MILWAUKEE, June 23, 2026 — Northwestern Mutual, through its Foundation, is continuing its long-standing commitment to Milwaukee’s youth by announcing a $5.5 million investment to support 70 local schools and education nonprofits. This brings the company’s total contribution to advancing education in the city to more than $75 million over the past three decades.  

Now in its fourth year, the Northwestern Mutual Summer Teacher Grant program continues to expand. This year, 85 projects were awarded, spanning innovative teaching approaches, targeted student support and engaging learning experiences, including hands-on STEM programing, tutoring, and resources tailored to different learning needs. To date, the initiative has funded nearly 200 projects. 

“Strong student outcomes begin with supporting educators and the work happening every day in the classroom,” said Steve Radke, president of the Northwestern Mutual Foundation. “We’re proud to work alongside schools and community partners to expand opportunities that help students reach their full potential while building a stronger pipeline of talent for our city.” 

Of this year’s projects, over a dozen are focused on increasing student reading proficiency. Pilgrim Lutheran School has received several Summer Teacher Grants since 2024, geared towards enhancing literacy curriculum and outcomes.  

“Our continued partnership with Northwestern Mutual has allowed us to make meaningful progress in strengthening literacy instruction across our classrooms,” said Kimberly Springer, Principal at Pilgrim Lutheran School. “With sustained support, we’ve been able to implement targeted approaches that help students build the foundational reading skills they need to succeed.”

As part of its broader annual investment, Northwestern Mutual is dedicated to empowering students through every stage of their academic journey, from strengthening early childhood and K–12 pathways to expanding access to post-secondary opportunities. In addition, the company is supporting students pursuing post-secondary education—funding scholarships, university grants and supplemental services that help more students succeed and transition into the workforce. To date, Northwestern Mutual has funded more than 190 scholarships totaling nearly $3.6 million through the company’s Hometown HBCU Connection program and a partnership with All-In Milwaukee, supporting students in pursuing higher education and career opportunities.

To learn more about the company’s educational support visit www.northwesternmutual.com/sustainability.