Eau Claire Community Foundation

TO ESTABLISH ENDOWED FUNDS THAT WILL BENEFIT THE EAU CLAIRE COMMUNITY TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE.

THE EAU CLAIRE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FULFILLED THE GRANTMAKING PORTION OF ITS MISSION IN 2021 BY AWARDING $5,241,371 IN GRANTS, WHICH INCLUDES $412,408 IN AGENCY FUND GRANTS AND $2,695,000 IN SUPPORT OF THE STORYBUILDER CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO EXPAND THE L.E. PHILLIPS MEMORIAL PUBLIC LIBRARY. WHILE MANY OF THESE GRANTS WERE RECOMMENDED BY DONOR ADVISORS TO NONPROFITS ALL OVER THE U.S., $178,348 WENT DIRECTLY TO EAU CLAIRE AREA NONPROFITS THROUGH ECCF'S ANNUAL COMMUNITY GRANT CYCLE. AN ADDITIONAL $43,629 SUPPORTED LOCAL NONPROFITS THROUGH THE GRANT CYCLE IMPLEMENTED BY THE WOMEN'S GIVING CIRCLE, A FUND OF ECCF. IN HONOR OF ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY, ECCF IMPLEMENTED GRANT CATALOGS, WHICH ALLOWED LOCAL NONPROFITS TO RAISE OVER $200,000 THROUGH CROWDFUNDING, AND IT DISTRIBUTED $100,000 IN BONUS GRANTS TO PARTICIPATING NONPROFITS. IT ALSO DISTRIBUTED $32,000 IN ADDITIONAL GRANTS TO LOCAL NONPROFITS AT ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION ON JUNE 20, 2022. ECCF'S SUPPORT OF LOCAL NONPROFITS IS HELPING TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN EAU CLAIRE. ECCF'S MISSION ALSO INCLUDES "OFFERING DONORS OPPORTUNITIES TO ESTABLISH CHARITABLE LEGACIES." ECCF WORKED WITH DONORS TO ESTABLISH 28 NEW FUNDS IN 2021 AND HAS OVER 220 ACTIVE FUNDS. DONOR ADVISED FUNDS, SUCH AS THE NEW RICHARD J. ZIEMANN FUND, ALLOW FUND HOLDERS TO RECOMMEND GRANTS TO NONPROFITS OF THEIR CHOICE, WHILE FIELD OF INTEREST FUNDS ALLOW FUND HOLDERS TO SUPPORT SPECIFIC AREAS OF INTEREST AND DESIGNATED FUNDS NAME SPECIFIC ORGANIZATIONS. ECCF ALSO ALLOWS DONORS TO CREATE OTHER TYPES OF FUNDS, INCLUDING UNRESTRICTED FUNDS TO SUPPORT LOCAL NONPROFITS THROUGH THE ANNUAL COMMUNITY GRANT CYCLE AND DESIGNATED SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS' POST-SECONDARY EDUCATIONS.ECCF ADDRESSES THE FINAL PORTION OF ITS MISSION--TO SERVE AS A CATALYST TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY NEEDS--BY EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY ABOUT PHILANTHROPIC ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH EVENTS SUCH AS THE ANNUAL MEETING, PROFESSIONAL ADVISOR EVENT, AND THE FALL EDUCATIONAL EVENT. IN ADDITION TO INFORMING THE PUBLIC ABOUT ECCF AND ITS WORK, THE ANNUAL EVENTS ALLOWS DONORS TO CONNECT WITH LOCAL NONPROFITS.ECCF'S PROFESSIONAL ADVISOR EVENT EDUCATES PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS ABOUT THEIR CLIENTS' CHARITABLE GIVING OPTIONS, WHILE THE EDUCATIONAL EVENT HOSTED BY ECCF'S WOMEN'S GIVING CIRCLE EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ABOUT PRESSING COMMUNITY ISSUES SUCH AS HOMELESSNESS, MENTAL HEALTH, OR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. IN 2021, THE EDUCATIONAL EVENT ADDRESSED LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES AND RESOURCES. THROUGH THESE AND OTHER ANNUAL EVENTS, ECCF AIMS TO INCREASE AWARENESS, PHILANTHROPY, AND ACTIVISM IN OUR COMMUNITY.