health worker or join our health programs.

Forty-two families will be chosen at random from all eligible applicants to receive the guaranteed income benefit. Every eligible family has an equal chance of being selected, no matter when they submit their application. You can apply anytime during the application period, from November 20 through December 6, 2024.

If your family is selected to receive the monthly payment, we will contact you by email or phone about one month after the application period ends. A program representative will be available to answer any questions you may have, and you’ll have the opportunity to decide if you’d like to enroll. You’ll also be invited to complete optional surveys about your health and well-being at least two times between March 2025 and February 2026 with a $25 payment for each survey you complete.

The program will enroll 42 recipients, so we won’t be able to serve every family that applies. If you’re not selected, you’ll receive an email notification in early 2025. We will also reach out to all applicants at least twice between March 2025 and February 2026 with an opportunity to complete a survey. These surveys, which are optional, will gather similar information to what you shared in your application. Your responses help us understand the impact of the guaranteed income program, and support our efforts to expand access to such programs in the future, and you’ll receive $25 for each survey you complete.

The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness believes that direct cash assistance programs, like the Madison Forward Fund, can strengthen existing public support systems. These programs focus on respect and trust, allowing individuals to decide how best to use the support they receive. To promote and expand these programs, we need solid data showing their benefits. This includes feedback from current participants as well as from those who applied but were not selected. If you applied and weren’t selected, we hope you’ll take a moment to respond to our surveys. Your input will help us build a strong case for expanding and making these programs permanent, benefiting more people in the future.

Your responses are completely confidential, and no one will be identifiable in public reports. We analyze the data collectively, focusing on the overall impact. You’ll receive $25 for each survey you complete.

Each participant will receive $500 per month for one year. Payments will start in March 2025 and continue monthly through February 2026.

No, the $500 monthly payments are flexible. Participants can use the funds however they see fit to meet their household needs.

If selected, participants will work with an FFBWW Community Health Worker to support their family’s health and wellness needs. Participants also need to be open to completing surveys and providing information about their experience in the program.Before making a final decision to join, participants will attend an orientation to learn more about the program. You will also have the option to meet with a benefits counselor to see if and how joining the program could impact any public benefits you currently receive. Participation is always optional, and you can opt out at any time.

applications are now closed.

Contact Info

Reach us by email at: mff2.0@ffbww.org
Reach us by phone at: (608) 305-4422