2024 Annual Report FOREVER


THANK YOU FOR THE MANY WAYS YOU GIVE! Every grant from ECCF starts as a

THANK YOU FOR THE MANY WAYS YOU GIVE! Every grant from ECCF starts as a
DEAR FRIENDS,
As reflect on 2024, I am filled with pride and gratitude for the remarkable strides made by the Eau Claire Community Foundation (ECCF). This year has been a testament to the power of collaboration, community, and generosity.
One of our most transformative milestones was receiving over $9.3 million from the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis Foundation. This incredible contribution has bolstered our ability to serve the Chippewa Valley community, allowing us to expand vital health and healing programs. Through this partnership, we have ensured the continuation of the Monsignor Klimek Healing Presence Endowment, among others, which will provide over $370,000 annually to address health disparities and enhance well-being across the region.
Thanks to the trust and commitment of our donors, ECCF’s net assets soared to over $60 million—an increase of more than $13 million from last year. This growth reflects the unwavering faith our community places in us to steward their philanthropic legacies. The establishment of 56 new funds in 2024 demonstrates that more individuals, families, and organizations are inspired to partner with us to create lasting change.
Our grants and scholarships have also reached new heights, with over $3.7 million distributed to empower nonprofits and support students. Each grant represents a story of hope and a step forward in addressing our community’s most pressing needs. From nurturing innovative programs to fostering educational opportunities, these contributions embody the heart of ECCF’s mission.
Yet, numbers alone cannot capture the true spirit of 2024. This year, we witnessed the profound impact of legacy giving, strategic partnerships, and the enduring generosity of individuals who share our vision for a thriving, inclusive community.
Looking ahead, we remain committed to strengthening our community by addressing emerging challenges, empowering nonprofits, and providing a seamless experience for our donors and partners. With your continued support, ECCF will remain a catalyst for positive change for generations to come.
Thank you for being an integral part of our journey. Together, we are building a stronger, more compassionate Chippewa Valley.
With gratitude,
Tom Larson, Board Chair
THIS YEAR, WE ARE PROUD TO HONOR PAUL AND CHERI WEINKE WITH THE ECCF LEADERSHIP AWARD, RECOGNIZING THEIR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS AND ENDURING COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
The Leadership Award recognizes an exceptional individual or family that has had a significant impact on ECCF and our community.
Learn more about Paul and Cheri’s philanthropic journey.
"Several years ago, we had the good fortune to become aware of, and involved with, the Eau Claire Community Foundation," shared Paul and Cheri.
Their journey with ECCF began from a place of appreciation for the unique charm and warmth of Eau Claire, coupled with a recognition of its unmet needs. Inspired to make a tangible difference, they established an unrestricted fund aimed at addressing these challenges.
Paul and Cheri's involvement with ECCF extends far beyond their financial contributions Paul served on the ECCF Board from 2003 to 2014 and has been a vital member of the Development Committee for over two decades, also contributing significantly to the Gift Acceptance Committee. Meanwhile, Cheri has been an active and loyal member of the Women’s Giving Circle Grants Team, serving as the Chair for their Grants Team in 2024. Her dedication will continue as she takes on a new role as a reviewer on the ECCF Grant Committee in 2025.
Their legacy is characterized by deep empathy and strategic foresight, demonstrating the significant impact community-driven initiatives can have. Paul and Cheri's enduring commitment serves as a powerful example and inspiration, encouraging each of us to consider how we might contribute to creating a sustainable and thriving future for all.
“Establishing a Fund is one way to create a powerful impact, ensuring that the Eau Claire community continues to thrive for decades to come.”
-Paul and Cheri Weinke
$882,482
$3.7M+ GRANTS DISTRIBUTED*
NONPROFITS SUPPORTED
$802,824
Provides children, adults, and families with basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, and health services.
COMPETITIVE
ECCF provides a variety of grant opportunities and funding options to support local organizations and initiatives throughout the year.
Enhances learning opportunities for children and adults in the Eau Claire area.
$591,166 CREATE CULTURE
$1,291,471
$209,920
Supports programs that engage children and adults in activities that improve environmental quality or provide fitness, health, and wellness opportunities.
