Grants Awards & Distributions

Through our grant process, the Community Foundation awards and distributes funds to community organizations and programs that are making a difference and enhancing the quality of life for residents of Chippewa County.

Community Needs Grants Northwestern Bank School Mini-Grants Designated and Donor Advised Fund Grants Response-Recovery-Rebuild Grant Awards

Community Needs Grants

Community Needs Grant funds were made possible from Unrestricted and Field of Interest Endowment funds and our Community Needs Grant Fund. During our 2024-25 Fiscal Year, 37 nonprofits received a total amount of $118,066 to help benefit and support the good work being done within our Chippewa County Communities. Included with the organization is the name of the awarded project:

  • Agnes Table and Community Center — Office Equipment
  • Anson Fire Department — Portable Pump Replacement
  • Bloomer Elementary Partners in Education — Outdoor Sensory Path at Bloomer Elementary School
  • Cardinal Community Learning Center — Elementary School Family Fun Events
  • Center for Independent Living — Transportation to Medical Treatments
  • Chippewa County Criminal Justice Services — Programming and Reentry
  • Chippewa County Humane Association — Dog Yard Fencing Project
  • Chippewa Falls Parks & Rec — CPR Manikins
  • Chippewa Valley Cultural Association — Artistic Bridges: Fostering Cultural Understanding and Expression
  • Chippewa Valley Free Clinic — Comprehensive Health Services for Chippewa County
  • Cornell Area Betterment Association — Cornell River Walk Picnic Table Project
  • Cornell Elementary School — Book Vending Machine Books
  • Early Literacy Coalition of the Greater Chippewa Valley — Chippewa Valley Little Libraries
  • Feed My People Food Bank — Project FEED - Chippewa Falls
  • First Presbyterian Community Food Pantry — Distribution of Hygiene Products
  • Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes — Training Opportunities for Girl Scout Volunteers
  • Girls on the Run Chippewa Valley — Girls on the Run Programming
  • Holy Ghost Elementary School — Tuition Assistance
  • Hope Village — Let it Snow
  • Junior Achievement of Wisconsin — Exploring Job and Business Skills for the Future
  • L.E. Phillips CDC Outreach — Emergency Shelter Motel Vouchers
  • Lake Wissota Garden Club — Native Sedgery and Grass Garden
  • Lake Wissota Improvement and Protection Association — Mermaid Bay Fish Stick Project
  • Literacy Chippewa Valley — Digital Literacy for Seniors
  • Lutheran Social Services — Veterans Homeless Programming
  • McDonell Area Catholic Schools — Science Technology Enhancement
  • Mentor Chippewa — Mentor New Auburn - EMPOWER Peer to Peer
  • New Auburn School District — Technology Update
  • Our Nawakwa — Art-In-Nature Space & Materials, Growing Resiliency and Connecting to Nature
  • Prevent Blindness Wisconsin — Children's Vision Health Program - Chippewa
  • Professional Dental Hygiene Express — Bright Smiles
  • St. John's Lutheran Church — Backpack Buddies NOW — Weekend meals
  • St. Paul's Catholic School — Technology Needs for Teachers and Students
  • Stanley Area Food Pantry — Replacement of utility carts
  • Valley Vineyard Family Services — Pantry Storage
  • YMCA of the Chippewa Valley — Kitchen Improvements for Food Distribution

Northwestern Bank School Mini-Grants

Because of Northwestern Bank's generosity, Mini-Grants are available to Chippewa County 3rd - 8th grade educators. During our 2024-25 Fiscal Year, 16 educators from 9 schools supporting 17 projects received a total amount of $5,217 to fund innovative learning and motivational activities or service-learning projects for their students. Included with the school is the name of the awarded project:

  • Cardinal Community Learning Center — Voyager's after school Cooking Classes
  • Cornell Elementary — Knowledge and Comics
  • Cornell Elementary — Empowering Young Explorers
  • Holy Ghost Elementary School — Art Supplies
  • Jim Falls Elementary School — Jim Falls Physical Education
  • Jim Falls Elementary School — Kindness Squad-Spread Kindness
  • McDonell Middle/High School — Willy Wonka Winter Musical Costumes
  • New Auburn School District — Upkeep of Forest Restoration
  • Notre Dame Middle School — Expanded Classroom Library
  • Notre Dame Middle School — Math Supply Revamp
  • St. Paul's Catholic School — Pendulum Art Machine
  • St. Paul's Catholic School — Playground Project
  • St. Paul's Catholic School — Encouraging fund and enjoyment in education
  • St. Peter School - Tilden — Deepening Understanding of American History
  • St. Peter School - Tilden — Enhancing Historical Understanding Through Interactive Learning
  • St. Peter School - Tilden — Classroom Pet: Hermit Crabs
  • St. Peter School - Tilden — A Pathway to Personalized Education with IXL

Designated and Donor Advised Grants

Designated and Donor Advised Funds allow fund holders to support the work of specific nonprofit organizations or charitable causes that are important to them. During our 2022-23 Fiscal Year, a total amount of $245,290 was granted out. The following list of nonprofit organizations or charitable causes received grant funding from Designated or Donor Advised Funds through the Community Foundation.

