HISTORY

Eau Claire is a wonderful community—due in large part to the hard work of many diverse nonprofits.

For years, the Hobbs Foundation provided a reliable source of financial support for these organizations. Then, in 1995, it distributed its final grant, leaving the nonprofits scrambling to fill the funding void.

Leaders in the Eau Claire community saw the need for an organization that would work through other nonprofits without competing with them for funding. Catalyzed by an offer from a local couple— who offered a generous gift if a community foundation were created to serve the Eau Claire area—they formed a Board of Trustees.

The Board met in January 1997 and established the ambitious goal of recruiting 25 donors to join the foundation’s Society of Founders. They were encouraged to make unrestricted commitments of $10,000 or more without decreasing their previous philanthropic commitments.

It seemed like a lot to ask, but the people of Eau Claire didn’t just meet the goal—they exceeded it. Over $1 million was contributed by 64 generous donors to make the Eau Claire Community Foundation a reality.

Thanks to the vision and generosity of the Society of Founders, local nonprofits can get the financial support they need to keep our community strong.