Eau Claire Community Foundation Summer 2018 Newsletter

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2018 - 2019

Laura Talley, Chair Karl Murch, Vice Chair Laurie Klinkhammer, Secretary Lois Krause, Treasurer Suzanne Ashley Kim Bodeau Linda Danielson Philip Happe M.D. Chris Hasenberg Tom Larson Leland Mayer M.D. Sherry Mohr Tim Pabich Wayne Peters Dale Wood Mark Faanes, Past Chair

2018 NEW FUNDS (Jan. - June) Cody and Molly Filipczak Family Fund Fuerstenberg Family Fund Paul and Jill Kulig Family Fund Quinn Family Designated Pass-Through Fund

MESSAGE FROM LAURA TALLEY, Chair of the Board of Trustees ECCF maintains a broadly diversified investment portfolio with Orgel Wealth Management and has recently expanded its options to include a Socially Responsible (SRI) Long Term portfolio with Morgan Stanley. Morgan Stanley provides values alignment with a positive environmentally and socially focused portfolio. This is done through thematic investing that focuses on areas like climate change, health and wellbeing, inclusion, and safety and security. This Portfolio is designed to meet the needs of fund holders who desire socially responsible investing options. Both firms work closely with the Investment Committee and staff to deliver a comprehensive investment management program to support meeting stewardship goals of the endowment, and both conduct regular investment policy management assessments and performance reporting. If you would like more information on the SRI, please contact suebornick@eccfwi.org. Many donors have been asking about different tax strategies when making decisions in their charitable giving. The good news is that the lower tax rates give donors disposable income. More information on this topic can be found in “A Strategy and an Opportunity.” Since its creation, ECCF has awarded over $12 million in grants, including more than $5.5 million in support of the Confluence Project. In its most recent grant cycle, ECCF received 57 grant applications and was able to fully or partially fund 44 of those, with a total distribution of $181,931. Six new funds have been opened in 2018, adding to the over $20 million held by ECCF. Thank you to all the families and organizations who have created funds this year and since ECCF’s inception. The endowed funds will sustain and grow ECCF’s granting capabilities for years to come. I encourage each of you to make a difference today by leaving a bequest or planned gift for tomorrow. A gift is an ideal way to provide future support for our community. Because of our community’s generous support, ECCF will continue to do its work— For Good. For Ever. With gratitude,

Talha Aslam Memorial Scholarship Talley Family Fund

Laura Talley, Chair Eau Claire Community Foundation

2018 LEGACY SOCIETY MEMBERS Don* and Jan Etnier Cody and Molly Filipczak

SNAPSHOT: Jan. 1 - May 31, 2018

Ann Gunderson Thornburg

TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS: $836,874

NEW FUNDS: 6

Kathy Kovell

TOTAL ASSETS: $21,300,957

TOTAL AWARDED GRANTS:

NEW LEGACY SOCIETY MEMBERS: 6

$1,723,089 | 186 Grants

* Denotes deceased

306 S. Barstow St. Suite 104, Eau Claire, WI 54701

715.552.3801

www.eccommunityfoundation.org


The Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation (ECPSF) is a

The Women’s Giving Circle, a fund of the Eau Claire Community

supporting organization of the Eau Claire Community

Foundation, has benefited more than 40 local nonprofits that

Foundation. We are excited to share that we are having

address the needs of women and children. This year, the Circle

another fruitful year. Some of the highlights include:

will be awarding more than $42,000 in grants. That brings the

New Scholarships: This spring, two new scholarship funds were opened by donor

total since inception to over $200,000. The group currently has over 280 members, each contributing at least $250 annually.

families from Eau Claire. The Caravan Scholarship Fund was

Each year, the Education and Program Committee holds a Fall

established to celebrate students who have participated in

Educational Event. All are welcome to this event on Monday,

band during all four years of their studies at Memorial High

September 24th. The topic is Cyberbullying. We have two

School, and who intend to continue band participation in

speakers, Mary Ann Hardebeck, Superintendent of the EC

college. The Joanne Marie Sommer Scholarship Fund was

Public Schools and Justin Patchin, Professor of Criminal Justice

established to award North High School seniors who have given

at UW-Eau Claire, Co-Director of the Cyberbullying Research

back to their community. Each fund awards one graduating

Center and is known across the country for his work on this

senior a $500 scholarship toward their post-secondary studies.

subject. The event will be held at Grace Lutheran Community

School Grants:

Capernaum Room (206 N Willson Drive, Altoona, WI).

ECPSF funds a variety of projects, initiatives and field trips

To learn more about the Women’s Giving Circle, please visit their

through our grant cycle each year. As we reflect on the

new website: wgceauclaire.org or Like them on Facebook.

2017-18 school year, we are proud to have sponsored many exciting opportunities for our students including: converting an old music practice room into a recording studio, an author/illustrator visit to a school, Odyssey of the Mind finals

Dates for your Calendar:

competition trip, a mini makers space, a new prairie creation, an

Meet & Mingle (NEW!)

after-school music group, a sensory light table, several field trip

July 11 | 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

opportunities, and so much more! Stay tuned for the selection

Taverna Grill, Eau Claire

of fall 2018’s grants!

