2019 ECCF Winter Newsletter

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MESSAGE FROM KARL MURCH, Chair of the Board of Trustees Our community is stronger because of you. Thank you!

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

(2019 - 2020)

Karl Murch, Chair Linda Danielson, Vice Chair Laurie Klinkhammer, Secretary Dale Wood, Treasurer Kim Bodeau Linda Danielson Amelia Daniels Philip Happe M.D. Chris Hasenberg Jeff Kowieski Tom Larson Sherry Mohr Tim Pabich John Satre Sarah Stokes R. Thomas Toy Laura Talley, Past Chair

2019 NEW FUNDS

(Jan. 1 - Oct. 31)

The Ellen J. O’Meara Memorial Fund Anonymous Field of Interest Fund The Janet and Louis Frase Fund The Lasker Jewelers Star of Hope Foundation Fund My Dad- Milton, My Mom-Elnora Siker Endowed Scholarship Fund The RAPS DOC Scholarship Richard Pierce (Torstein) & Sandy Lampman Trail Support Legacy Fund Landmark Conservancy Fund for the

Eau Claire is an extraordinary place. There are many reasons for its high quality of life, not the least of which is the dedicated work of our local nonprofits, and ECCF is proud to support their efforts. Some ECCF funds help nonprofits finance much-needed expansions, such as the Library’s Storybuilder Campaign or the Senior Center’s Fit for the Future Fund. Some ECCF funds support nonprofits’ ongoing needs, such as the Children’s Dyslexia Legacy Fund, which is designated to the Children’s Dyslexia Center of Upper Wisconsin. But most importantly, ECCF’s many family funds support generational giving by connecting donors to the charities they care most about. None of this support would be possible without the generosity of compassionate people like you.

Gifts, large and small, make an important difference!

2019 has brought many exciting opportunities for ECCF to support our community.

Thanks to your generosity, ECCF issued more than $1.8 million in grants in 2019 alone, bringing our grant total since inception to over $14.5 million. These investments are making a real impact on our quality of life.

Imagine what we can accomplish in the coming year with your help!

As 2019 moves towards a close and you consider your year-end tax alternatives, please consider a gift to ECCF. If you are 70 ½ years or older and haven’t used your IRA disbursement, this is a great time to consider using your IRA to make a charitable gift for a tax saving opportunity. With that opportunity, you could: • designate a portion to ECCF’s Community Fund, which addresses our area’s greatest needs, • establish an unrestricted, field of interest or designated family fund, • and/or become a member of ECCF’s Legacy Society by allocating a portion of your IRA upon death to ECCF. Quick Reminder!

No matter the type of gift, we can assist you and your advisors with the process. In order to ensure a seamless transfer of your gift of stock, please call us with your gifting instructions before December 20, 2019.

Thank you all for your generous support of ECCF! Because of you, our nonprofits can do even more to help our community thrive. I wish you a warm, happy, and joyous holiday season.

Mary E. Fitz Memorial Park Story Builder Campaign for the L.E. Phillips

With gratitude,

Memorial Public Library Expansion Fund “Fit for the Future” Fund Hayward Library Foundation Long

Karl Murch, Chair Eau Claire Community Foundation

Term Fund

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

715.552.3801

www.eccfwi.org

FORMING OUR FUTURE TOGETHER

2019 Autumn Social

2019 Professional Advisor Event

In September, ECCF held its Autumn Social for fund holders and their guests. Highlights included Jane Lokken accepting the 2019 ECCF Leadership Award and Pamela Westby’s presentation of the Story Builder Campaign for the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library Expansion Fund. This was a great chance for ECCF to thank all the wonderful people who make our work possible.

ECCF hosted its 14th Annual Professional Advisor Event in October. Larry Mohr, a tax partner at Baker Tilly, spoke about the impact of tax reform on charitable giving alternatives, charitable distributions from IRAs, and the dos and don’ts of making noncash gifts to charities. This event gives Professional Advisors even more tools to help their clients fulfill their charitable goals.

Women’s Giving Circle 2019 Fall Educational Event

Make a Difference with your Charitable IRA Contribution

The Women’s Giving Circle, an ECCF fund, doesn’t just award grants; it also educates members and guests about the Eau Claire area’s most pressing needs and concerns. This year’s Fall Educational Event topic was “Addiction: Is it a problem in our community?” Donations from the event supported the Eau Claire Police Department’s K9 Unit.

IRA transfers to ECCF are an excellent way for you to establish a fund that helps you fulfill your charitable goals. Establish your fund with a minimum of $500, and once it reaches $10,000, your legacy will make an impact on our community forever! Please contact Sue Bornick at ECCF for more information.

Fund Spotlight | Lasker Jewelers Star of Hope Foundation Fund The Lasker Jewelers Star of Hope Foundation Fund was started by Liz Lasker Falkner and Nicole Lasker to support the greatest needs in our community. Nicole and Liz shared what inspired them to establish a donor advised fund at ECCF: “We grew up in a family that believed in giving back to our community. Our grandfather was an immigrant and started with nothing. He always felt it was his duty as an American to help others. After we visited Botswana, Africa, and saw the impact of the diamonds we sell at Lasker jewelers, we decided to set up the Star of Hope Foundation Fund. Nicole was inspired to design a

diamond pendant called the Star of Hope. The four points of the star coincide with four focus areas of the foundation: Healthcare, Education, Women, and Children. Our success in the community allows us to continue to give back through the Star of Hope Foundation Fund.”

To learn more about Nicole and Liz’s journey, visit www.laskers.com Donor Advised Funds allow individuals, families, and businesses to be fully involved in their philanthropy. Donors recommend grants to their favorite nonprofits

Grantee Spotlight | Landmark Conservancy Funded for Town of Union Conservancy Signage Landmark Conservancy received a grant to work with the Town of Union to develop signage for 125 acres of protected land that is open to the public. This unique property is located in western Eau Claire County on the Chippewa River and includes floodplain forest, river bluff, perched sand dunes, and cultural resources.

Landmark Conservancy is a nonprofit land trust that protects natural resources in 20 counties across northwest Wisconsin. It provides recreational opportunities as well as working to protect land in targeted areas where ecological characteristics will continue to support biodiversity in a rapidly changing climate.

Fred Belay, Parks Commission Chair and Jennifer Meyer, Town Board Chair pose with the newly installed Town of Union Conservancy sign, funded by Eau Claire Community Foundation.

Landmark’s Community Outreach Coordinator, Sara Norman, worked closely with the Town of Union on this project. “The Town of Union Conservancy is a special place and an important outdoor recreational resource,” she said. “The new welcome sign greets visitors and tells them a bit of the story here, which hopefully facilitates a more meaningful experience and a deeper connection to the land.”

You can visit the Town of Union Conservancy and see the new signage at the intersection of Deer Park Road and White Pine Drive.

Hikers enjoy the River Top Walking Trail, which follows the perched sand dunes and offers views of the Chippewa River.

NON PROFITORG

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

U. S .  P O S TA G E P A I D PERMITNo.1557 EAUCLAIREWI

SNAPSHOT: Jan. 1 - Oct. 31, 2019 TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS:

$2,104,793 TOTAL ASSETS:

$24,992,360 TOTAL AWARDED GRANTS:

$2,112,777 472 Grants 11 NEW FUNDS 9 NEW LEGACY SOCIETY MEMBERS

Happy Holidays!

Thank you for all you give! We wish you the happiest holiday season and look forward to the New Year …

From the Staff at the Eau Claire Community Foundation

Our Mission

We strengthen our community by offering donors opportunities to establish charitable legacies, by making grants, and by serving as a catalyst to address community needs.