Eau Claire Community Foundation

2023 Additions to ECCF’s Family of Funds

ECCF welcomed a variety of exciting new Funds in 2023! Read on to learn about these additions to our Family of Funds. AGENCY ENDOWMENT FUNDS These Funds allow charitable organizations to establish Endowment Funds within ECCF rather than create and manage such a Fund themselves. They generate a predictable stream of income so that the nonprofit can use the earnings from the Fund to offset its operations forever.  Chippewa River Watershed Fund This Fund will help Landmark Conservancy preserve wild and scenic places in the Chippewa River Watershed. CVM-Wisconsin Logging…

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ECCF collaborates with Compeer Financial to support opportunities for outdoor education at Beaver Creek Reserve

ECCF is proud to announce its partnership with Compeer Financial in the Rural Collaboration Project, an initiative aimed at bolstering rural vitality across the Midwest, with a focus on environmental learning opportunities for students in rural communities of the Chippewa Valley. In a significant step toward enhancing rural communities, ECCF has been selected as one of seven community foundations across the upper Midwest to participate in this pioneering initiative, receiving a grant of over $21,000 from the Compeer Financial Fund for Rural America donor-advised fund, the Agriculture and Rural Initiative.…

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Grant Training

The Community Grant Cycle is now CLOSED. More information about funding opportunities is available on the Grant Opportunities page. Please contact the ECCF Program Coordinator at grants@eccfwi.org or by calling (715) 552-3801 if you have questions about our grant cycles.

Training was recorded January 5, 2024

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ECCF awards $100,000 in grants from the William A. Bingham Family Endowment Fund

ECCF is delighted to announce the allocation of $100,000 in grants from the newly established William A. Bingham Family Endowment Fund, an unrestricted Fund that aims to benefit the Eau Claire community. Grants have been awarded to The Wellness Shack, the Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Office, and the Eau Claire Police Department. Each grant has the potential for immediate and lifesaving impact. The Wellness Shack has been granted $20,000 to bolster its staffing and capacity-building efforts, enhancing its ability to provide crucial mental health resources and peer support to those…

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ECCF Receives $4.75 Million Legacy Gift – the Largest Gift in Foundation History!

Eau Claire Community Foundation Receives the Largest Legacy Gift to Date! The Eau Claire Community Foundation (ECCF) received a legacy gift from a lifelong community member, William “Bill” A. Bingham. ECCF is honored to announce that the William A. Bingham’s estate included a $4.75 million bequest to establish an unrestricted endowment fund. “This is the single largest gift received in the Foundation’s 26 years of existence,” said Sue Bornick, ECCF’s Executive Director. “This one gift will make an incredible impact in our community FOREVER!” Bingham’s gift, in memory of his…

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ECCF Welcomes Wesley Escondo as New President & CEO

New President and CEO Wesley Escondo ECCF is pleased to announce the appointment of Wesley Escondo as its new President and CEO effective August 7, 2023. Escondo brings a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to community development, making him an ideal choice to lead ECCF into its next phase of philanthropic impact. Escondo succeeds Sue Bornick, Executive Director. ECCF has prospered under Bornick’s leadership. Since she became Executive Director in 2009, ECCF’s assets have more than quadrupled, dozens of new funds have been opened,…

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Congratulations to the 2023 Community Grant recipients!

ECCF is pleased to announce that our Community Grant Cycle awarded $213,259 in grants to 50 nonprofits that serve Eau Claire County. This total includes an unprecedented eight grants of $10,000 or more! Grantees represent all four of ECCF’s giving categories: Create Culture (visual and performing arts, museums, literature); Form Futures (education, training); Give Green (animals, fitness, the environment); and Offer Opportunities (basic needs such as food, shelter, and medical care). 2023 Community Grant Awards Each year, ECCF’s Grants Committee, which is currently composed of 20 local volunteers, evaluates applications…

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ECCF Seeks New Executive Director as Sue Bornick Moves to a New Role

Outgoing ECCF Executive Director Sue Bornick For over a decade, Sue Bornick has been the Face of the Foundation: As ECCF’s Executive Director since 2009, Sue has appeared at dozens of events, participated in countless meetings, and made numerous television appearances. ECCF has prospered under Sue’s leadership; during her tenure, its assets have more than quadrupled, dozens of new Funds have been opened, and hundreds of grants have been awarded. But 2023 will bring a new face to the Foundation. Sue is transitioning to a new…

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