2021 ECPSF Annual Report

2021 Annual Report Ensuring the Future

500 Main St, P.O. Box 511 Eau Claire, WI 54702 715-852-3015 www.ecpsfound.org ECPSF, an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3), is a supporting organization of the ECCF

Charitable partner of Eau Claire Area School District

2021-2022 Board of Trustees

Jim McDougall, Chair Founder & CEO, UpStream

Wayne Wille, Vice Chair

Letter from the ECPSF Chair This year, we have seen many changes in our schools. Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation is proud to serve as the charitable partner of Eau Claire Area School District, connecting YOU with opportunities to have an impact on today’s students and staff.

Trust Portfolio Manager, US Bank

Dustin Wiesner, Treasurer Tax Manager, Wipfli LLC

Julia Diggins Director of Development, UW-Eau Claire Foundation

Mike Emberson Co-Owner, Zacho Sports Center

Kimberly Hill Phelps Retired Educator

Patti Iverson Community Volunteer

Brad Juhlke Senior Accountant, Wipfli

Emily Kurth Marketing Specialist, Realityworks

Dr. Carmen Manning Dean, UWEC College of Education and Human Sciences

Donors like you offered a bright light for our schools when they needed it most. As teachers & staff and students & families continued to adapt, you were there supporting another record year in grants to our schools, with over $315,000 granted. You made a neighborhood cleanup class project happen, teaching our students about the benefit of giving back, while helping elderly neighbors. You provided school supplies and winter gear to students in need, ensuring any child who needed help received it.

You expanded classroom libraries, offering new literature and ideas to students. You did all of this, and so much more.

Thank you for saying YES to our schools. We appreciate the opportunity to help you fulfill your philanthropic goals supporting education. Together, we are Ensuring the Future of quality public education in Eau Claire.

Heather Market-Sullivan

Jim McDougall Chair - Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation

Community Volunteer

Jennifer McHugh VP Community Engagement, Royal Credit Union

David Morley Retired Educator

Angie Nijhawan Community Volunteer

Rebecca Noland Retired, City of Eau Claire

Derek Prestin Attorney, Ruder Ware

Michael Strubel General Sales Manager, WEAU 13 News

Ex-Officio: Mike Johnson Superintendent, Eau Claire Area School District

Mission Dedicated to promoting education by fostering supportive relationships with Eau Claire Area School District and the community; raising funds to provide learning opportunities for students, teachers and staff; and awarding grants for value-added projects.

Vision Ensuring the Future

Dr. Lori Bica Commisioner, Eau Claire Area School District Board of Education

Past Chairs: Dan Market (2011-2015) Charlie Grossklaus (2015-2017) Dr. Blenda Yun (2017-2020)

Contact Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation 500 Main St, P.O. Box 511 Eau Claire, WI 54702 715-852-3015 director@ecpsfound.org

Types of Funds

Unrestricted Fund

$500 to establish, $10,000 minimum to begin granting

Allows ECPSF the most flexibility to allocate dollars to the ever-changing needs of our schools through the grant process.

Donor Advised Fund

$1,500 to establish, $25,000 minimum to begin granting

Allows individuals, families and businesses to be fully involved in their philanthropy.

Fund holders have the flexibility to recommend grants to specific schools.

Scholarship Fund

$1,000 to establish, $15,000 minimum to begin granting

Allows fund holders to support the post-secondary education of students from the ECASD.

2021 Assets Held in Each Fund Type 11%

4%

58%

10%

Designated Fund $500 to establish, $10,000 minimum to begin granting

Allows fund holders to support their favorite school, activity, sport, or program forever. They can support one or more schools, even specific programs.

Acorn Fund Allows donors to invest as little as $500 up front, then add tax-deductible contributions for up to five years. The Acorn becomes fully funded when it reaches the minimum balance required for granting.

Pass-Through/Special Project Fund Allows donors to support a specific purpose or project that will benefit our schools.

This type of short-term fund closes once its goal is accomplished. Although the fund is temporary, its impact is forever!

2%

15%

MILLIONTH Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation announces its

DOLLAR GRANTED!

ECPSF

GRANTS

SCHOOLS Grants have supported:

Solar on Eau Claire Schools at North and Memorial High Schools.

Winter gear and school supplies for students in need districtwide.

After school art club at Northwoods Elementary School.

Visiting yoga instructor at DeLong Middle School and Longfellow Elementary School.

Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation celebrated its millionth dollar granted in support of Eau Claire Area School District. The granting has supported a wide array of District needs and priorities, as well as donor passion projects. From field trips to greatest needs, from classroom supplies to innovative experiences, from scholarships to capital projects, the impact of $1,000,000+ is momentous for teachers and students.

