Eau Claire Community Foundation (ECCF)

The Eau Claire Community Foundation fulfilled the grantmaking portion of its mission in 2023 by awarding $1,831,946.94 in grants, which includes $49,918.91 in agency fund grants. While many of these grants were recommended by donor advisors to nonprofits all over the u.s., $213,259 went directly to Eau Claire area nonprofits through eccf's annual Community grant cycle. An additional $41,300 supported local nonprofits through the grant cycle implemented by the women's giving circle, a fund of eccf. Eccf's support of local nonprofits is helping to enhance the quality of life in Eau Claire. Eccf's mission also includes "offering donors opportunities to establish charitable legacies." Eccf worked with donors to establish 31 new funds in 2023 and has over 360 active funds. Donor advised funds, such as the new rev. Kurt m. jacobson family fund, allow fund holders to recommend grants to nonprofits of their choice, while field of interest funds allow fund holders to support specific areas of interest and designated funds name specific organizations. Eccf also allows donors to create other types of funds, including unrestricted funds to support local nonprofits through the annual Community grant cycle and designated scholarship funds to support students' post-secondary educations. Eccf addresses the final portion of its mission--to serve as a catalyst to address Community needs--by educating the Community about philanthropic issues and opportunities through events such as the annual meeting, professional advisor event, and the women's giving circle educational event. In addition to informing the public about eccf and its work, the annual events allow donors to connect with local nonprofits. Eccf's professional advisor event educates professional advisors about their clients' charitable giving options, while the educational event hosted by eccf's women's giving circle educates the public about pressing Community issues such as homelessness, mental health, or alzheimer's disease. In 2023, the educational event addressed challenges in finding affordable childcare. Through these and other annual events, eccf aims to increase awareness, philanthropy, and activism in our Community.