The Eau Claire Community Foundation and United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley are thrilled to announce that Royal Credit Union, the Dick and Marlene Cable Family Fund, the Larson Family Fund, and two anonymous donors are challenging our community to raise $50,000, which they will match. This challenge will generate another $100,000 to be awarded to area nonprofits!

“The community response to the Quick Response Community Fund has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Sue Bornick, Executive Director of ECCF. “Now is the time to come together and look out for the most vulnerable among us, and the Matching Grant Challenge is a perfect example.”

There are other new and exciting developments happening in response to the Quick Response Community Fund. Lasker Jewelers is designing a bracelet in support of the Fund, and $20 will be donated to the Fund for every bracelet purchased. More information about this initiative will be available soon.

In addition, this week $100,000 from the Quick Response Community Fund was awarded in grants to nineteen local nonprofits—an amount that was made possible thanks to a $50,000 gift from the Pablo Foundation, Inc. That brings the award total for the Fund’s first two weeks of granting to approximately $175,000!

This week’s grantees who are meeting vital Service Needs are:
Bolton Refuge House - Emergency shelter needs for victims of abuse and for urgent operational needs.
Chippewa Valley Health (Free) Clinic - Additional funding for medication and direct services for those recently unemployed.
Good Shepherd Lutheran Foundation - Meal program for its residents
Hope Gospel Mission – Additional program staffing
HSHS Sacred Heart Foundation - To address the need for easily accessible COVID testing.
L.E. Phillips Career Development Center - Expansion of their face mask program
Lutheran Social Services - Additional funding for Positive Avenues, which serves people experiencing mental health concerns or homelessness.
School District of Altoona - Expands voucher program for eggs, milk, produce and meat for families in need.

Organizations that received urgent Operational Funding:
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsin
Boys & Girls Club Greater Chippewa Valley – Mary Markquart Center
Chippewa Valley Habitat for Humanity
Eau Claire Children’s Theatre
Eau Claire County Humane Association
Family Promise of the Chippewa Valley
Junior Achievement of WI Northwest Area
Pablo Center at the Confluence
Sculpture Tour Eau Claire
United Cerebral Palsy of West Central WI
UWEC Children’s Nature Academy

Applications not funded this week will be considered next week. New applications will continue to be accepted; interested organizations can apply online at the Eau Claire Community Foundation website. Additional grants will be distributed weekly as donations to the fund permit.

The Eau Claire Community Foundation and United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley established the Quick Response Community Fund to rapidly deploy financial resources to Eau Claire area nonprofits that serve community members disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak and its economic consequences.

Funds will be granted on a rolling basis as fundraising continues throughout the crisis, making it possible to move resources quickly and adapt to evolving needs.

Donations from community members are encouraged. ECCF will cover administrative fees, so 100% of donations will support local nonprofits.

Click here to donate!