Thank you for helping us ensure the future!

Fund List Unrestricted

ECPSF Scholarship Fund

Districtwide Endowed Fund for the Future

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Fund

ECPSF Fund for Tomorrow

GATEWAYS Fund

Donor Advised Market Family Education Fund Terry and Flo Sheridan Education Fund

Scholarship Brighter Futures Scholarship Fund Eric Mosel Scholarship Fund J. Murphy STEM Scholarship Fund

Golden Apple Fund Homeless Children and Youth Fund Math Teachers Circles Fund Night to Fight Hunger Fund - an Extension of Fight Against Hunger Fund North and Memorial All Night Graduation Party Fund Prairie Ridge Fight Against Hunger Fund

School Pass-Through

Joanne Marie Sommer Scholarship Fund

DeLong Middle School Fund for Today

PESI/Mike Conner Scholarship Fund

Flynn Elementary Fund for Today

Ross Proctor Music Scholarship Fund

Lakeshore Elementary Fund for Today

Ruth Girnau Scholarship Fund

Locust Lane Elementary Fund for Today

Designated Artist in Classroom Fund Connie Ulrich Women's Athletics Fund DeLong Middle School Endowment Fund Flynn Elementary School Endowment Fund Homeless Children and Youth Endowment Fund Husky Helping Hands Fund Longfellow's JRLC Fund Niemuth Family Giving Tree Fund

Acorn

Longfellow Elementary Fund for Today Manz Elementary Fund for Today McKinley Charter School Fund for Today Meadowview Elementary Fund for Today Memorial High School Fund for Today Montessori Charter School Fund for Today North High School Fund for Today Northstar Middle School Fund for Today Northwoods Elementary Fund for Today Prairie Ridge Early Learning Fund for Today Putnam Elementary Fund for Today

Caravan Scholarship Fund

Robbins Elementary Fund for Today

Mai Kou Lee Scholarship

Roosevelt Elementary Fund for Today

McKinley Charter School Post-Secondary Success Fund

Sam Davey Elementary Fund for Today

Memorial Class of 58 Endowment Fund

Sherman Elementary Fund for Today

Music Access Fund

South Middle School Fund for Today

Samantha Renee Memorial Fund

Pass-Through Adopt a Backpack Fund Border Battle - an extension of Homeless Children & Youth Fund Districtwide Greatest Needs Fund for Today Dream Act Fund Eau Claire Memorial Athletic Facility (ECMAF) Fund ECPSF Operations Fund

60+ FUNDS

*Bold = new this year!

“Mirroring the real world and learning these skills outside of a traditional high school environment makes all the difference!"

– GATEWAYS parent GATEWAYS (Grow, Achieve, Transition, Empower, Working At Your Success) is the new community based transition option program for students with disabilities ages 18-21, supporting the transition from school services to adult life, and located in Eastridge Center. Following spring approval from the school board, renovations took place over the summer, and student use began in the fall.

Public Private Partnership ECASD supported the construction and lease of the space. Donors supported $100,000 to outfit it with the necessary furniture, appliances, and more.

With the fundraising goal to furnish the space met, the next phase is supporting programming for the students.

“This is what can happen when staff dream, and donors say ‘yes’!”

- Mike Johnson, ECASD Superintendent

“I love it. I never want to leave.”

– GATEWAYS student

“We are excited to be partnering with the Foundation to enhance this opportunity for our students!”

– Mandy VanVleet, ECASD Executive Director of Special Education

Grant Spotlights Neighborhood Clean Up DeLong Middle School social studies teacher Mr. Wathke was awarded an ECPSF grant to launch his student success class project of neighborhood cleanup. In the fall months, the students went out into the DeLong neighborhood to rake leaves for elderly neighbors, and winter brought snow shoveling! Mr. Wathke shared “going out into our neighborhoods not only helps our neighbors, but greatly benefits the students’ social and emotional health too! Thanks again for making this happen for our students and the neighbors of our school.”

Brent Wathke, Social Studies Teacher, DeLong Middle School

Flexible Seating Each year, Golden Apple Honorees are celebrated with grant funding to use in their classrooms. Locust Lane Elementary School’s 2021 Honoree, Ms. Pritchard, used her grant to purchase flexible seating for her students. “The seats allow students to wiggle and move their bodies, while still focusing on their work. My students are more engaged, attentive to their work, and they participate more,” she shared.

“We love them!”

Melissa Pritchard, Second Grade Teacher, Locust Lane Elementary School

Leave a Legacy for Learning!