Community Health Endowment Fund (April – June) *NEW IN 2025
Women's Giving Circle Grant Cycle (April – May)
William A. Bingham Family Endowment Fund (July – August)
Royal CU & ECCF Nonprofit Professional Development (September – October)
Community Grant Cycle (November – January)
Physicians' Community Impact Fund (January – February) *COMING IN 2026
Supports programs and organizations that enhance the quality of life in our community through the arts.
ECPSF GRANTS
Awards grants and connects the community with the Eau Claire Area School District to enrich student education.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GRANT CYCLES
The Eau Claire Community Foundation is proud to collaborate and grow with our diverse partners. In addition to our supporting organization and affiliate funds, we facilitate two active giving circles that continuously welcome new members.
Our deep understanding of local needs uniquely positions us as an ideal partner in philanthropy.
An Affiliate Fund is a collaborative partnership that benefits both community foundations and their affiliates by bringing together their expertise, resources, and networks. Working together, they’re able to create a stronger, more meaningful impact in the communities they serve.
This Field of Interest Fund uses collective philanthropy, allowing members to pool their donations for greater community impact. The WGC members’ annual $250 contributions support grants to nonprofits that serve Eau Claire county women and children.
This diverse and inclusive membership group is composed of practicing and retired physicians dedicated to improving the health and well-being of our community. Members of PCIF support the fund through annual financial contributions and have the opportunity to vote on grant recipients on an annual basis.
A supporting organization, such as the Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation (ECPSF), is a 501(c)(3) formed to support the work of another charitable organization. It is a distinct legal entity affiliated with ECCF, by both its purposes and its operations, and it can be classified as a public charity.
Acorn Fund
A fund that will slowly grow over time. When the minimum balance has been reached, your fund will become one of the endowment funds listed below.
Unrestricted Fund
Use the ECCF grant committee’s expertise to address the greatest needs in the community.
A
Donor Advised Fund
Advisors to the fund recommend grants to specific organizations throughout the year.
Field of Interest Fund
Support a charitable area of interest that you are most passionate about.
A TARGETED APPROACH
Designated Fund
Choose one or more charitable organizations to receive ongoing support in perpetuity.
The Community Fund is an easy and impactful way for anyone to help strengthen the place we all call home. Built by donors who believe in the power of collective giving, this fund enables people from across the community to join together in addressing local needs and creating lasting change.
Since its creation, the Community Fund has awarded more than $300,000 to local organizations and initiatives—supporting everything from essential services and youth programs to arts, education, and environmental efforts. As one of several unrestricted funds at ECCF, it plays a vital role in powering the annual Community Grant Cycle, a competitive process that invites nonprofits to apply for funding to meet both urgent challenges and long-term goals.
What makes the Community Fund special is its flexibility. Because it’s endowed, the fund grows over time—allowing for sustainable grantmaking year after year. This enables ECCF and its Grant Team to respond to the region’s evolving needs by thoughtfully reviewing applications and awarding grants where they’ll have the greatest impact.
If you’re passionate about strengthening our community but aren’t quite ready to start a fund of your own, the Community Fund is a perfect place to begin. Every gift, no matter the size, becomes part of something bigger—fueling lasting change, supporting local nonprofits, and helping ensure a stronger future for generations to come.
"Thanks to support from ECCF, we can get more quality food to those who need it. This partnership helps us make a real difference today for a healthier future tomorrow."
-Susie Haugley, Feed My People
Unrestricted Funds are powerful tools for responding to our region’s evolving needs. By supporting ECCF’s annual Community Grant Cycle, they help fund high-impact projects that strengthen the Eau Claire area and improve quality of life for all.
