A Message from Karl Murch, Chair of the Board of Trustees Our community is stronger because of you. Thank you! 2020 has been a challenging year for us all. Even so, ECCF has many reasons for hope. We’ve been inspired by the tireless and innovative work of local nonprofits, and we’ve been moved by the incredible generosity of the donors who support them. That generosity has allowed our original “Quick Response” grant cycle, implemented to address urgent pandemic-related needs, to extend through two more phases of grants, now called “Response and Recovery.” These three phases will collectively distribute more than half a million dollars in much-needed aid. Gifts, large and small, make an important difference! Thanks to you, ECCF has issued more than $1.6 million in grants so far in 2020, bringing our grant total since inception to over $16.1 million. This achievement would not be possible without the many donors whose gifts supported these grants. We are proud to announce that total assets at ECCF have reached over $30 million as of July 31, 2020. Autumn Social Announcements Even though the Autumn Social Event was not held this year, this newsletter celebrates the grants recommended by the Trustees whose terms have ended, Leadership Award recipient Karen Hebert, and the impact of the Response and Recovery Community Fund. We look forward to again having the Autumn Social in 2021. Imagine what else we can accomplish with your help! The Board of Trustees recently approved two designated fund agreements, the Roger and Betty Davis Fund and the Dean J. Arnold Endowment Fund. These donors utilized their IRA’s to benefit our community forever by supporting their favorite organizations. 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. You can designate it for our Community Fund to address our area’s greatest needs, start your own Fund, and/or become a member of ECCF’s Legacy Society. Whatever you choose, we can assist you with the process. Please call us with your gifting instructions before December 15, 2020. Thank you for your generous and continued support!
With gratitude, Karl Murch, Board of Trustees Chair
The Eau Claire Community Foundation helps you support charities you care about. You can donate to its existing Funds or create your own, either now or through your estate. ECCF invests the money, and the earnings support grants to nonprofits. Your gift will benefit our community forever.
Leadership Award Karen Hebert
ECCF’s annual Leadership Award recognizes volunteers who have made outstanding contributions to our Foundation. ECCF is proud to present the 2020 Leadership Award to Karen Hebert. She served on our Board of Trustees for six years, on our Personnel Committee for nine years (including seven as Chair), and on our Grants Committee for four years (including three as Co-Chair). Karen and her husband Dick are also ECCF Legacy Society members. Karen also contributed immensely as ECCF responded to the urgent needs created by the pandemic. In her role as Interim Executive Director of United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley, she worked closely with ECCF on the grant review process to ensure that our organizations’ grants would combine to be the most effective at addressing Chippewa Valley needs. We’re incredibly grateful to Karen for her tireless work on behalf of ECCF and the community. Thank you, Karen, and congratulations on such a well-deserved award!