Second row, from left: Mary Uelmen, Dayna Smith, Becky Linderholm, Katie Engel, Mike Peplinski, Jason Wendtland, Renee Morehead, Michelle Olson, Heather Kapanke, Melinda Daubitz. Front row, from left: Tom Dahl, Cheryl Moss, Sarah Binder, Megan McCrackin, Erin Layde, Scott Faris, JoAnn Waldhart Adams, Melinda Wright, Tim McManus, Jeremy Harrison.

The Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation hosted its second annual Golden Apple Awards banquet on Thursday, April 6, 2017 at Wild Ridge & Mill Run Golf Course. The ceremony was emceed by WEAU’s Bob Gallaher, and featured remarks from Jamf founder and ECASD graduate, Zach Halmstad, who spoke fondly of his public schools experience in the district and acknowledged the many educators, his parents included, who had a great impact on his life. Earlier this spring, WEAU partnered with the Foundation to bring cameras to surprise honorees in their buildings with the news of their selection, and Bob and his team compiled the footage to create a touching video for the banquet.

The evening celebrated one Golden Apple Award honoree from each of the twenty schools in the Eau Claire Area School District, selected by nomination of their peers. Each honoree will receive a $500 grant to use in their schools/classrooms, and each school will also receive a $500 grant to their Fund For Today, sponsored by generous businesses in the Chippewa Valley. The event is an annual partnership with businesses to celebrate and show appreciation for exceptional faculty and staff in the district.

Chippewa Valley Montessori Charter School honors Jeremy Harrison, Kindergarten-6th Grade Teacher

            Sponsored by Mayo Clinic Health System

DeLong Middle School honors Sarah Binder, Special Education Teacher

            Sponsored by C&M Homebuilders and Real Estate

Flynn Elementary School honors JoAnn Waldhart Adams, 3rd Grade Teacher

            Sponsored by Marshfield Clinic and Security Health Plan

Lakeshore Elementary School honors Melinda Wright, Physical Education Teacher

            Sponsored by Sylvan Learning

Locust Lane Elementary School honors Mike Peplinski, 4th Grade Teacher

            Sponsored by Xcel Energy

Longfellow Elementary School honors Tom Dahl, Physical Education Teacher

            Sponsored by Kristo Orthodontic Specialists

Manz Elementary School honors Becky Linderholm, English Learning Teacher

            Sponsored by Indianhead Foodservice Distributor

Meadowview Elementary School honors Katie Engel, School Psychologist

            Sponsored by UWEC College of Education and Human Sciences

Memorial High School honors Erin Layde, Biology and Life Science Teacher

            Sponsored by McDonald’s Courtesy Corporation

McKinley Charter School honors Megan McCrackin, Competency Component Teacher

            Sponsored by Student Transit

North High School honors Renee Morehead, Family/Consumer Education Teacher

            Sponsored by Royal Credit Union

Northstar Middle School honors Michelle Olson, 6th Grade and English Learning Teacher

            Sponsored by Wipfli

Northwoods Elementary School honors Cheryl Moss, Special Education Assistant

            Sponsored by McDonough Manufacturing Co.

Prairie Ridge Early Learning Center honors Melinda Daubitz, Headstart Assistant

            Sponsored by Royal Construction

Putnam Heights Elementary School honors Dayna Smith, School Secretary

            Sponsored by Marsh & McLennan Agency

Robbins Elementary School honors Heather Kapanke, Guidance Counselor

            Sponsored by Ken Vance Motors

Roosevelt Elementary School honors Jason Wendtland, 4th Grade Teacher

            Sponsored by Charter Bank

Sam Davey Elementary School honors Mary Uelmen, Special Education Assistant

            Sponsored by Marine Credit Union

Sherman Elementary School honors Tim McManus, 2nd Grade Teacher

            Sponsored by Market & Johnson

South Middle School honors Scott Faris, Science Teacher

            Sponsored by Northwestern Bank

 Many thanks to Bob Gallaher and WEAU for their dedication, time, coverage and service to this great cause; to Sacred Heart Hospital for their gift of design and print services; to Festival Foods for their gift of wine for the banquet dinner; and to Eau Claire Area School District for their loyal support of the Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation, and their support of the district faculty and staff! Save the date for the 2018 Golden Apple Awards: Thursday, April 5, 2018.