  • All Saints Catholic Parish
  • Bethany Lutheran College
  • Bloomer Community Visitor Center
  • Bloomer Historical Society
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of the Greater Chippewa Valley, Inc.
  • Cadott Area Historical Society, Inc.
  • Central Lutheran Church
  • Central Lutheran Foundation
  • Chippewa Area History Center
  • Chippewa County Crime Stoppers, Inc
  • Chippewa County Criminal Justice Collaborating Council
  • Chippewa County Department of Human Services
  • Chippewa County Department of Public Health
  • Chippewa County Genealogical Society
  • Chippewa County Historical Society, Inc.
  • Chippewa County Humane Association, Inc.
  • Chippewa Falls Area Senior Center, Inc.
  • Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District
  • Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District Foundation
  • Chippewa Falls Fire and Emergency Services
  • Chippewa Falls Kiwanis Club
  • Chippewa Falls Main Street, Inc.
  • Chippewa Falls Masonic Lodge No. 176
  • Chippewa Falls Museum of Industry and Technology
  • Chippewa Falls Music Association Ltd.
  • Chippewa Falls Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department
  • Chippewa Falls Police Department
  • Chippewa Falls Youth Baseball and Softball
  • Chippewa Partners, Inc.
  • Chippewa Valley Cultural Association, Inc.
  • Chippewa Valley Technical College
  • Chippewa Valley Technical College Foundation Inc.
  • Chippewa Youth Hockey Association
  • Chippewa Youth Hockey Association Kids on Ice Fund
  • Community Foundation Operating Fund
  • Cook-Rutledge Mansion Inc.
  • Curtie Cares Inc
  • D.R. Moon Memorial Library
  • Department of Natural Resources
  • Drake University
  • Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
  • Family Support Center
  • Feed My People, Inc.
  • First Presbyterian Church of Chippewa Falls
  • Friends of Lake Wissota State Park, Inc.
  • Harvestime Church - Chippewa Falls
  • Holy Ghost Parish
  • Hope Gospel Mission
  • Hope Village
  • HSHS St. Joseph's Foundation
  • HSHS St. Joseph's Hospital
  • Irvine Park Endowment Fund
  • Lake Holcombe School District
  • Lake Wissota Improvement and Protection Association
  • Landmark Christian Church
  • Legacy Community Center
  • Literacy Chippewa Valley
  • McDonell Area Catholic Schools
  • McDonell High School Foundation
  • Minnesota State University- Moorhead
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness-Chippewa Valley Inc
  • Notre Dame Catholic Church
  • Otter Lake Booster Club
  • School District of Maple
  • Sleep in Heavenly Peace
  • St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church
  • Stanley Area Food Pantry, Inc.
  • Stanley Area Historical Society, Inc.
  • Stanley Community Association
  • Stanley Lions Club
  • The Haven Christian Church, Inc.
  • The Open Door Clinic, Inc.
  • University of Iowa
  • University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
  • University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Foundation, Inc.
  • University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
  • University of Wisconsin - River Falls
  • William Irvine Endowment Fund
  • YMCA of the Chippewa Valley

Response-Recovery-Rebuild Grant Awards

To date the Response – Recovery – Rebuild Fund has granted over $185,300 to over 40 nonprofits for crisis and disaster recovery. While donations can be made to this fund at any time, grants are reserved to recover our community from future crisis. At this time, this fund is not accepting grant applications.

Included with the organization, a description of current need grant funding from July 1, 2021 to present has been listed:

Stanley Tornado Response:

  • American Red Cross of NW Wisconsin- to support reimbursement costs related to Stanley tornado response.
  • City of Stanley Police Department-to purchase a radio tower, antenna and repeater for future crisis preparedness as a result of the Stanley tornado.
  • Feed My People- food credit for Fruit of the Vine Food Pantry to assist those in need who were impacted by the Stanley tornado
  • Fruit of the Vine Food Pantry- to purchase hygiene products for increase needs as a result of the Stanley tornado.
  • Stanley Area Food Pantry- to purchase food items for those in need who were impacted by the Stanley tornado
  • Stanley Community Association- to purchase household items for families in need as a result of the Stanley tornado.
  • Stanley Fire and EMS Department- to purchase 6 handheld radios for future crisis preparedness

Coronavirus Pandemic Response:

  • Cadott Public Library- Occupational and Mental Health Materials
  • Chippewa Falls Mission Coalition- Laundry debit cards for Lighten Your Load Project
  • Cornell School District- to purchase Amplify Reading curriculum
  • Legacy Community Center- cover expenses for "to go" containers
  • Open Door Clinic- Meet to Eat fundraiser shortfall support

View an entire list of grants disbursed from this fund since inception

2021-2022 Fiscal Year Grants (July 1, 2021- June 30, 2022):

  • American Red Cross of NW Wisconsin- to support reimbursement costs related to Stanley tornado response
  • Cadott Public Library- Occupational and Mental Health Materials
  • Chippewa Falls Mission Coalition- Laundry debit cards for Lighten Your Load Project
  • City of Stanley Police Department- to purchase a radio tower, antenna and repeater for future crisis preparedness as a result of the Stanley tornado
  • Cornell School District- to purchase Amplify Reading curriculum
  • Feed My People- food credit for Fruit of the Vine Food Pantry to assist those in need who were impacted by the Stanley tornado
  • Fruit of the Vine Food Pantry- to purchase hygiene products for increase needs as a result of the Stanley tornado
  • Legacy Community Center- Cover expenses for "to go" containers
  • Open Door Clinic- Meet to Eat fundraiser shortfall support
  • Stanley Area Food Pantry- to purchase food items for those in need who were impacted by the Stanley tornado
  • Stanley Community Association- to purchase household items for families in need as a result of the Stanley tornado

2020-2021 Fiscal Year Grants (July 1, 2020- June 30, 2021):

  • Boy Scouts of America- Chippewa Valley Council- to purchase camp cleaning supplies and support costs of summer camp fees for Chippewa County families in need
  • Children's Wisconsin-Community Services- to purchase IPads with protective cases and hotspots to be used for families in the Building Families Program
  • Chippewa County Criminal Justice- support costs of safe shelter vouchers for individuals in Chippewa County
  • Chippewa County Humane Association- to help with costs associated with purchasing bleach, hand sanitizer, soap and masks
  • Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District- support costs for "Welcome Back" COVID safety kits for returning students
  • Chippewa Falls Public Library- to purchase materials to create a Safe Indoor Play Area
  • Chippewa Falls Senior Center- to support costs of PPE and sanitation supplies
  • Chippewa Falls YMCA- to provide support to School Age Childcare Programs
  • Chippewa River Industries- to purchase Laptops and a projector/screen to assist with pre-vocational services
  • Chippewa Youth Hockey Association- to purchase sanitizer and cleaning supplies to be used in the locker rooms
  • DR Moon Memorial Library - support to purchase 4 iPads and hotspots; support costs of homebound library deliveries and staff costs associated with this program
  • Girl Scouts of Northwestern Great Lakes- support costs of virtual programming for Chippewa County Girl Scouts
  • Hope Village- to purchase sanitation supplies, laundry gift cards and laundry detergent for Tiny House guests
  • LE Phillips CDC Outreach Office- Chippewa Falls- rent assistance for Chippewa County families in need
  • Literacy Chippewa Valley- to support the Chippewa County adult literacy educational programing at the Jail and throughout the county
  • Lutheran Social Services- to support costs of PPE and sanitation supplies to support Chippewa County families in the Family Preservation Program
  • McDonell Area Catholic Schools- to purchase Math tutoring kits for grades K-8 Summer School Program
  • Mentor Chippewa- programming related costs for the 2020-21 school year
  • Professional Dental Hygiene- DBA "Bright Smiles"- support PPE costs needed for programming in Chippewa County Schools
  • St Peter's Catholic School- to purchase eight 2 in 1 chromebooks for 1st-4th grade students

2019-2020 Fiscal Year Grants (July 1, 2019- June 30, 2020):

  • American Red Cross of Northwest Wisconsin – support for the COVID-19 antibody tests through Chippewa County blood drives
  • Barnabas Ministries – increased meal needs for homebound clients
  • Bloomer/New Auburn Area Food Pantry - stainless steel tables for safe sanitary food distribution
  • Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District- hotspots for students without internet access
  • Chippewa Falls Boys & Girls Club – home learning supply needs
  • Chippewa Falls LE Phillips CDC Outreach Office – safe shelter and transportation vouchers
  • Chippewa Falls YMCA– funding to support staff and programming for Early Learning Community & School Age Childcare Programs
  • Chippewa Valley Free Clinic – medication supplies, flu vaccines, staff needs, Ask A Nurse/RN and Lab Tech Support
  • Chippewa Valley Vineyard Food Pantry – hygiene products for all ages due to increase in pantry clients
  • Family Support Center – to sustain counseling and support resources at full capacity
  • Feed My People – to reduce food costs for Chippewa County partners
  • Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes- support costs of virtual programming for Chippewa County Girl Scouts
  • Heyde Center for the Arts – hygiene/prevention supplies including an electrostatic disinfectant sprayer & touchless thermometers
  • HSHS St Joseph’s Hospital- supplies and equipment needed to effectively respond to COVID-19
  • Legacy Food Pantry at Agnes’ Table - food for pantry
  • Mentor Chippewa - support to cover costs for summer mentor/student communications and programming
  • Open Door Clinic - purchase PPE and help cover costs of prescription medications
  • St Francesca Resource Center – commercial size freezer for their food pantry

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