B.J. and Bea Farmer Family Fund
Charter Bank Fund
Community Fund
Daniel F. and Margaret J. Brown Memorial Fund
Dean and Susan Olson Family Fund
Dr. Charles D. and Sue E. Nyberg Family Fund
Ed and Judy Ramsey Fund
Gene and Judy LaFave Family Fund
Giving Traditions Fund
Goff Family Fund
Jack and Lois Postlewaite Family Fund
James H. Cupery Fund
Lois and Arnold Domer Fund
Mary Mills Falkner and Robert John Falkner Memorial Fund
Paul and Cheri Weinke Family Fund
Phillip and Barbara Fey Fund
Preston and Mary Kay Bissell Fund
Richard T. Gannon Fund
Roberta and Ken Vance Fund
Royal Credit Union Fund
Susan and Roger Tietz Fund
T. Gordon and Gladys P. Keith Fund
William A. Bingham Family Endowment Fund
$9.3 MILLION GIFT— LARGEST IN ECCF HISTORY.
One of the most significant developments of 2024 was the transfer of more than $9 million from the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis Foundation to the Eau Claire Communit y Foundation (ECCF). These funds included approximately $4.5 million in existing endowments from the Foundation of HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital. In addition, $4.8 million from the Healing Place Endowment and the Healing Place Fund was consolidated under the Monsignor Klimek Healing Presence Endowment.
“We are dedicated to managing the transferred funds with the utmost care and respect for the donors’ original intent.”
- Wesley Escondo, ECCF President & CEO
Through this responsible stewardship, ECCF aims to continue HSHS’s tradition of fostering a vibrant and resilient community.
To guide future grantmaking, the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis Foundation has partnered with AMK Nonprofit Coaching LLC to assess community needs related to grief support and holistic healing. The findings from this study will help maximize the impact of these resources.
For decades, the Foundation of HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital has played a vital role in enhancing community health. This transition ensures that its mission continues, while also expanding ECCF’s capacity to support health-focused initiatives. The additional funds are expected to generate more than $370,000 in annual grantmaking, strengthening programs that address health disparities and promote wellbeing across the region.
ECCF was selected alongside the Community Foundation of Chippewa County, Chippewa Valley Technical College Foundation, and the Catholic Foundation of West Central Wisconsin to steward these critical resources.
Field of Interest Funds support grantmaking in specific areas donors care about such as education, health, the arts, or the environment—ensuring their gifts make an impact where it matters most.
We are grateful to HSHS for its commitment to ensuring these endowments fulfill their intended purpose and for trusting ECCF to carry forward their impact.
The combined impact of these endowments will further ECCF’s mission of supporting a healthier, more equitable Chippewa Valley for years to come.
Aubre’s Fund
Beckermann Family Fund
Children’s Legacy Endowment Fund
Community Health Endowment Fund
Daniel and Mary Ann Ogan Educational Fund
Denise Murch Memorial Fund
Dr. Joseph M. and Jean M. Tobin Family Fund
Draper Hills Financial Literacy Endowment Fund
Edna Hood Memorial Fund
Education Fund
Eldon and Josephine Hill Financial Literacy Fund
Emil and Patricia Rinaldi Family Endowment
Frawley Trust Endowment
Fred and Evelyn Fey Family Endowment
Fuerstenberg Family Fund
Jim and Kathy Pinter Mental Health Fund
John and Jane Lokken Fund
Junior League of Eau Claire Endowment Fund
Laura and Duane Hookom Family Fund
Louis and Janet Frase Fund
M&J Employee Impact Endowment Fund
Marten Transport Cancer Care Education Endowment
Mason Family Endowment
Mayo Clinic Health System Children’s Health Fund
Mental Health Support for Law Enforcement Endowment Fund
Michael Lund Memorial Fund
Nellie and John I. Kaiser Memorial Fund
Opportunities for All Children Legacy Fund
Physicians’ Community Impact Fund
Royal CU and ECCF Nonprofit Professional Development Fund
Security Financial Bank Health Endowment
Susan and Roger Tietz Endowment
Victoria E. Finstad Fund
Women’s Giving Circle Endowment Fund
WI
For the Wildenberg family, giving back has always been a shared value—something they witnessed firsthand through the kindness and generosity of people close to them, including family friend Jason Beckermann and Joe’s mother, Janine Wildenberg. It was through their encouragement and example that the family discovered the Eau Claire Community Foundation and felt inspired to start a fund of their own.