For more information about the Golden Apple Awards or to make a gift to the Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation, contact Executive Director, Sarah French at sfrench1@ecasd.us or (715) 852-3015. You can also explore the Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation website.

The post 2017 Golden Apple Awards appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

Many wonderful nonprofits are working hard on behalf of the Eau Claire community, and we're spotlighting several of them to give you a sense of the variety and scope of their achievements. Each spotlighted organization represents one of our four giving categories (Create Culture, Form Futures, Give Green, and Offer Opportunities), and each received an Eau Claire Community Foundation grant in the 2016 grant cycle.

The currently spotlighted organizations are the Children's Museum of Eau Claire; Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council; the Community Parks Association; and Family Promise of the Chippewa Valley.

To go directly to our new Grantee Spotlights, please click here.

For more information about the 2016 grant recipients, please click here.

The 2017 grant recipients will be announced at ECCF's Annual Meeting on June 7, 2017. You can look under the Events tab for more information. 

Thank you to these organizations as well as all the other nonprofits who make Eau Claire such a great place to live!

The post New Grantee Spotlights appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

Students take part in Fractal Camp, a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) program.

If a new state tax credit is approved, charitable donors could soon see a financial return on their generosity. The Wisconsin Philanthropy  Network is spearheading Endow Wisconsin, an initiative designed  to enhance  individual and corporate support at each of Wisconsin’s 19 nationally accredited community foundations, including  Madison Community Foundation, which serves Dane County and communities  throughout the region.

Proposed in the state budget as a new tax credit, Endow Wisconsin encourages donors to keep  dollars in Wisconsin by providing a valuable  incentive for Wisconsinites to share a portion of their hard-earned assets with their hometown communities.  Adoption of the tax credit has the potential to raise significant dollars for use in Wisconsin while requiring  only a modest investment from the state.

If the Endow Wisconsin tax credit is approved, it is anticipated  that Wisconsin individuals and corporations who make a contribution to an accredited  community foundation in 2018 can claim the tax credit when they file their 2018 taxes.

“Generous people  who live in Wisconsin will have the opportunity through the tax credit to donate to an endowment  at a certified community foundation,  receive  a 25% tax credit on their Wisconsin taxes for their gift, and have the satisfaction of knowing  their gift supports important causes  and organizations that make our communities great,” says Jill Van Calster, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Philanthropy Network.

According to Van Calster, if the state approves the proposed $3 million investment in Endow Wisconsin, it will result in $12 million being contributed to Wisconsin accredited community foundations. The actual impact to each of the 19 accredited  statewide  foundations will vary.

Why does Wisconsin need to incentivize its residents to give? The snowbird effect is real: Demographic shifts can result in assets being channeled  to other states rather than used to strengthen Wisconsin hometowns  and neighborhoods. According to “Wealth in Wisconsin,” a transfer of wealth study, approximately $687 billion is projected to pass from one generation of Wisconsinites to the next. Keeping a portion of this wealth in Wisconsin through a tax credit incentive presents a unique opportunity  to grow assets that will enhance  communities.

“Wisconsin’s community foundations are one of our state’s best-kept secrets,” says Bob Sorge, president of the Madison Community Foundation.

Madison Community Foundation stands to benefit from Endow Wisconsin tax credits, and so do local causes it supports. Mirrored after the success of similar programs in other states — most notably Iowa— Endow Wisconsin has the opportunity to strengthen the nonprofits in Wisconsin communities. Since its inception  in 2003, the Endow Iowa tax credit has leveraged  nearly $192 million in support of its statewide  nonprofits through contributions made to permanent  endowments  at their community foundations.

