Incourage Community Foundation Inc

GUIDED BY VALUES OF EQUITY, OPPORTUNITY, SHARED STEWARDSHIP, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE, INCOURAGE PARTNERS WITH RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND CIVIC LEADERS IN RURAL CENTRAL WISCONSIN TO CO-CREATE AN INCLUSIVE, ADAPTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY THAT WORKS WELL FOR ALL PEOPLE. INCOURAGE IS A VALUES-LED, USER-CENTERED, PLACE-BASED PHILANTHROPIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION THAT PROMOTES COMMUNITY-LED PHILANTHROPY IN FURTHERANCE OF BUILDING COMMUNITY.

STRATEGIC PHILANTHROPY: INCOURAGE PROMOTES COLLECTIVE AND STRATEGIC PHILANTHROPY PRINCIPALLY IN THE SOUTH WOOD COUNTY AREA IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN. THIS RURAL AREA INCLUDES TEN MUNICIPALITIES LOCATED IN PARTS OF WOOD AND ADAMS COUNTIES, WITH A COMBINED POPULATION OF ABOUT 45,000. IN 2021, 217 GRANTS WERE APPROVED (EXCLUDING AGENCY GRANTS SUBJECT TO FAS 136) BENEFITTING 93 TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS. IN ADDITION, STARTING IN 2017, SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS, RATHER THAN BEING ADMINISTERED AND PAID INTERNALLY BY INCOURAGE, ARE INSTEAD ADMINISTERED THROUGH INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP AND TUITION SERVICES, A THIRD-PARTY SCHOLARSHIP ADMINISTRATOR. THE 172 SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED IN 2021, TOTALED $175,500 AND BENEFITTED 112 RECIPIENTS. OF THIS AMOUNT, $174,000 IS REFLECTED AS A GRANT TO INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP AND TUITION SERVICES ON SCHEDULE I. INCOURAGE ALSO HAS SEVERAL FUNDS THAT BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY BY DIRECTLY SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS AN ADULT DRUG TREATMENT COURT, A VETERAN'S MEMORIAL, A COMMUNITY CHOIR, A CITY BANK, A GROTTO, FREE ZOO PROGRAMS, A HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE PLAYGROUND, VARIOUS COMMUNITY CAPITAL CAMPAIGNS (I.E. A SHORT TRACK RACING MEMORIAL), ETC. THROUGH ITS "WHAT IF" GRANTS, INCOURAGE HAS FUNDED COMMUNITY RESIDENT INITIATED ACTIVITIES SUCH AS SUPPORTING: FIRE DEPARTMNET EMERGENCY SAFETY EQUIPMENT, CULTURAL TRAINING FOR YMCA STAFF, CREATION OF A COMMUNITY DOG PARK, A FREE COMMUNITY MUSIC FESTIVAL, CREATION OF A COMMUNITY ICE RINK, DESIGN FOR A CRANBERRY LEARNING PROJECT WEBSITE, MASTER GARDENER COMMUNITY PLANTINGS, A MUSKIE LOUNGE BUSINESS PITCH COMPETITION, FIXING FEISTY FELINES TO RESPONSIBLY REDUCE STRAY CAT POPULATIONS, BRINGING LIVE POETRY PERFORMANCES TO PUBLIC VENUES, AND WORKSHOPS FOR STUDENTS TO EXPLORE HISPANIC CULTURE THROUGH LANGUAGE AND ART. INCOURAGE'S GRANTMAKING STRATEGIES ARE ALIGNED WITH THE MISSION AND VALUES DRIVEN PROGRAMS ALSO NOTED IN PART III LINES 1, 4B, 4C AND 4D.