The Wildenberg Family Fund was created from a simple but powerful belief: that shared experiences—especially those involving movement, play, and time spent outdoors—can bring people together and strengthen a community.
Their grantmaking reflects this vision, supporting outdoor recreation, active play, and projects that help people feel connected. As they became more involved in their philanthropy, the Wildenbergs quickly came to see ECCF as more than just a place to give.
“The community of people connected to ECCF has been an incredible resource,” they shared. “We’ve discovered opportunities we never would have known about on our own.” ECCF is a behindthe-scenes catalyst in the region—offering funding opportunities and connections that many donors don’t know exist until they get involved.
For the Wildenbergs, this journey is about being thoughtful stewards of their giving—supporting ideas that bring people together and strengthen the community. “We love this community, and being part of ECCF has shown us how many others do too. It’s a reminder that every act of giving, no matter the size, can make a difference.”
“The right opportunity to make a difference often comes when you least expect it—and having a fund means you’re ready to say yes.”
—The Wildenberg Family
Donor Advised Funds, or DAFs, allow individuals, families or businesses to be fully involved in their philanthropy. Fundholders have the flexibility to recommend grants to their charitable interests, while ECCF handles all the paperwork.
5 Martins’ Family Fund
Access Eau Claire Fund
Andrew and Brenda Schlafer Family Fund
Anonymous Donor Advised Fund
Anonymously Fund
Babbette’s Seeds of Hope Fund
Billie G. Macaul Memorial Fund
Bob and Louise Barfknecht Fund
Brotoloc North Mental Health Fund
Carlson Family Fund
Charles and Joanne Graaskamp Fund
Christopher J. and Julie A. Hasenberg Family Fund
Chuck and Lori John Shoemaker Family Fund
Cindy Schlosser and Paul Wagner Fund
Clark Family Fund
Cody and Molly Filipczak Family Fund
Dan and Debbie Market Family Fund
David B. and Dorothy H. Owen Family Fund
David T. Bodeau and Family Fund
Dick and Marlene Cable Family Fund
Dr. Ronald and Patricia Lange Family Fund
Eau Claire Community Parks Association Fund
Frederikson Family Fund
Grewe Family Fund
Hasenberg Financial Group Charitable Foundation
Jack and Carol Bartingale Family Fund
James and Valerie Fedie Fund
Janet Barland Fund
Jeff and Sue Ellen Kowieski Family Fund
Jeffrey and Karen Jones Family Fund
Jennifer Hanson-Bremer & Greg Bremer Family Fund
Jerry and Sue Bauer Family Fund
John and Betsy Kell Family Fund
John and Tami Satre Family Fund
John Matthew Fesenmaier Children’s Fund
Jon N. and Maureen S. Homstad Family Fund
Kanz Family Fund
Karen Overhulser Fund
Katharine’s Wish - Everett/Rhoten Family Fund
Kathy and Jeff White Family Fund
Ken Vance Foundation Fund
Kiwanis Club of Eau Claire Endowment Fund
Koehn Family Endowment Fund
Krause Family Fund
Kristo Family Fund
L & M Foundation, Lois and Marlin Mueller Fund
Larry E. Fischer Fund
Larson Family Fund
Lasker Star of Hope Fund
Leonard E. Gibbs Fund to Promote Excellence in Evidence-Informed Practice in the Helping Professions
Mattoon Family Fund
Mayer Family Fund
Michael and Jane O’Meara Family Fund
Mohr’s Eau Claire Ford Lincoln Endowment Fund
My
EMBRACING OPPORTUNITY
For Roger and Betty Davis, the arts have always been more than just entertainment—they’re a source of joy, reflection, and connection. Whether enjoying a local performance or exploring a museum exhibit, they’ve experienced the powerful role creativity plays in building a vibrant, engaged community.
In 2020, the Davises decided to turn their appreciation into action by establishing the Roger and Betty Davis Fund at ECCF. Rather than choosing just one organization to support, they saw the opportunity to uplift multiple groups that bring vibrancy to Eau Claire’s cultural landscape. Today, their Designated Fund provides annual grants to six arts and culture organizations they care about.