Does your commitment to education in Eau Claire extend beyond your ability to make a current cash gift? If so, please consider remembering the Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation (ECPSF) in your estate gift plan. Planned gifts come in many shapes and sizes, and can benefit our schools in any way that you wish to have an impact and leave your legacy.

Your gift can support ECPSF’s mission, can be added to an existing fund, or can establish a new fund to support your particular area of educational interest. All who establish a planned gift to benefit ECPSF become members of the Legacy Society. Of course, wishes for anonymity are strictly honored.

Types of planned gifts: • Charitable Gift Annuity

• Bequest by Will

• Charitable Remainder and/or Charitable Lead Trust

• Life Insurance

• Real Estate

• Retirement Plans

We welcome you to contact us to discuss your goals in supporting education. In all cases, please also seek the advice of your attorney, financial planner, accountant or other estate planning professional.

Become a Charter Member of our newly formed Legacy Society!

Charter Members: Don* & Jan Etnier Ruth Girnau* Charles & Becky Grossklaus Phil & Carol Mosel Rick & Carol Olson

Corrine (Connie) Ulrich* Marv Lansing & Nancy Kraft Carol Craig Anonymous (2)

To learn more about how to make a gift in your estate plan to support our schools, please contact us at 715-852-3015 or director@ecpsfound.org

*Denotes deceased

The annual Golden Apples are awarded by the nomination of peers and distinguish one outstanding educator or staff member in each of the twenty ECASD schools, as well as one honoree from districtwide support. ECPSF partners with generous area businesses to sponsor unrestricted grant funding for each honoree and school. Grant funding has been used to support classroom supplies, playground equipment, field trips, musical instruments, and more!

2021 Grant Listing ECASD Districtwide: • Diverse authors speaker series • Solar on Eau Claire Schools • Student backpacks and school supplies • Student winter gear • Summer school busing • Teacher Appreciation Week • Transportation for families in need Chippewa Valley Montessori Charter School: • Classroom library books • Social justice classroom library books DeLong Middle School: • Neighborhood cleanup class project Flynn Elementary School: • 1st grade yoga program • Artist in the classroom experience • Disc golf and recess games Lakeshore Elementary School: • 3D printer • Social justice classroom library books Locust Lane Elementary School: • Classroom flexible seating • TEACHH special ed supplies Longfellow Elementary School: • Classroom games • End of year student celebration • Student headphones Manz Elementary School: • Classroom supplies • Reading rewards program McKinley Charter School: • Student holiday incentives

Meadowview Elementary School: • 1st grade frisbee golf • Classroom supplies • Culturally responsive posters project • Special education supplies • Staff appreciation supplies Memorial High School: • All night graduation party • Black Student Union participation in UWEC Civil Rights Pilgrimage • Fab lab materials and equipment North High School: • All night graduation party • Auditorium microphones • Classroom library books • Daktronics tech ed supplies • Fab lab materials and equipment • Freedom Riders guest speaker • Project Lead the Way wind tunnel Northstar Middle School: • Indigenous artist mural project • School community garden • Staff appreciation event Northwoods Elementary School: • New building signage • Sensory and special ed materials Prairie Ridge Early Learning Center: • Classroom sensory and switch toys • Food pantry supplies Putnam Heights Elementary School: • ELL family engagement project

Roosevelt Elementary School: • Classroom flexible seating • Classroom library books • Classroom supplies • Conscious Discipline materials for staff • Gaga Ball pit • Scholastic books for students Sam Davey Elementary School: • Bal-A-Vis-X exercise prog for kids Sherman Elementary School: • Sensory classroom furniture • Sensory classroom reading nook South Middle School: • Disc golf course • Innovative Spanish teaching materials • Math club supplies • School spirit cafeteria signage • Trauma teaching materials Scholarships: Brighter Futures Scholarship: Student supplies Eric Mosel Scholarship: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University J Murphy STEM Scholarship: UW-Madison (2), UW-La Crosse, UM-Duluth PESI/Mike Conner Scholarship: UW-Oshkosh Ruth Girnau Scholarship: Michigan Technological University, UW-Eau Claire

Robbins Elementary School: • Art weave/loop project • Classroom flexible seating • Classroom library books • Coding Ozobots

Record Granting Year!

$315,665

75r+ships

schola ed award

200+

field trips an d immersive experience s

+ k 0 2 4 $ upport of

in s cts e j o r p l capita

Fund Spotlight The Districtwide Endowed Fund for the Future was created by the Founding Partners when ECPSF was established to provide a committed level of annual support. Gifts to this fund remain with the fund in perpetuity, and the investment income is used annually to meet current needs or fund special projects as part of a grant application process.