Other successfully  endowed  states include North Dakota and Kentucky, while  legislation has been proposed in other Midwestern states including Minnesota, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.

Endowments fuel jobs, housing, food systems, cultural centers, youth programs, and a myriad of essential  services that strengthen Wisconsin communities.

“Philanthropy is a great thing,” states Van Calster, “but philanthropy  that pays the donor back is even better.”

— Jason Busch, from the April 2017 edition of Greater Madison In Business

The post Endowing the Future appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

The Women’s Giving Circle Celebrates

By Sarah Stokes

The room buzzed with excitement as people walked through the doors. More than 150 members and dozens of guests turned out to the Women’s Giving Circle annual Spring Gathering at the Eau Claire Golf and Country Club. Warm greetings, laughter, and a true sense of pride could be felt amid all the tables filled with smiling faces.

Jill Prushiek, Chair of the Women’s Giving Circle, welcomed the members and guests to a wonderful night of socializing and a lovely dinner before turning to the program. The event publicly celebrates the very mission of the organization, to raise money and distribute contributions to projects and initiatives that improve the lives of women and children in the Eau Claire area.

Celebrating its tenth year, the Women’s Giving Circle sponsors a Spring Gathering to honor grant recipients. This year, the Spring Gathering had a record-setting turnout for members and guests. It was an exciting year as the Women’s Giving Circle marked the achievement of funding several area programs. The group awarded eight grants in 2016. During the Spring Gathering, the audience learned more about each program as the grant recipients spoke about how they help women and children with their grants of up to $5,000. The grant recipients thanked the members of the Women’s Giving Circle for making a difference.

The event wrapped with a message from the Membership Team’s Pat Markin and a Grant Team report from Mary Ryan-Miller, who expressed the importance of the grant process and how it is at the heart of what the Women’s Giving Circle is all about. As the tables cleared and attendees said their goodbyes, the evening closed with a sense of gratitude for the positive ripple effect this group continues to make in the area and for ten years of important impact.

2016 Grant Recipients:

Boys and Girls Clubs of the Greater Chippewa Valley:
Health and Nutrition: Culinary Classroom and Kitchen Program

Chippewa Valley Free Clinic:
Women’s Health and Hygiene

Fierce Freedom:
Hotel Industry Anti-Sex Trafficking Training

Girls on the Run of the Chippewa Valley:
Investment of Heart & Sole: Curriculum 2 and Program

Lutheran Social Services:
Trauma Services for Women and Children

Safe Sleep Task Force:
Safe Sleep

Trinity Equestrian Center:
Finding Hope Through Horses

Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council:
Women’s Business Center

The post A Night for the Record Books appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

Grants Committee Chair Karl Murch speaks at the 2017 ECCF Annual Meeting.

The Eau Claire Community Foundation is proud to announce that it awarded $118,441 in grants through its 2017 competitive grant cycle. Most grant recipients received their checks at the Foundation’s Annual Meeting on June 7.

In this grant cycle, the Foundation received 65 grant applications and was able to fully or partially fund 51 of them. These awards bring the Foundation’s current 2017 disbursements through competitive and Donor-Advised granting to more than $2.1 million, including over $1.9 million in support of the Confluence Project.

Click here for a complete list of the 2017 competitive grant awards.

Community support is vital for the continuation of grant awards like these, which help local nonprofits in their work to increase the quality of life for Eau Claire area residents. Grants are awarded in four major giving areas:

Create Culture (arts and museums)

2017 Create Culture Grantees

Form Futures (education)

2017 Form Futures Grantees

Give Green (environment, physical fitness, and animals)

2017 Give Green Grantees

and Offer Opportunities (food, shelter, and other basic needs).

2017 Offer Opportunities Grantees

The Eau Claire Community Foundation strongly encourages the public to donate to its Community Fund, which supports a diverse array of nonprofit organizations. People can also contribute to any of its 210 Funds or even start their own Funds.