Each year, as the fund grows, so does its capacity to foster the arts, ensuring that these cultural pillars can continue to inspire, entertain, and educate our community. A Designated Fund like theirs offers more than just financial support—it creates a steady, growing foundation that sustains Eau Claire’s creative energy for future generations.
• Chippewa Valley Museum
• Chippewa Valley Symphony
• Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild
• Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra
• Pablo Center at the Confluence
• University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire Foundation
“We just wanted to have a positive impact… the talent in our community is outstanding, and we want to help keep it going!”
- Roger and Betty Davis
Learn more about Roger and Betty’s philanthropic goals:
Designated Funds allow donors to provide ongoing support to specific nonprofits they care about creating a lasting legacy for the causes closest to their hearts.
Donors can invest as little as $500 up front and add tax-deductible contributions for up to five years. Once the Fund matures into a permanent endowment fund, it can begin issuing grants. Al
Pass-Through Funds are flexible, short-term funds that support specific projects, events, or campaigns—perfect for donors or groups with a focused purpose and immediate goals.
the donor’s
Family Promise of the Chippewa Valley Fund
Feed My People Endowment Fund
Established by nonprofits to provide sustained operational support for their organization.
Carson Park Baseball Stadium Renovation Fund
Confluence Building Fund
Story Builder Campaign for the L.E. Phillips
Public Library Expansion Fund
Endowment Fund
Landmark Conservancy
Chippewa River Watershed Fund
Landmark Conservancy Fund for the Mary E. Fitz Memorial Park
L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library Agency Fund
L.E. Phillips Senior Center Agency Fund
Literacy Chippewa Valley
LV-CV Legacy for Literacy Fund
NorthLakes Community Clinic Fund
The Community Table Agency Fund
YMCA of the Chippewa Valley
Young Men’s Christian Association of Eau Claire Endowment Fund
Western Dairyland Housing and Day
Center Campaign Fund
Anita and George Lawrence Covenant Fund
Bartig Family Scholarship Fund for Ladysmith High School
Bruce Alumni Scholarship Fund
Dan Glaze Scholarship Fund
Dennis B. Kovac Fund
Dennis R. Van Wey Legacy Fund
Dukerschein Scholarship for Flambeau School
Economic Development Fund for Rusk County
Ek Fund for Musical Arts
Flambeau Forever Foundation - Academics
Flambeau Forever Foundation - Activities
Flambeau Forever Foundation - Athletics
Flambeau Valley Arts Association Fund
GIVE 365 Rusk Grants Fund
Gordon and Beverly Dukerschein Donor Advised Fund Hawkins Forever Fund Honor the Fallen Pass-Through Fund
Jack and Jackie Pederson Donor Advised Fund
Joseph R. Geisler Scholarship Fund Kyle Kempen
Community Grants Fund
RCCF Operations for Tomorrow Fund
RCCF Operations Fund
Rusk County Animal Shelter Building
Sustainability & Enhancement Fund Rusk County Helping Hands Fund
School District of Ladysmith
Enrichment Fund (LEEF) School District of Ladysmith Scholarship Fund Servite Center for Life Advised Fund
Shane Jenness Special Needs Fund
Smith/Allen Family Charitable Fund
Women with Courage Endowment Fund
Establishing a charitable fund is easy and can be tailored to your philanthropic goals. We offer a variety of fund types to ensure your passions are supported for years to come.
A bequest is a simple addition to your will or estate plan, and allows you to make a significant impact without affecting your current financial situation.
Engage in collective philanthropy through ECCF's giving circles like the Women's Giving Circle and the Physicians' Community Impact Fund, which focus on specific community needs.
With over 370 funds to choose from, ECCF makes it easy to find a purpose that aligns with your passions and values. From education and the arts to healthcare and the environment, each fund supports meaningful initiatives that strengthen our community.
Create a non-permanent fund to support short-term initiatives, ideal for specific projects or campaigns that require immediate funding.