Summer Social

Supporting Students in Need:

July 18 | 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

The Eau Claire Area School District averages 46% of students

Fall Educational Event

who qualify for free and reduced lunch. ECPSF is proud to

Cyberbullying

partner with our schools with the help of our Fight Against

September 24

Hunger Fund, to offer funding to support a food pantry, community garden, summer and weekend meals programs,

Grant Review

and more. The Foundation also supports our district students

October 16

experiencing homelessness with our Homeless Children &

Annual Meeting

Youth Fund, offering funding for transportation, winter gear, school supplies, and other needs for our students and families in transition. You can be a part of this exciting work as well! To learn more about ECPSF, please visit: www.ecpsfound.org.

Dr. Blenda Yun, ECPSF Chair Physician, Mayo Clinic Health System

November 5 * More details to come via e-mail and Facebook. For additional information, please contact ECCF.


Create Culture

Form Futures

Chippewa Valley Symphony Orchestra

Altoona STEM Education

The Chippewa Valley Symphony Orchestra (CVSO) provides a symphonic experience to Chippewa Valley audiences, in part by increasing the understanding and appreciation of orchestral music to an expanding audience. Currently in its 43rd season, the CVSO enhances the cultural landscape of the Eau Claire area, programming five concerts per season.

In 2017, the Altoona School District received two grants to support STEM education at the elementary level. The first grant was from ECCF to support the PreK - 3rd grade STEM Curriculum. The second grant was awarded from the Women’s Giving Circle grant cycle for a STEM coding and robotics program. Both allowed the elementary school to invest in a classroom set of Lego Education WeDo 2.0 Robotic Kits.

One concert each February is aimed at drawing young people to the experience. To assist in achieving this goal, the CVSO was grateful to receive ECCF funding to support the annual “Symphony in Our Schools” program, when musicians of the orchestra visit 3rd and 4th graders in local elementary schools to educate and introduce them to orchestral instruments. Those students then receive vouchers to attend a CVSO concert with their parents. With support from this grant, a new generation of music lovers will grow up in the Chippewa Valley.

The kits are built around the Next Generations Science Standards and strengthen students’ understanding of science and engineering practices, including: asking questions, solving problems, modeling and prototyping, investigating, analyzing data, computational thinking, and creating evidence based arguments. Thanks to these grants, Altoona students will be better prepared to meet the challenges and opportunities presented by a quickly evolving job market.

To learn more, visit www.cvsymphony.org.

To learn more, visit www.altoona.k12.wi.us.

Give Green

Offer Opportunities

Girls on the Run of the Chippewa Valley

Bolton Refuge House, Inc.

Girls on the Run of the Chippewa Valley (GOTR) inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. GOTR serves almost 500 3rd-8th grade girls across the Chippewa Valley, and is extending their reach to girls in Chippewa Falls and Mondovi with the help of grant funding from the Women’s Giving Circle.

Bolton Refuge House, Inc. (BRH) creates a safe space by providing programs and services for people impacted by domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and sexual assault. BRH also advocates for social change and envisions a world in which all people have the right to safety, dignity, respect, and self-determination.

As GOTR grows, so does its 5k Celebration, the culmination of its 10 week program. With the help of another grant from ECCF, GOTR was able to purchase additional safety vests for race volunteers who keep the girls safe and on track. The grant also helped ease the volunteer and 5k participant registration process with the help of a new iPad, leading to increased community participation in this life-changing program.

In 2017, BRH received a grant for a new support group called Stop the Chaos, which helps victims with addiction issues. The group teaches coping skills and explains the dynamics of addiction in unhealthy relationships. One participant shared, “I never expected to learn so much … Things don’t seem so overwhelming in my mind now.” BRH also received a grant to replace the flooring at the Transitional Housing Units. The new flooring increased the units’ accessibility, safety, and overall stability.

To learn more, visit www.gotrchippewavalley.org.

To learn more, visit www.boltonrefuge.org.


A Strategy and an Opportunity Tax Law Change: The Good News

Strategies for major donors or businesses

• Lower tax rates = more disposable income • Charitable income tax deduction remains intact! • Capital gains tax rates left untouched – incentivizes gifts of appreciated assets

Utilize same strategies for donors, plus: • Because of the combined federal and state capital gains tax, the tax benefits for giving appreciated assets is even more compelling • Nine year bull run = many donors own highly appreciated stock (gifts of stock) • Turn an asset, real estate, QCDs, farmland, machinery, business interests, etc. into a gift

Strategies for donors ($1 - $20,000 in charitable gifts each year) • Bundling, doubling charitable gifts in one year, to a donor advised fund allows the donor to itemize deductions, then take the standard deduction the following year. New standard deduction - $12,000 for single taxpayer or $24,000 for a married couple • For individuals over 70 ½, make a qualified charitable distribution from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), gift maximum is $100,000. • The advantage – An IRA distribution sent directly to ECCF is excluded from income; no charitable deduction

13th Annual

Some Truth Telling • Only 30% of US taxpayers itemized before 2018 • People give because they believe in the organization’s mission … and believe that their gift can make a difference! ECCF encourages donors to visit with their financial and legal advisors to determine which charitable giving strategies are best for them.

SAVE THE DATE/NEW LOCATION

PROFESSIONAL ADVISOR EVENT Thursday, October 18, 2018 | 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. Holiday Inn South | 4751 Owen Ayres Ct., Eau Claire CLE & CPA Educational Credits Available

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Autumn Social

Professional Advisor Event

Community Foundation Week

Monday, September 17

Thursday, October 18

November 12 - 16

WGC: Fall Educational Event

WGC: Annual Meeting

WGC: Gift of Giving Breakfast

Monday, September 24

Monday, November 5

Wednesday, December 5


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