More information about starting a new Fund or contributing to an existing one is available on this website. You can also write to info@eccommunityfoundation.org or call the Foundation office at (715) 552-3801.

The post 2017 ECCF Competitive Grant Awards Announced appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

Since the beginning of 2017, nine new Funds have joined ECCF's family of over 200 Funds. It's a diverse group that's improving Wisconsin's quality of life in a variety of ways. They are:

Babbette's Seeds of Hope Fund: To support cancer research and patients undergoing treatment

Beckermann Family Fund: To promote family literacy, address homelessness, and support arts and culture

Carson Park Baseball Stadium Renovation Fund: To support much-needed updates to the baseball stadium

Draper Hills Financial Literacy Fund: To promote financial literacy in the Loyal community

Eau Claire Public Arts Initiative Fund: To enhance Eau Claire's quality of life by promoting the arts

Endowment for the American Birkebeiner: To sustain the American Birkebeiner event

Jim Schwiebert Butterfly House Fund: To support the Butterfly House at Beaver Creek Reserve

Lac Courte Oreilles Legacy Fund: To protect and preserve the water quality of Lac Courte Oreilles

Louis and Janet Frase Fund: To connect youth in financial need with the arts

You can donate to any or all of these Funds by following the links above to their pages. Want to start your own Fund? You can do that too! Click on "Start Your Own Fund" for more information.

Please email info@eccommunityfoundation.org or call (715) 552-3801 if you have any questions about these Funds or any others at ECCF. Thanks for your interest!

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Welcome to the ECCF Summer Newsletter!

Want to catch up on the latest ECCF happenings? Please click the link below to read:

• • • A farewell letter from ECCF Past Chair Mark Faanes
    • Grantee Spotlights
    • News from the Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation
    • A Women's Giving Circle update
    • Upcoming Events
    • And more!

The post The ECCF Summer Newsletter Has Arrived! appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

New funds have been added to ECCF's family of funds. Each will increase our region's quality of life in its own unique way. They are:

Higbee Family Fund: To protect and preserve the water quality of Lac Courte Oreilles

Ida B. Fischer Scholarship Fund: To support scholarships for Altoona alumni planning to attend Chippewa Valley Technical College in the fields of business or accounting

Robert J. Falkner Fund: To support a variety of local nonprofits as they work to meet the community's most pressing needs

You can donate to any or all of these Funds by following the links above to their pages. Want to start your own Fund? You can do that too! Click on "Start Your Own Fund" for more information.

Please email info@eccommunityfoundation.org or call (715) 552-3801 if you have any questions about these Funds or any others at ECCF. Thanks for your interest!

The post New Additions to the ECCF Family of Funds appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

Dr. Carter Hill presents a $25,000 grant to the School District of Loyal so it can launch a new Financial Literacy program.

On Friday, September 8, 2017, School District of Loyal Superintendent Cale Jackson officially accepted a $25,000 grant from the Draper Hills Financial Literacy Endowment, which was established by Dr. Eldon Hill. This grant will not only fund a new Financial Literacy program for Loyal students, but could inspire similar collaboration between philanthropists and public schools in the future.

The Draper Hills Financial Literacy Endowment is the second fund created by Dr. Hill. In 2014, he established the Draper Hills Scholarship Fund at the Eau Claire Community Foundation in honor of the Draper and Hills families from Loyal, Wisconsin. These families had played a pivotal role in his life. In particular, Anna Hills, Bernice Draper, and Bessie Edsall all inspired him with their belief in the importance of education.

Each year, two Loyal High School graduates receive $12,000 scholarships to attend 4 year post-secondary institutions, and one student attending a 2 year technical college receives a $5000 scholarship with the opportunity, if transferring to a 4 year institution, to receive an additional $7000. Since 2014, this fund has awarded $93,000 in scholarships.

Dr. Hill considers these scholarships to be from his entire graduating Class of 1938. His hope is to inspire recipients to pay his generosity forward to future generations.