When individuals include the Eau Claire Community Foundation in their wills, trusts, or estate plans, they are honored as members of the Legacy Society—a group of generous donors committed to strengthening our community for generations to come. Many choose to make these arrangements during their lifetime, ensuring their philanthropic values are clearly reflected and celebrated today.
“As part of the Legacy Society, it ensures not only that nonprofits we love will have the support they need to serve future generations, but that future generations of our family can be involved in providing that support.”
-Greg Bremer
GREG BREMER & JENNIFER HANSON-BREMER, LEGACY SOCIETY MEMBERS
SOCIETY?
Here are a few common ways to create a legacy gift by naming ECCF as a beneficiary:
• IRA or 401K
• Life Insurance
• Charitable Trust
• Annuities
• Property/Real Estate
• Business Interests
• Wills & Trusts
Helen & Karl Andresen*
Dr David* & Joan Angell
Richard R. & Sara Solie Baer
Bob & Louise Barfknecht
Janet Barland
Thomas & Jill Barland
Jack & Carol Bartingale*
Jerry & Sue Bauer
Doris J. Bautch
Bill & Winnie Bean
Jason & Jennifer Beckermann
William* and Kathryn Bergman
Miss Priscilla Berry
Stephen & Kristine Bien
William A. Bingham*
Roy Bingham and Anna Knobel Bingham*
Preston & Mary Kay Bissell*
Bill & Beth Blackburn
Don & Kim Bodeau
Robert & Andrea Bodeau
Thomas & Susan Bornick
Mel* & Leann Breed
Gregory Bremer &
Jennifer Hanson-Bremer
Daniel F. & Margaret J. Brown*
Susan J. Bruce*
Thomas & Joyce* Bruckner
Jim Carter* & Victoria Miller
David and Mary Ciresi
Carol Craig
Roger & Betty Davis
Paul Del Torto
Duane & Joan Dingmann
Arnie & Lois Domer*
Thank
to our Legacy Society members for
Don* & Jan Etnier
B.J. & Bea Farmer*
Jennifer & Joseph Fesenmaier
Phillip and Barbara Fey
Cody Filipczak
Victoria E. Finstad
Larry E. & Ida B.* Fischer
Heidi Fisher
Dr. Louis & Janet Frase
Roy & Janice Fuerstenberg
Richard T. Gannon
Leonard E. Gibbs* & Mary E. (Betsy) McDougall Gibbs
Ann Grewe
Charles and Joann Graaskamp*
Charles & Becky Grossklaus
Ann Gunderson Thornburg
Cindy L. Hangartner
Christopher & Julie Hasenberg
Dick & Karen Hebert
Mark & Lois Helland
Lawrence Henkel
Dr. Eldon Hill*
Bernard & Karla Hoefgen
Scott and Ann Hoffmann
Jon N. & Maureen S. Homstad
Edna Hood* Duane & Laura Hookom
Koehn*
Daniel & Kerry Kincaid
Dan May and Kristine MacCallum Sherry L. Macaul Melania Madis*
& Alison Martin
& Mary Ann Minton Thomas Misfeldt & Lisa Stark
M.
“We
-Wesley Escondo, President & CEO
• Financial Statements are prepared by CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP, the Audit and 990 is completed by Bauman Associates, LTD. WITH THE CONTINUED TRUST AND GENEROSITY OF OUR DONORS, THIS YEAR MARKED A PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANT GROWTH FOR OUR FOUNDATION.
• ECCF assets are in a balanced portfolio of pooled investments that maximize fund growth and encourages, facilitates, and manages long-term philanthropy. Both the Diversified Portfolio and the Socially Responsible Portfolio are managed by Morgan Stanley.
• The Intermediate Portfolio is managed by Badgley + Phelps Wealth Managers.
September 25
Autumn Social
October 7
WGC Educational Event
October 16
Professional Advisor Event
November 3
WCG Annual Meeting
November 12-18
Community Foundation Week
December 2
WGC Gift of Giving
Eau Claire Community Foundation
Layout & Design
Isaac Tester
Photography
Connor Miller
Tanner Thompson
Jamie Delight Photography
Certified for Excellence. Accountability. Impact.
Confirmed in compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations.