Grant applications are now CLOSED. 

Come back on November 1st to apply for the Community Grant Cycle!

 

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

 

Grant Cycles

  • Community Grant Cycle

    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 Grantmaking Guidelines for more information.  

    Documents for the grant application process:

    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.

  • Access Eau Claire Fund

    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 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, 2024, to June 20, 2024. All applications must be submitted using our grant portal  in order to be considered.

  • Royal CU & ECCF Nonprofit Professional Development Fund

    The Royal CU and ECCF Nonprofit Professional Development Grant Program gives nonprofits financial support to attend trainings that will educate their staff and Board. Funding for nonprofit Strategic Planning Sessions will also be considered.

    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.

    This Fund is not currently accepting applications.

  • Women's Giving Circle Fund

    The WGC will accept applications from April 1 to June 20, 2024.

    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.

  • Nonprofit Grant Training

    Nonprofit grant training recorded Jan. 4, 2023

  • Grant Reporting and Publicity Guidelines

    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 Coordinator 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 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 Coordinator.

     

    GRANTEE PUBLICITY GUIDELINES

    ECCF LOGO FOR USE IN PUBLICITY MATERIALS

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