He also wants to realize a much larger vision: To educate students in Loyal—and eventually beyond—about financial literacy and the importance of saving. That’s why he established the Draper Hills Financial Literacy Endowment with a one million dollar donation.

The initial $25,000 grant from this fund will support expenses of a new Financial Literacy program at Loyal, including salary for a part-time teacher. Once the program is up and running, the Endowment will support a full-time teacher so students in grades K-12 will receive Financial Literacy education. Eventually, it will also support evening classes so adults can receive Financial Literacy education as well.

Dr. Hill is a member of the Eau Claire Community Foundation’s Legacy Society, which recognizes philanthropists who have made provisions in their estate plans for making a gift to the Foundation for the causes they care about most. His bequest will ensure that the Funds will continue fulfilling their missions for years to come.

Dr. Hill, a retired OB/GYN who practiced in Eau Claire but currently lives in Seattle, was unable to attend the check presentation ceremony. However, his son, Dr. Carter Hill, spoke about his father’s vision and presented the check to Loyal Superintendent Cale Jackson, who spoke about the impact of this gift on his school district. Eau Claire Community Foundation Executive Director Sue Bornick and Board of Trustees Chair Laura Talley also spoke about the Draper Hills Financial Literacy Endowment and its ability to inspire other donors to create similar partnerships with schools throughout Wisconsin.

As Loyal’s Financial Literacy program grows, Dr. Eldon Hill’s vision will be realized: A new generation will graduate high school with a strong understanding of financial concepts and the ability to manage their money wisely.

Anyone interested in supporting the Draper Hills Scholarship Fund and/or the Draper Hills Financial Literacy Endowment is welcome to make a gift. Online donations can be made by following the links above. Checks can be made out to “ECCF” and mailed to the Eau Claire Community Foundation office at 306 S. Barstow St. Suite 104, Eau Claire, WI 54701; the Fund name should be noted on the memo line.

For more information, please write to info@eccommunityfoundation.org or call (715) 552-3801.

CLICK HERE TO SEE WEAU'S COVERAGE OF THIS GRANT

CLICK HERE TO READ THE LEADER-TELEGRAM'S ARTICLE ABOUT THIS GRANT

CLICK HERE TO READ THE LEADER-TELEGRAM'S ARTICLE ABOUT THE DRAPER HILLS FINANCIAL LITERACY ENDOWMENT

The post Draper Hills Financial Literacy Endowment Creates a Model for Philanthropic Support of Public Education appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

The Women's Giving Circle is being featured in the Chippewa Valley Post's "6 of Substance" series, which highlights local nonprofits.

Click here to visit the Chippewa Valley Post; the WGC feature is under "6 of Substance."

The post Women’s Giving Circle Featured on the Chippewa Valley Post Website appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

Ida B. Fischer

The Leader-Telegram recently featured this beautiful love story of Ida and Larry Fischer.

Larry established a new fund at the Foundation in memory of his wife. The Ida B. Fischer Scholarship Fund will support scholarships for School District of Altoona alumni planning to attend the Chippewa Valley Technical College in the fields of business or accounting.

CLICK HERE TO READ IDA AND LARRY'S STORY

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THE IDA B. FISCHER SCHOLARSHIP FUND

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Jim Pinter (bottom center), shown here with his family, received a Leadership Award at ECCF's 2017 Autumn Social.

Jim Pinter's many achievements and lasting impact on the Eau Claire Community Foundation (ECCF) were recognized when he received a Leadership Award at ECCF's Autumn Social on September 18, 2017. 

As members of the Society of Founders (SOF), Jim and his wife Kathy were instrumental in creating ECCF; without the dollars they and the other SOF members so generously contributed , ECCF couldn't have opened its doors. But the Pinters' contributions didn't end there: Kathy became a founding member of the Women's Giving Circle in 2007, the same year the couple opened their field of interest fund, the Jim and Kathy Pinter Mental Health Fund. They also became members of ECCF's Legacy Society. In addition, Jim served on ECCF's Development and Communications Committees as well as on its Board of Trustees. 

There were many other highlights during the Autumn Social. ECCF Board of Trustees Chair Laura Talley proudly announced that ECCF has grown to now hold more than $22 million in assets. She also thanked the Society of Founders and Board of Trustees members.

ECCF Board of Trustees Chair Laura Talley

ECCF Executive Director Sue Bornick spoke about ECCF's history and announced that ECCF has awarded more than $2.3 million in grants so far in 2017. She also announced the creation of 13 new funds in 2017, which brings ECCF's total number of funds to more than 260. 

ECCF Executive Director Sue Bornick

Guy Wood, a Board member of the Children's Dyslexia Center of Upper Wisconsin spoke about the Children's Dyslexia Legacy Fund, which supports this worthy organization.

Children's Dyslexia Center of Upper Wisconsin Board Member Guy Wood

Eau Claire Area School District Superintendent Dr. Mary Ann Hardebeck and Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation Executive Director Sarah French also spoke about the significant impact of Foundation support on student learning. (The Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation is a supporting organization of ECCF.) 

Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation Executive Director Sarah French (left) and Eau Claire Area School District Superintendent Dr. Mary Ann Hardebeck

Finally, Jane Lokken was recognized for her extensive service to ECCF. Jane and her husband John are members of the Legacy Society and established the John and Jane Lokken Fund in 2007.  Jane has been an active member for many years, first serving as a Trustee in 2004. Jane served as Secretary, Vice Chair and then as Chair from 2013-2015. She also has served on six different ECCF Committees and was instrumental in the full revision of the Foundation's Trust Agreement.

In her impromptu speech, Jane encouraged the audience to think about the causes they're passionate about and then take action to support them. 

Former ECCF Board of Trustees Chair Jane Lokken

Although the Autumn Social was a free event, generous guests contributed more than $3000 to ECCF's Community Fund, which supports a diverse array of grants that meet Eau Claire's most pressing needs.

This year's Autumn Social offered its audience not just plenty of excellent food and conversation, but strong inspiration to make this world, especially the Eau Claire community, a better place for all. 

For more information about the Eau Claire Community Foundation, including how to make a donation or start your own fund, you can write to info@eccommunityfoundation.org or call (715) 552-3801.

The post Jim Pinter Receives Leadership Award at the ECCF Autumn Social appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

The Eau Claire Community Foundation is currently accepting grant applications for the 2018 grant cycle. Any tax-exempt nonprofit serving the Eau Claire Community is eligible to apply.

The deadline for submitting online applications is midnight on Jan. 31, 2018, and the deadline for submitting the required hard copies to the ECCF office is 4:00 p.m. on Feb. 1, 2018.

More information about this funding opportunity is available on the Apply for a Grant page of this website.

We also invite nonprofits to attend one of our free grant training sessions. Attendance isn't required for grant applicants, but it's strongly encouraged. Each session will cover the same topics, so you only need to come to one. More information is available on our Events tab.

Please feel free to contact the ECCF Program Specialist at grants@eccommunityfoundation.org or by calling (715) 552-3801 if you have questions about the ECCF grant cycle.

The post ECCF Grant Applications Are Now Being Accepted appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

The Women's Giving Circle is pleased to announce that in 2017, it’s awarding a record-breaking $41,466 in grants. Each grant recipient helps to fulfill the Circle’s mission of supporting women and children in the Eau Claire area. The organizations and programs the Circle has voted to fund are:

• • APPLE Pregnancy Care Center—“Earn While You Learn,” $5000
  • Boys and Girls Clubs of the Greater Chippewa Valley, Mary Markquart Center—“Adaptive Learning,” $6000
  • Catholic Charities of the Diocese of La Crosse, Sojourner House—“Bras for Homeless Women,” $5000
  • Chippewa Valley Museum—“Classes and Activities for Preschoolers,” $5000
  • Feed My People Food Bank—“Bridging the Summer Gap,” $6000
  • Girls on the Run of the Chippewa Valley—“GOTR of the Chippewa Valley Expansion,” $4000
  • School District of Altoona—“K-3 STEM Coding and Robotics Curriculum Based Program,” $5966
  • Trinity Lutheran Church—“Soles for Special Souls,” $4500

A complete history of WGC grants is available on the WGC "History of Grants" page.