ALIGNMENT OF COMMUNITY CAPITALS: RECOGNIZING THAT GRANTS ALONE CANNOT SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF AN INNOVATIVE, EMERGING ECONOMY, INCOURAGE HAS COMMITTED TO ALIGN AND LEVERAGE ALL OF ITS CAPITALS, INCLUDING MORAL, HUMAN, SOCIAL, INTELLECTUAL, REPUTATIONAL, NATURAL AND FINANCIAL, TO ADVANCE ITS MISSION. INCOURAGE OPERATES WITH A STRATEGY THAT EMBRACES INTENTIONAL FURTHER DEVELOPMENT AND DEPLOYMENT OF VALUES-ALIGNED, PLACE-BASED INVESTMENTS OF ITS FINANCIAL ASSETS, SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS MISSION, IMPACT, OR COMMUNITY INVESTING. CURRENT MISSION ALIGNED INVESTMENTS INCLUDE INSURED DEPOSITS IN LOCAL BANKS AND CREDIT UNIONS AND FIXED INCOME INVESTMENTS IN REGIONAL HIGH-PERFORMING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS (CDFI'S) THAT PROVIDE FINANCING TO REGIONAL BUSINESSES, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IN 2017 INCOURAGE DEVELOPED AND LAUNCHED A PASSIVE EQUITY INDEX FUND CALLED THE WISCONSIN SHARED STEWARDSHIP EQUITIES FUND ("WSSEF"). IT INCLUDES A CUSTOMIZED PORTFOLIO OF PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANIES THAT TILTS TOWARD COMPANIES THAT ARE BASED IN OR EMPLOY PEOPLE IN WISCONSIN. IN ADDITION, THE WSSEF ALLOWS FOR PROXY VOTING AND SHAREHOLDER DIALOGUE TO ENCOURAGE RESPONSIBLE PRACTICES AND BUSINESS GROWTH IN WISCONSIN. IN 2018, INCOURAGE, ALONG WITH FIVE OTHER FOUNDATIONS, FOUNDED THE WISCONSIN IMPACT INVESTING COLLABORATIVE, AN EFFORT TO HELP A WIDE VARIETY OF INVESTORS LEARN ABOUT AND JOIN WITH OTHERS IN INVESTING IN INCLUSIVE, VIBRANT, AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN'S URBAN, RURAL AND TRIBAL AREAS. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COLLABORATIVE AT WWW.WI3C.ORG. TRIBUNE BUILDING - AN ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY HUB FOR SOUTHERN WOOD COUNTY AND CENTRAL WISCONSIN: INCOURAGE'S COMMITMENT TO PLACE-BASED INVESTING AND TO USER-CENTERED DECISION MAKING FOR SOUTHERN WOOD COUNTY'S FUTURE IS SYMBOLIZED BY THE CONTINUING RE-DEVELOPMENT OF THE FORMER DAILY TRIBUNE BUILDING, WHICH INCOURAGE PURCHASED THROUGH ITS SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION, COMMUNITY PROPERTY, INC., IN DECEMBER OF 2012. A HISTORIC LOCAL PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE BANKS OF THE WISCONSIN RIVER IN DOWNTOWN WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WISCONSIN, FROM THE BEGINNING, THE TRIBUNE BUILDING PROJECT, (THE "TRIBUNE") HAS BEEN ABOUT MUCH MORE THAN REDEVELOPING A BUILDING. IT IS A DEMONSTRATION OF A USER-CENTERED PROCESS TOWARD REALIZING INCOURAGE'S VISION OF PARTNERING WITH RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, AND CIVIC LEADERS IN RURAL CENTRAL WISCONSIN TO CO-CREATE AN INCLUSIVE, ADAPTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY THAT WORKS WELL FOR ALL PEOPLE. THE REDEVELOPED FACILITY WILL BE AN ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY HUB TO SERVE AS A LABORATORY FOR INNOVATION FOR SOUTHERN WOOD COUNTY AND CENTRAL WISCONSIN WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON THE NEEDS OF RURAL COMMUNITIES. IT WILL SERVE AS: AN ENTREPRENEURIAL AND WORKFORCE SUPPORT CENTER, A FOCAL POINT OF REGIONAL COLLABORATION AND INNOVATION AMONG MAJOR INSTITUTIONAL DRIVERS OF ECONOMIC CHANGE, AND A DYNAMIC COMMUNITY PLACE FOR WORK, PLAY AND COMMERCE. INCOURAGE HAS ENGAGED OVER 2,000 RESIDENTS IN THE PLANNING AND DECISION-MAKING PROCESS SO FAR. THE TRIBUNE HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO REFLECT RESIDENT PRIORITIES AND CAPITALIZE ON COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL ASSETS. PHASE ONE IN 2013 AND 2014, CONSISTED OF FOUR PUBLIC MEETINGS WHERE EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY WAS INVITED TO SHARE THEIR IDEAS FOR THE FUTURE USE OF THE SPACE, INCLUDING ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS TO SHIFT THEIR THINKING FROM "ME" TO "WE". PHASE TWO IN 2014, CONSISTED OF SEVEN PUBLIC MEETINGS WHEREBY THE COMMUNITY WAS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE DESIGN AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THE FACILITY. PHASE THREE IN 2015 AND 2016, CONSISTED OF TEN PUBLIC MEETINGS IN WHICH PARTICIPANTS FOCUSED ON DEEPENING RELATIONSHIPS, FURTHER DEFINING PROGRAMMING WITHIN THE FACILITY, AND DEVELOPING RESIDENT-LED FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP REALIZE THE BUILDING. IN 2017 AND 2018 COMMUNITY MEMBERS EXPLORED HOW SIMILAR PROJECTS IN OTHER REGIONS DEVELOPED, AND FUNDRAISING EFFORTS AT THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL EXPANDED. IN 2019, THE STATE OF WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED A PROPOSED $3 MILLION INVESTMENT IN THE TRIBUNE'S FUTURE RECONSTRUCTION, AND INCOURAGE AND THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-STEVENS POINT ANNOUNCED A COLLABORATION TO PROVIDE EXPERTISE FOR SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC CHANGE IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN. IN 2020 AND 2021, FURTHER COLLABORATIONS WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS IN REGIONAL ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION AND GROWTH WERE ACTIVELY PURSUED.TO DATE, OVER 2,000 RESIDENTS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THIS MULTI-YEAR PLANNING PROCESS, INCLUDING WORKING TOGETHER TO PRIORITIZE END USE IDEAS THAT WILL CELEBRATE LOCAL ASSETS, CONNECT RESIDENTS, AND ACT AS A CATALYST FOR FUTURE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT. AT ITS CORE, THE TRIBUNE WILL BE A TRUE COMMUNITY SOCIAL ENTERPRISE FOCUSED ON CULTIVATING ENTREPRENEURS AND GROWING A SUSTAINABLE LOCAL ECONOMY. (SEE INCOURAGECF.ORG/LEAD/TRIBUNE-BUILDING, FOR MORE).TOOLKIT FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES: IN THE FALL OF 2018, BUILDING UPON THE RESIDENT-LED DESIGN PROCESS FOR THE TRIBUNE, INCOURAGE BEGAN CONVENING A DIVERSE CIRCLE OF 22 RESIDENTS FROM OUR REGION TO FORM THE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES WORKING GROUP. IN 2018 AND 2019 THIS GROUP ENGAGED RESIDENTS FROM ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY TO CO-CREATE A "BLUEPRINT" FOR THE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY THAT OUR REGION CAN BECOME. THE BLUEPRINT WILL ALSO INFORM THE PRIORITIES AND DIRECTION FOR THE PARTNERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES BETWEEN INCOURAGE AND UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-STEVENS POINT. TO HELP DESIGN A PROCESS OF CUTTING-EDGE CO-CREATION, INCOURAGE HAS COLLABORATED WITH JOANNA CEA AND JESS RIMINGTON, WHOSE WORK AND RESEARCH AS VISITING SCHOLARS AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY'S GLOBAL PROJECTS CENTER IS REPRESENTED IN THE STANFORD SOCIAL INNOVATION REVIEW ARTICLE, CREATING BREAKOUT INNOVATION, AND FOCUSES ON COLLABORATIVE PROCESSES FOR COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION. TOGETHER WE FACILITATED A PROCESS THAT PLACED RESIDENTS IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO IDENTIFY A SET OF PRACTICES TO REALIZE OUR COMMUNITY'S VISION OF A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE. IN 2020 AND 2021 INCOURAGE JOINED THE CO-LEARNING TEAM