About Us
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Brief History of GIVN
GIVN began with the vision of one newly elected county board member representing two townships in rural Northern Wisconsin. During his meetings with voters in the spring of 2021, a lack of services for seniors was constantly mentioned. This individual (Richard Logan) discussed this matter with the Town Boards of Presque Isle and Winchester and held discussions with a rural development consultant and grant writer (Dan Peterson) who had recently moved back into the community. They held several meetings about the best approach for improving local service delivery. Mr. Peterson strongly advocated for the formation of a rural health network and said these organizations had proven successful in developing needed services in many similar rural communities nationally.
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Health Network Description
As described above, the Gogebic, Iron, and Vilas Network was established in 2022 by a group of local officials who were concerned about access and the quality of health care available to residents of Northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. After several planning meetings involving these officials, it was decided to establish a two state rural health network based on models proven successful in several Western states. Initial meetings with the town governments of Presque and Isle and Winchester, Wisconsin found them supportive of development of any programs that might assist the large number of seniors who were living and moving to their communities.
What is a Rural Health Network?
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) defines a rural health network as: “An organizational arrangement among at last three separately owned local or regional health care providers.” These organizations collaborate to improve health service delivery, expand access, and coordinate care for a defined community.
Rural Health Networks are defined in Section 711 of the Social Security Act which was passed into law in 1935. This section facilitated much funding for rural hospitals in the early years of social security. In 1977, Congress passed Public Law 95-210 which encouraged development of rural health clinics. In 1990, the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy was created that provided grants to rural health organizations to address the needs of what are now 65 million rural residents. Over the past 35 years FORHP has funded numerous rural health programs including: state offices of rural health, network planning and development grants, workforce development, and substance abuse planning and development, and residency programs to name a few.
To be recognized by HRSA as a rural health network and become eligible for funding through the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) a network must meet specific standards as defined by regulation. These include:
The network must be comprised of at least three separately owned or operated health care entities or providers
Members must agree to collaborate and share resources, overcome local challenges, and strengthen the rural health care system
At least 66% (or two-thirds) of the network’s participant organizations must be physically located in a rural designated community
HRSA encourages networks that represent a broad mix of health care entities including hospitals, social services, public health agencies, and tribes.
GIVN completed the recognition process as a rural health network in late 2023. Information on the network’s membership, service area, current projects is provided in the various sections of the website.
Governance and Project Management
Governance and oversight of the network is the responsibility of the network’s Board of Directors. Decisions concerning the network are discussed in monthly network meetings and approved by the Board of Directors before action is taken. It took GIVN approximately three years to become a non-profit and acquire its first HRSA grant. Although hiring and retaining professional staff may become an issue in the future, GIVN currently has a well-functioning staff and Board of Directors. Sarah Maki, MBA was hired by GIVN in 2025. Based on her excellent communication and management skills, she was asked to assume the role of GIVN CEO in February of 2026. She agreed to do so and assumed this position in March of 2026. Since that time Ms. Maki has directly assisted GIVN in areas of grant writing and program development. Dan Peterson, MPA (the current Secretary/Treasurer of GIVN) has 30 years of management and grant writing experience.
The current Board Chairperson of GIVN has similar experience in state government. The project team for the GIVN rural health planning grant includes these two individuals, two other local government leaders, and the project’s consultant/evaluator from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. On May 12th, 2026; GIVN received notice that it would be awarded a Charles Kubly grant to document depression screening in Northern Wisconsin and develop a resource book to document existing services. Starting on July 1st, GIVN began implementation of its MSW training grant with UWM. By the start of Fiscal Year 2027, GIVN anticipates award of the network’s VA Suicide Prevention program and a state care coordination planning grant in the amount of $875,000.
Structure, Leadership, Size of the Organization, and Staffing
On November 8th, 2023, the network’s planning committee selected a Board of Directors to lead the organization over the next two years. In November of 2025, this board was reappointed by the network’s membership. The Board Chairperson is a retired state employee. The Vice-Chairperson has 20 years of medical and nursing home experience.
The board’s Secretary/Treasurer as a health consultant successfully implemented the start-up of the Oregon-Washington health Network in Pendleton, Oregon. Thus, the current board of Directors of GIVN has many years of rural health experience including implementing many successful grant funded projects. It also has many years of experience in implementing and evaluating health care services on the Federal, state, and local level including 10 or more successful foundation grants.
To date the GIVN Board of Directors has completed articles of association, drafted bylaws, been assigned an EIN, and completed SAM and Grants.gov registrations. It has also received designation both a state and Federal non-profit organization. The Board of Directors of GIVN is currently in the process of implementing personnel and accounting policies and procedures. It also has contracted the services of a CPA to manage payroll and other expenditures of the network. By January 30, 2027, it is expected that GIVN will have addressed all the requirements necessary to successfully carry out a wide range of health and social services projects that will benefit all residents of Northern Wisconsin and the Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Sponsors & Funding
The start-up of the GIVN network was privately funded through the generous contributions of the core planning committee, private citizens, and members of the GIVN Board of Directors. Between 11/8/23 and 10/1/24, $600 in private contributions was raised for the start-up of the health network. These were used to establish the network as a state not-for-profit organization, hold planning and board meetings, and develop required policies and procedures to facilitate the network’s planning grant.
The HRSA Rural Development Planning grant awarded to GIVN on 10/1/24 in the amount of $100,000 was the first step in the network’s plans to directly address major gaps in the existing health care system of Northern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. Over the next four years, GIVN plans to seek state, federal, and foundation funding to address its most needed services. It also plans to carry out numerous planning grants and other developmental activities with its partners to develop effective strategies for ensuring residents of the service area have access to high quality health care services while working collaboratively to improve the efficiency and cost effectiveness of existing services. GIVN believes it is well on the way to developing the infrastructure and partnership needed to address the most pressing health care needs of its service.