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 to the Community Grant Cycle. After reading, scoring, and discussing them, the Grants Committee makes funding recommendations for approval by ECCF’s Board of Trustees.

This year’s Community Grant Cycle was especially notable because it marked the debut of Operations grants. Community Grants have traditionally supported only programs and asset purchases. Now, for the first time, nonprofits could request funding for expenses like rent, utilities, and salary. While these new grants aren’t intended to provide ongoing support, they’ll play a vital role in helping nonprofits keep their doors open during times of unusually high expenses or unexpected revenue loss. Twelve nonprofits are the first beneficiaries of this new option; they received Operations grants with a cumulative total of almost $50,000.

ECCF is proud to play a role in supporting a diverse array of worthy nonprofits. “Grants like these are at the heart of what we do at the Eau Claire Community Foundation,” explained ECCF Executive Director Sue Bornick. “We’re here to support the nonprofits who do so much for our community. We sincerely thank all the volunteers who worked hard reviewing grants and all the donors who made this funding possible. We’re especially grateful to the holders of Donor Advised Funds, whose funding recommendations increased our amount available to grant by almost $70,000!”

The whole community is invited to play a role as well by donating to our Community Fund, which is a major source of support for this grant cycle. Checks made out to ECCF/Community Fund can also be mailed to ECCF at 306 S. Barstow St. Suite 104, Eau Claire, WI 54701.

No matter how you choose to give, our region’s quality of life will be even better thanks to your generosity! 

Donate to the Community Fund