The Women’s Giving Circle members pool their charitable dollars into a fund at the Eau Claire Community Foundation in order to maximize their philanthropic impact. The Circle began in 2007, when a group of over 100 Founding Members each pledged a total of $1,000 over 4 years. Today, it has over 260 members, and it continues to grow.

This year’s grant awards bring the Circle’s total grant distributions since inception to $227,953. Grantees will officially receive their awards at the Gift of Giving Breakfast, which will take place at the Eau Claire Golf and Country Club (828 Club View Lane, Altoona) at 7:30 am on December 6, 2017.

The Women’s Giving Circle members invite the Eau Claire community to attend this celebration of philanthropy. Tickets are $15 and include a plated breakfast. They also welcome new members; anyone can join the Circle at any time.

For more information about the Women’s Giving Circle, please consult the Women's Giving Circle page of this website and the Women's Giving Circle Facebook page.

You can write to office@eccommunityfoundation.org, click on Gift of Giving Breakfast under our homepage's Events Tab, or call 715-552-3801 if you'd like to RSVP for the Gift of Giving Breakfast.

The post Women’s Giving Circle Announces 2017 Grant Recipients appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

Three new funds have been added to ECCF's family of funds. Each will increase our region's quality of life in its own unique way. They are:

Bob and Louise Barfknecht Fund: This Donor Advised Fund supports a diverse array of causes, including animals and the environment; the economic health of the community; arts and culture; and technical college scholarships.

Giniigaaniiminaang! For our Future Fund: This Agency Endowment Fund supports the operations of the Boys and Girls Club of Lac Courte Oreilles.

Pabich Trust of 2004: This Donor Advised Fund supports literacy in our community.

You can donate to any or all of these Funds by following the links above to their pages. Want to start your own Fund? You can do that too! Click on "Start Your Own Fund" for more information.

Please email info@eccommunityfoundation.org or call (715) 552-3801 if you have questions about these Funds or any others at ECCF. Thanks for your interest!

The post More New Additions to the ECCF Family of Funds appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

Tips for the Giving Season

The stock market has recently provided a gift of strong returns to many investors. If you’re one of them, it might be time to consider making your own gift of appreciated securities.

Your gift of securities such as stocks, bonds, or mutual fund shares may offer certain advantages over a cash gift. A gift of appreciated securities that have been held for more than one year may provide significant benefits to you as a contributor:

• Contributions of appreciated securities are generally deductible at market value, regardless of what the donor paid for them.
• The capital gains tax is also avoided through such a gift.

Remember, Dec. 31 falls on a Sunday. We recommend making your gift of securities early enough so the transaction will settle by Friday, December 29. Click here for Stock Delivery Instructions.

IRA transfer: It's easy, and if you're age 70 ½ or older, you can transfer up to $100,000 directly from your IRA while excluding the amount distributed from income. These charitable gifts count against your required minimum distribution.

For questions, contact Sue Bornick, Executive Director, at info@eccommunityfoundation.org or
715-552-3801. Sue would be happy to talk with you about the services ECCF provides and assist you with accomplishing your philanthropic goals. It's recommended to always consult with your financial advisor before initiating a charitable gift transaction.

More Giving Options »

Together, we can give the gift of an improved quality of life for everyone in our community!

The post End of Year Giving Options appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

ECCF is pleased to announce its first new Funds of 2018. They are:

Paul and Jill Kulig Family Fund: This Donor Advised Fund supports educational programs that help both adults and children become more independent. It also supports community projects that impact and improve the quality of life for the greater Eau Claire area.