Endowments are designated funds for a specific purpose that are structured so that the principal amount is kept intact while the investment income is available for granting or reinvestment to build the endowment. This allows donations to have a greater impact over a longer period of time. A permanent endowment is a key component of successful foundations supporting public education.

ECPSF holds additional endowed funds that are invested with the general endowment.

Each of these funds keep their principal intact while the generated interest is used to support the specific purpose of the fund(s).

Celebrating 10 Years!

Established in 2011 by the Founding Partners of Education, ECPSF has seen momentous growth in ten years.

ECPSF connects generous donors with Eau Claire Area School District to supplement the tax-based funding of our schools in the form of classroom grants, and funding special projects, annual teacher and staff Golden Apple Awards, greatest needs, educator innovation, and more.

Dan Market, a Founding Partner of ECPSF, served as the first Board chair.

He and his wife, Debbie, hold a donor-advised family fund that awards grants for school programs and projects. “Strong schools are an important part of a community. When we first established ECPSF, one of our primary goals was to make sure today’s kids have the same opportunities that Debbie and I had growing up,” he shared. “The Foundation is doing great work to support our school district’s teachers, students, and needs, and we are thrilled to be a part of that.”

Founding Partners for Education Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation was founded in 2011, started by a small group of community educators and leaders believing that support beyond the tax dollar can make good education excellent. ECPSF gratefully thanks the Founding Partners for Education who joined together to establish a strong base of funding and support through their leadership gifts.

Anonymous (2)

Mary Ann & Herb Hardebeck

Dr. Blenda Yun & Lane Biggs

Dean J. Arnold

Slavko & Elizabeth Ivankovic

American Phoenix, Inc.

Dr. Louis G. Arnold

Jerry & Jane Johnson

Eau Claire North High School Athletic

David & Gail Barnes

Wendy Sue Johnson

William & Beth Blackburn

Jeff & Karen Jones

Eau Claire Seymour Lions Club

Steve Brimmer

Jack & Sally Kaiser

First Choice Occupational Medicine

Greg Caucutt & Amy Carr Caucatt

Mary Beth Kelley-Lowe & Scott Lowe

Patti Cigan

Harold ‘Diz’ Kronenbrg*

Trish Cummins & John Plewa

Marv Lansing & Nancy Kraft

Kathryn Proctor Duax & David L.E. Duax*

Dan & Debbie Market

Ken & Lori Faanes

Jef & Eileen Munger Family

Mark & Donna Faanes

David E. Richie

Jim & Lynn Fering

Terry* & Flo Sheridan

Thomas & Monika Fiedler

Kirk & Wendy Strang

Mike Graf & Lisa Stetler Graf

Susan & Roger Tietz

Charles & Becky Grossklaus

Skip & Jane Van Gorden

Wayne & Carole Halberg

Family & Friends of Michael J. Webb

Christine Hambuch-Boyle

Ben & Lori Whitis

& Stephen Boyle Family

Becky & Dave Wood

Booster Club

& Disability, & Hebl Family Ken Vance Motors Lasker Jewelers, Lasker Family Macy’s Foundation Market & Johnson, Inc. Micon Cinemas, Mike & Connie Olson Family Northwestern Bank Scheels Wipfli Xcel Energy *Denotes deceased

Financial Report Statement of Financial Position Assets

2020

2021* 554,619

543,856

3,138,357

2,461,910

61,000

101,000

636

-

$ 3,754,612

$ 3,106,766

Other Liabilities

-

1,670

Total Liabilities

-

1,670

3,152,607

2,486,450

Checking and Money Market Investments Pledges Receivable - Funds Prepaid Expenses Total Assets

ENSURING THE FUTURE

Liabilities

Beginning Balance of Net Assets

602,005

618,646

$ 3,754,612

$ 3,106,766

Change in Net Assets

Total Liabilities & Net Assets *2021 Unaudited

Statement of Financial Activity Support & Other Revenue Contributions - Funds Contributions - Operations Investment Gains (Losses) Administrative Fee Revenue

Totals

2021*

2020

668,648

601,564

63,266

78,314

313,734

231,208

18,316

17,091

$ 1,063,964

$ 928,177

315,666

262,207

66,511

65,689

63,065

59,281

16,717

8,232

$ 461,959

$ 395,409

Grants & Expenses Grants Operating Expenses Fund Expenses Investment Management Fees

Totals *2021 Unaudited

Credits Photography by: Jeff Thompson Photography Layout & Design by: Emily Kuipers, Graphic Designer

500 Main St, P.O. Box 511 Eau Claire, WI 54702 715-852-3015 director@ecpsfound.org www.ecpsfound.org