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Versiti Blood Research Institute Foundation
Founded in 1981, the Foundation is the fundraising arm that fuels the Versiti Blood Research Institute (VBRI), with Chris Miskel serving as President and CEO.
Versiti Blood Research Institute Foundation
Founded in 1981, the Foundation is the fundraising arm that fuels the Versiti Blood Research Institute (VBRI), with Chris Miskel serving as President and CEO. Its mission centers on eliminating blood diseases by funding the Institute's scientists, who work on the Medical College of Wisconsin campus in Wauwatosa. The Foundation is governed by a board chaired by Dixon Benz II, ensuring donations translate directly into research grants. Gifts are channeled toward named research initiatives and facility expansion. The MACC Fund committed $11.5 million to advance pediatric cancer research at VBRI, while the Stollenwerk Family Foundation provided a $1 million gift to support the Stem Cell and Cellular Therapy Institute. The Foundation's capital underpins an expanding physical footprint, including the VBRI facility at 8727 W. Watertown Plank Rd. and a subsequent expansion project on the same campus. Geographic reach extends across Versiti's blood center network, which operates in Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan. Leadership and donors rally around high-profile community partnerships that raise both funds and awareness. The Detroit Lions partner on the 'One Pride' blood drive, the Indianapolis Colts engage through 'Bleed Blue' drives with a sickle cell focus, and the Chicago Fire FC hosts community blood drives. The Foundation also cultivates a next-generation support base through its Versiti Junior Advisory Board and the corporate donor circle 'Bench to Breakthroughs'. The Foundation's architecture is notable for its close institutional coupling. Unlike independent disease foundations that fund a broad range of external researchers, Versiti's structure mandates that nearly all philanthropy flows inward to the scientists of its co-located research institute. This creates a tight, Verily-like loop where donor intent, institutional governance, and scientific execution inhabit the same organizational chart, minimizing translational friction between a gift and a grant-funded lab experiment.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1981
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Milwaukee
Corporate office
Milwaukee, WI, United States
Principals
Chris Miskel
President and CEO
Dixon Benz II
Chair of the Foundation Board
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
How does the Versiti Blood Research Institute Foundation direct its funding?
The Foundation acts as the philanthropic vehicle for the Versiti Blood Research Institute. Donations are not dispersed to external entities but are granted directly to scientists and programs within the VBRI, which operates on the Medical College of Wisconsin campus. This structure ensures that all fundraising directly supports internal research into blood cancers and disorders.
What is the relationship between the Foundation and the blood centers operating under the Versiti name?
The Foundation and the blood centers, such as those in Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan, are part of the broader Versiti enterprise. While the blood centers manage clinical collection and transfusion services, the Foundation focuses specifically on raising funds for the research institute. Partnerships with professional sports teams, like the Indianapolis Colts' 'Bleed Blue' drive, often support both awareness for blood donation and fundraising for the Foundation's research mission.
What kind of research does the Versiti Blood Research Institute Foundation primarily support?
The Foundation channels its resources into basic and clinical research on blood diseases and disorders. Funded research areas include leukemia, sickle cell disease, and hemophilia. The focus spans from foundational scientific discovery at the bench to translational studies that move toward clinical therapies, all housed within the VBRI facility.
Who are some of the Foundation's most significant funding partners?
Major philanthropic commitments come from the MACC Fund, which has dedicated $11.5 million to pediatric cancer research at the VBRI. The Stollenwerk Family Foundation also provided a $1 million gift specifically to establish and support the Stem Cell and Cellular Therapy Institute. A corporate donor network called 'Bench to Breakthroughs' also contributes.
Does the Foundation maintain a formal co-investment or venture philanthropy model?
No. The Foundation operates as a traditional non-profit research funder rather than a venture philanthropy organization. It does not take equity positions in biotech startups or engage in co-investment deals. Its financial operation centers on receiving tax-deductible gifts and issuing grants to the non-profit Versiti Blood Research Institute.
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