The WISE Foundation Mission

Inspired and supported by alumni and Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) members from the classes of 1962 and ’63, the WISE Foundation offers Beloit students the opportunity to learn about foundations by running their own. Our mission is to investigate the elements of a truly good society, one that offers joy and fulfillment by living a purposeful life.

WISE may promote panel presentations of experts, engage students and others in careful discussion, commission research on particular topics, bring entrepreneurs and students together for sessions to promote values-clarification, or write proposals to real-world foundations to support such activities.

While WISE staff work to shed light on what makes social life good, they also research the world of philanthropy and visit the executives of actual foundations to learn about this essential corner of the business world.

Foundations 101

Foundations earn money from investments (or, in some cases, from donations) and spend their earnings doing good works in the world. Entrepreneurs often give back to society by creating foundations or supporting charitable causes with aligned values.

Typically, a foundation will request proposals from agencies, schools, and qualified individuals in order to achieve specific objectives. Rather than carry out the work, the foundation funds others’ activities to achieve the foundation’s goals.

Believe it or not, spending money to achieve results that serve the foundation’s mission is a difficult and exacting task. It offers all the challenges of ordinary commerce while serving ends beneficial to society.

Students meeting in CELEB