ATTENTION NONPROFITS! 

Apply here for ongoing grant cycles

New grant applicants should click the "Create New Account" button on the grant login page.

The following Funds are accepting grant applications until June 20, 2023: 

  1. Access Eau Claire Fund

  2. Royal CU and ECCF Professional Development Fund

  3. Women's Giving Circle Fund

More information on these grant cycles can be found below. If you have questions regarding grants, contact our Program Coordinator or schedule a meeting.

  • Access Eau Claire Grants

    Would you like to make your facilities and/or programs more accessible to the 19% of people who live with a disability? (That’s one family out of four with a disability in the family, and half of people over age 65!)
    Consider applying for an Access Eau Claire grant to help fund initiatives such as:
    • Staff training on disability issues
    • Inclusive materials like adapted equipment
    • Special program initiatives to reach out to people with disabilities
    • Materials in alternate formats such as Braille.

    Applications will be accepted from April 1, 2023, to June 20, 2023. Click HERE to see a PDF copy of the application form. It’s for review only; all applications must be submitted using our online form (available in the Grant Portal) in order to be considered.

    Nonprofits can apply to this grant cycle in addition to applying for either a Program, Asset, or Operations grant through the Community Grant cycle. They can also apply for a Royal CU and ECCF Nonprofit Professional Development grant.

  • Royal CU and ECCF Nonprofit Professional Development Grants

    The mission of the Royal CU and ECCF Nonprofit Professional Development Grant Program is to support Eau Claire area nonprofits by providing funding for professional development opportunities. The grant program will accomplish this goal by giving nonprofits financial support to attend trainings that will educate their staff and Board members.

    Nonprofits may apply for EITHER up to $200 for 1-2 people to attend a professional development event OR up to $400 for a group of 3 or more. Applicants must demonstrate some amount of cash match from their own organizations or another source. In order to serve as many nonprofits as possible, each organization may receive only one Royal CU and ECCF Nonprofit Professional Development grant in a calendar year.

    Applications will be accepted from April 1, 2023, to June 20, 2023. Click HERE to see a PDF copy of the application form. It’s for review only; all applications must be submitted using our online form (available in the Grant Portal) in order to be considered.)

    Nonprofits can apply to this grant cycle in addition to applying for either a Program, Asset, or Operations grant through the Community Grant cycle. They can also apply for an Access Eau Claire grant.

  • Women's Giving Circle Grants

    The WGC is accepting applications from April 1 to June 20, 2023.

    If your nonprofit serves Eau Claire area women and/or children, you can apply for a grant from the Women’s Giving Circle. Click here for more information.

    Online Grant Portal   

  • About ECCF's Community Grants

    ECCF will begin accepting applications for its Community Grant cycle on Nov. 1, 2023. Applications will be due Jan. 20, 2024, and awards will be announced in early May of 2024.

    1. Program Grants fund programs and services that meet important community needs in the greater Eau Claire area. Most of the grants’ impact must be in Eau Claire County. 

    2. Asset Grants fund specific purchases (e.g., a new computer) and improvements (e.g., a website upgrade). 

    3. Operations Grants help nonprofits meet operating expenses during times of transition, unexpected revenue loss, or unusually high expenses. These grants are not intended to be ongoing sources of financial support. ECCF will accept Operations requests of up to $10,000. 

    Any tax-exempt nonprofits that serve the greater Eau Claire area are eligible to apply. See our 2023 Grantmaking Guidelines for more information.  

  • Documents for the Community Grant Cycle

    ECCF will begin accepting applications for its Community Grant cycle on Nov. 1, 2023. Applications are due Jan. 20, 2024, and awards will be announced in early May of 2024.

    Documents for the grant application process:

     If you would like to see PDF versions of the applications, please click 2023 ECCF Asset Grant Application, 2023 ECCF Program Grant Application, or 2023 ECCF Operations Grant Application. These copies are for review only; applications must be submitted using the online form in order to be considered for funding.

    You can collaborate on grant requests, so if you’d like other people in your organization to help you with the application, you can click the “Collaborate” button in the upper right hand corner of your application page to invite them. You can read the Collaborator Tutorial for more information.

    A final report on all funded grant proposals is required within 30 days of the grant period’s end. An extension may be requested by the grantee at least 60 days before the end of the grant period and requires ECCF Board approval.

    All applicants must be tax-exempt 501(c)(3), government, or religious organizations in good IRS standing. ECCF will verify each organization’s nonprofit status before considering its application.

    Online Grant Portal   

  • Nonprofit Grant Training Video

    Nonprofit grant training recorded Jan. 4, 2023

  • Grant Reporting and Publicity Guidelines for ECCF Grant Recipients

    Congratulations on receiving a grant from the Eau Claire Community Foundation!

    If your grant is through the competitive cycle, your grant report form will appear in your online grant portal. 

    Why Are Grant Reports Necessary?

    They show ECCF and its donors that you used the money as intended.

    What if We Don’t Submit a Grant Report?

    Grantees who don’t submit their reports by the due date will be ineligible for an ECCF grant in the following grant cycle. Grantees who fail to submit reports entirely will be ineligible for future ECCF grants and may have to return the original grant money.

    Grant Report Due Dates:

    Competitive Grants: Reports are due within 30 days of the end of the grant period. Please see your grant acceptance agreement for details.

    Donor-Advised Restricted Grants: These are grants donors recommend for a specific program or asset purchase. Grant reports are due within one year of receiving the grant check.

    Donor-Advised Unrestricted Grants: Unrestricted grants from donors don’t require formal grant reports.

    What if We Need An Extension or Can’t Use the Grant Money as Intended?

    You can write a letter to the ECCF Board of Trustees explaining the situation and asking for a due date extension or a re-direction of grant funds. The BOT will consider your request, and the Program Specialist will inform you of their decision. These Letters of Request are due at least 60 days before the end of the grant period.

    All ECCF and WGC Grants:

    We would appreciate any photos, stories, etc. you could share for use in ECCF publications. That way, we can publicize your organization’s work and possibly attract new donors for you. Please send them within one year of receiving your grant.

    Thank You Letters: 

    All grant recipients are strongly encouraged to submit thank you letters; showing donors the impact of their gifts and expressing appreciation may well encourage them to give again. Thank you letters should be sent to the ECCF, which will forward them to the donors. Our mailing address is 306 S. Barstow St. Suite 104, Eau Claire, WI  54701.

    Publicity Requirements: 

    The ECCF requires acknowledgement when you create publicity materials related to your grant-funded program or asset. Please see the Grantee Publicity Guidelines document below for more information.
    If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the ECCF Program Specialist.

     

    GRANTEE PUBLICITY GUIDELINES

    ECCF LOGO FOR USE IN PUBLICITY MATERIALS

    Please right click on the image to see options for saving or copying it.

  • General Grant Information

    ECCF and the Women’s Giving Circle (a Fund of ECCF) have competitive grant cycles that support nonprofits in the greater Eau Claire area.  

    ECCF is supported by many generous donors. Their gifts grow our endowments, and the earnings fund grants to help meet the ever-changing needs of local nonprofits. ECCF currently holds more than 250 funds. 

    The Grants Committee members, appointed by our Board of Trustees, review the applications and evaluate them based on the their potential benefits to the community. The Committee’s recommendations are presented to the Board of Trustees for approval.

    ECCF offers free trainings for nonprofits on the ECCF and WGC grant cycles; dates are available under the Events tab on the ECCF homepage. More information about the trainings is in the Documents for the Community Grant Cycle section below.