ASSEMBLED BY JOANNA CEA AND JESS RIMINGTON AS THEY CONTINUED RESEARCHING AND WRITING "BELOVED ECONOMIES - TRANSFORMING HOW WE WORK", WHICH OFFERS A COMPELLING VISION OF A WORLD IN WHICH THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WORK, THE ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN FLOURISHING IS ONE OF HARMONY RATHER THAN FRICTION AND INEQUITY. THIS PAPERBACK, RELEASED IN AUGUST OF 2022, HAS BEEN CO-CREATIVELY SHAPPED BY MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE, INCLUDING SEVERAL INCOURAGE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS, EACH WITH A COMMITMENT TO, AND STRONG PRACTICE OF, CHANGING HOW WE WORK TO EMBRACE POWER-SHARING WAYS THAT DEPART FROM BUSINESS AS USUAL. THE BOOK OFFERS SEVEN SPECIFIC PRACTICES AS A SPRINGBOARD FOR CHANGING HOW WE WORK AND SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF INCOURAGE'S WORK ARE INCLUDED IN SUPPORT OF SHOWING THAT IT'S NOT ONLY WHAT WE DO, BUT HOW WE DO IT THAT CAN BE POWERFUL LEVERS TO MOVE US INTO ECONOMIES THAT ALL OF US CAN LOVE. REALIZING THE POWER OF OUR POTENTIAL IS AT THE HEART OF WHAT INSPIRES INCOURAGE TO KEEP PUSHING THE ENVELOPE OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE IN OUR REGION, AND TO CONTINUE TO EXPLORE WHAT OUR ROLE SHOULD BE AS A COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OPERATING BY AND FOR THE PEOPLE.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY PROSPERITY BUILT ON VALUING WORKERS, SUPPORTING LOCAL EMPLOYERS, AND INVESTING IN ECONOMIC GROWTH, BETWEEN 2008 AND 2016 INCOURAGE, AS ONE OF THE FIRST RURAL ORGANIZATIONS NATIONWIDE CHOSEN BY THE NATIONAL FUND FOR WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS (NFWS), LED A PROJECT SITE THROUGH ITS IMPLEMENTATION PARTNER JOBS FOR THE FUTURE, INC. THE LOCAL NFWS INITIATIVE, WORKFORCE CENTRAL, PURSUED A DUAL-CUSTOMER, SECTOR-BASED APPROACH FOR ADVANCING WORKERS INTO JOBS WITH FAMILY SUSTAINING WAGES. ENHANCING THE INTEGRATION OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND MOBILIZATION OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IS A CORE ELEMENT OF THIS PHILANTHROPIC-LED STRATEGY. COMMUNITY COLLABORATION EFFORTS RESULTING FROM THIS WORK INCLUDED A MANUFACTURING PEER COUNCIL, A REGIONAL ECONOMIC GROWTH INITIATIVE, A BUSINESS AND EDUCATION ALLIANCE, A MANUFACTURING PARTNERSHIP AND OTHER COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN GROUPS THAT MAY NOT HAVE TRADITIONALLY WORKED CLOSELY TOGETHER TO SOLVE WORKFORCE ISSUES. SINCE 2016, INCOURAGE HAS WORKED WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO TRANSITION THESE PROGRAMS TO PERMANENT HOMES, INCLUDING MID STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE AND VARIOUS LOCAL MANUFACTURERS. (SEE INCOURAGECF.ORG/LEAD/WORKFORCE-CENTRAL-2, FOR MORE).COMMUNITY INFORMATION: STARTING IN 2008, INCOURAGE BEGAN PARTICIPATING IN THE JOHN S. AND JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION'S COMMUNITY INFORMATION CHALLENGE, FOCUSING ON USER-CENTERED PROCESSES TO CREATE A MORE INFORMED, ENGAGED, AND CONNECTED COMMUNITY. IN 2012 AND AGAIN IN 2017/2018, INCOURAGE SURVEYED APPROXIMATELY 4,000 RESIDENTS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR CURRENT HOPES AND CONCERNS AND HOW THEIR GOALS AND PERSPECTIVES HAVE CHANGED. THE MAIN PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED BY THE COMMUNITY IN 2017/2018 WERE SIMILAR TO 2012 AND INCLUDED: GOOD QUALITY JOBS ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL, QUALITY EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS, ATTRACTING AND RETAINING YOUNG ADULTS AND FAMILIES, SUPPORT