The Royal CU and ECCF Nonprofit Professional Development Fund is now accepting grant applications!

The Royal CU and ECCF Nonprofit Professional Development Fund  is offering grants of up to $500 to help Eau Claire area nonprofits help staff and Board members attend professional development opportunities. The application deadline is Nov. 1, 2024.

This Fund was established in 2021, when Royal Credit Union (RCU) and the Eau Claire Community Foundation (ECCF) identified a need for financial resources that would help local nonprofits access professional development. Grants can also support partnerships to create professional development opportunities.

Like ECCF, RCU has deep roots in the Eau Claire community. RCU was started in 1964 by employees of the Uniroyal Tire Company in Eau Claire. Today, the credit union serves over 300,000 members throughout Western Wisconsin and Eastern Minnesota.

Any nonprofits interested in applying can visit the Royal CU and ECCF Professional Development Fund page for more information. They can also write to [email protected] or call the ECCF office at 715-552-3801.

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ECCF and Royal Credit Union offer scholarships for nonprofits attending UWEC Continuing Education’s online Nonprofit Fund Development course

Is your nonprofit struggling to secure the funds needed to make a real impact? What if you had the tools and knowledge to transform your fundraising efforts? Join UWEC Continuing Education for their Nonprofit Fund Development online course on Oct. 16, 2024, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. You will learn: The spirit and ethics of giving How and why to diversify in order to reach fundraising goals Why a fund development plan is crucial Their expert instructor will share practical tips, real-world examples, and interactive exercises to help you…

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Happy 34th Anniversary to the Americans with Disabilities Act!

Access Eau Claire Fund Holder Dr. Katherine Schneider and her canine companion Calvin explore REACH's new Community Green Space, which is designed to be accessible to people with disabilities. ECCF joins the Eau Claire community in celebrating the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.). Signed into law by President George H. Bush on July 26, 1990, the A.D.A. is a landmark civil rights law that prohibits discrimination in employment, purchasing goods and services, and participating in state and local government programs and services.…

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Eau Claire Community Foundation Awards $90,000+ in Scholarships!

The Eau Claire Community Foundation (ECCF) proudly announces its distribution of over $90,000 in scholarships to 35 deserving students in the 2024 scholarship cycle, marking an unprecedented level of support.  These scholarships are designed to support the academic and career aspirations of students, encouraging them to achieve their educational goals. This year’s scholarship recipients, chosen through a meticulous selection process by high school scholarship committees, have showcased remarkable academic achievements, community involvement, and a steadfast dedication to their future careers. These scholarships provide financial support to students with a diverse…

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Women’s Giving Circle Members Celebrate Grantees at their Spring Gathering

The Women’s Giving Circle held its largest gathering ever at the The Brewing Projekt on May 13! Current WGC grantees shared all the good work they are doing to support women and children funded by the grant dollars from  generous WGC members. Through the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Greater Chippewa Valley - Altoona Center students are learning to calm their emotions. The Chippewa Valley Museum is bringing our logging history alive for school age children with an interactive gallery renovation at the @wisconsinlogging. Children are building confidence and…

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Congratulations to the 2024 Community Grantees!

We at ECCF are thrilled to announce $282,238 in Community Grant awards this year. Not only is this a new record grant total, but it exceeds the previous record by over $60,000! We sincerely thank all the donors whose generosity made this grant support possible. We also thank the members of our Grants Committee, whose hard work and dedication are vital to the Community Grant Cycle. And last but not least, we thank all the outstanding nonprofits whose staff and volunteers are doing so much to make our community a…

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M&J Employee Impact Fund awards $70,800 in grants!

Local businesses play a vital role in supporting philanthropy, and Market & Johnson  is prominent among them. M&J has always encouraged its employees to become personally involved in the communities where they live and work. To help further this goal, they created the M&J Employee Impact Fund, held at ECCF, in which employees pool their contributions to support organizations in the communities where they live and work. Market & Johnson then matches 50% of employee contributions. 

Each year, M&J employees recommend recipients for grants from the M&J Employee Impact Fund; their recommendations are reviewed by the Impact Fund Committee and approved by Market & Johnson’s Board of Directors and ECCF’s Board of Trustees.

In January 2024, the M&J Employee Impact Fund distributed $70,800 in grants to 18 nonprofits throughout their service area. Together, M&J employees are making a lasting difference in the communities they serve!

2024 M&J Employee Impact Fund Grantees

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsin

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the 7 Rivers Region

Bolton Refuge House

Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater La Crosse

Boys and Girls Clubs of the Greater Chippewa Valley

Drug Endangered Children

Fall Creek School Booster Club

GATEWAYS Fund of the Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation

Joshua’s Camp

Junior Achievement of Wisconsin North and West Central Region, La Crosse and Eau Claire chapters

La Crosse Area Veterans Mentor Program

River Valley Charities

Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Chippewa Valley Chapter

St. Croix Valley Food Bank

St. Croix Valley Foundation, Sterbenz-Ryan Scholarship Fund

Valley Outreach

Winona Community Foundation, Dive and Rescue Fund

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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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Important Year-End Giving Dates

The end-of-year is quickly approaching! Here are the last dates to initiate gifts to ECCF to ensure your 2023 tax deduction:   December 20 - Last day to submit a grant recommendation from Donor Advised Funds. December 22 - Last day to initiate a stock transaction. December 29 - Last day to initiate a wire transfer. December 31 - All donations must be postmarked by this date.    THE ECCF OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED ON DECEMBER 25 and 26.   For wire and stock delivery instructions, contact [email protected] or 715-552-3801.…

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