Talley Family Fund: Special focuses of this Fund, which started as an Acorn Fund but has now become Donor Advised, include supporting literacy, education, and adoption services and programs.
 
You can donate to any or all of these Funds by following the links above to their pages. Want to start your own Fund? You can do that too! Click on "Start Your Own Fund" for more information.

Please email info@eccommunityfoundation.org or call (715) 552-3801 if you have questions about these Funds or any others at ECCF. Thanks for your interest!

The post First New Funds of 2018 appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

The deadline to submit a grant application to ECCF's 2018 grant cycle is approaching rapidly! Online applications are due at midnight on Jan. 31, 2018, and the 10 required hard copies are due to the ECCF office by 4:00 p.m. on Feb. 1, 2018.

Any tax-exempt nonprofit serving the Eau Claire Community is eligible to apply. More information about this funding opportunity is available on the Apply for a Grant page of this website.

Please contact the ECCF Program Specialist at grants@eccommunityfoundation.org or by calling (715) 552-3801 if you have questions about the ECCF grant cycle.

The post ECCF Grant Submission Deadline Is Approaching Rapidly! appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

The Women’s Giving Circle, a fund of the Eau Claire Community Foundation, has announced its Circle Advisory Team for 2018. In order to join the Women’s Giving Circle, members contribute at least $250.00 a year. Part of their contribution supports grants to local nonprofit organizations that run programs benefiting women and/or children. The other portion of the contribution is used to build an endowment at the Eau Claire Community Foundation for future grants.

Anyone—male or female—can join the Women’s Giving Circle. People ages 39 and under are encouraged to take advantage of the Young Philanthropists program, which allows them to join the Circle at a reduced rate of $150/year for up to three years.

Since 2008, the Women’s Giving Circle has awarded $227,953 in grants. In 2017, it granted a record-breaking $41,466 to eight Eau Claire area nonprofits: APPLE Pregnancy Care Center, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Greater Chippewa Valley, Catholic Charities—Sojourner House, Chippewa Valley Museum, Feed My People Food Bank, Girls on the Run of the Chippewa Valley, School District of Altoona, and Trinity Lutheran Church.

The Women’s Giving Circle is led by the Circle Advisory Team. At the Annual Meeting of the Women’s Giving Circle, the members elected the following individuals for the 2018 leadership positions:

2018 Women's Giving Circle Chair Sarah Stokes

2018 Women's Giving Circle Co-Chair Tracey Smiskey

Circle Advisory Team Chair:  Sarah Stokes
Circle Advisory Team Co-Chair: Tracey Smiskey
Circle Advisory Team Secretary: Sue McIntyre
Education and Programs Team Chair: Jennifer Hanson-Bremer
Education and Programs Team Co-Chair: Andrea Sullivan
Grants Team Chair: Jeanne Peterson
Grants Team Co-Chair: Mary Ryan-Miller
Membership/Outreach Team Chair: Pat Markin
Membership/Outreach Team Co-Chair: Lacey Logslett
Social Media Team Chair: Jessica Martin
Social Media Team Co-Chair: Theresa O’Neel
Circle Advisory Team Past Chair: Jill Prushiek

For more information about the Women’s Giving Circle, or to become a member, contact the Eau Claire Community Foundation by writing to info@eccommunityfoundation.org or calling (715) 552-3801. More information is also available on the Women’s Giving Circle page of this website.

The post Women’s Giving Circle Announces 2018 Circle Advisory Team appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.

The Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation is pleased to share its beautiful new Annual Report. This report had previously been part of ECCF's Annual Report, but now ECPSF has its own publication.

You can click the link below to learn about ECPSF's great work in supporting Eau Claire area students.

Want to learn more about ECPSF or donate to a fund? Click here to visit their website!

The post The Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation’s 2017 Annual Report appeared first on Eau Claire Community Foundation.