FOR LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESS OWNERS, AND HAVING A HIGHLY TRAINED AND COMPETITIVE WORKFORCE. IN 2018 THE SURVEY RESULTS WERE DISCUSSED WITH MORE THAN 30 COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND WITH THE BROADER COMMUNITY AT A PUBLIC FORUM, AND THE RESULTS ARE ALSO LOCATED ON INCOURAGE'S WEBSITE. THESE PRIORITIES CONTINUE TO INFORM INCOURAGE'S STRATEGY AND INCOURAGE IS COMMITTED TO HELPING THE COMMUNITY COORDINATE EFFORTS FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY PRIORITIES AND A SHARED VISION FOR THE FUTURE. (SEE INCOURAGECF.ORG/LEAD/COMMUNITY-INFORMATION, AND /COMMUNITY-SURVEY-2017 FOR MORE).THE CONNECTEDNESS AND INTEGRATION OF A VARIETY OF GRANTS, PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES ALLOWS FOR A "COMMUNITY SPECIFIC" FRAMEWORK THROUGH WHICH COLLECTIVE RESOURCES CAN ACHIEVE GREATER IMPACT IN THE FORM OF SYSTEMS CHANGE AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. AN EXAMPLE IS SUPPORTING RESEARCH INTO LOCAL DATA TO PRODUCE VITAL SIGNS TYPE REPORTS AND THEN TO HOST CRITICAL COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS FOR INFORMING STRATEGY AND ACTION WITH TIMELY, ACCURATE AND RELEVANT DATA (SEE INCOURAGECF.ORG/LEARN/VITAL-SIGNS, FOR MORE).

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: INCOURAGE IS KNOWN NATIONALLY FOR DIRECTLY ORGANIZING, DEVELOPING, AND LEADING PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES THAT LEVERAGE RESOURCES, BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE AND A SENSE OF AGENCY AMONG RESIDENTS, AND AIM TO REBUILD AND DIVERSIFY OUR LOCAL ECONOMY. INCOURAGE SUPPORTS BUILDING SOCIAL CAPITAL AND POSITIVE COMMUNITY CHANGE BY PROMOTING RESIDENT ENGAGEMENT, ADAPTIVE LEADERSHIP SKILLS, RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, COLLABORATION, CONVENING, ADVOCACY, PROACTIVE AND UNBIASED RESEARCH, CAPACITY BUILDING, A SHARED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, AND THE EFFECTIVE EXCHANGE OF RELEVANT INFORMATION IN THE PROCESS. IT HAS A HISTORY OF JOINING WITH LOCAL, REGIONAL, STATE AND NATIONAL FUNDERS AND PARTNERS, IN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS, WHO ARE COMMITTED TO PRUDENT AND TRANSPARENT EFFORTS TO TAKE EXISTING AND EMERGING MODELS FURTHER (SEE INCOURAGECF.ORG/LEAD/NATIONAL-PARTNERS, FOR MORE). SOME ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS LED OR INSPIRED BY INCOURAGE INCLUDE ADAPTIVE LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS, TEEN LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS, EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES (ORGANIZATIONAL, LEADERSHIP AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT; COLLABORATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT; EVALUATION EFFECTIVENESS, ETC.), PUBLIC SPEAKERS, PROMOTING CIVILITY, SPEAKYOURPEACE.ORG, PROMOTING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, ETC. THE SPEAK YOUR PEACE CIVILITY PROJECT, A CAMPAIGN TO URGE RESIDENTS TO COMMUNICATE IN RESPECTFUL WAYS, BEGAN SEEING AN INCREASE IN REQUESTS FOR GROUP TRAINING SESSIONS IN 2021.(SEE INCOURAGECF.ORG/LEAD/ADAPTIVE-LEADERSHIP & SPEAK-YOUR-PEACE, FOR MORE).INCOURAGE IS COMMITTED TO LEARN, REFLECT, AND ACT ON WHAT IS MEANS TO BE AN AUTHENTICALLY USER-CENTERED, VALUES-LED, PLACE-BASED PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATION THAT RECOGNIZES THAT TANGIBLE CHANGES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY CULTURE AND ITS SUPPORTING SYSTEMS TAKE PERSISTENCE, PATIENCE, AND TIME; BECAUSE IT BELIEVES THAT WHEN IT KNOWS BETTER, IT DOES BETTER.