Blog

Summer grant award announcement

August 30, 2021

Jamie Schloegel, Chief Executive OfficerBy Jamie Schloegel, Chief Executive Officer

Grants awarded!

Our third competitive grant round of the year closed July 15, and we are proud to announce the most recent LCF grantees.

A total of $195,209 was awarded, which includes $5,000 contributed from donor advised funds. $709,227 was requested.

Being flexible to help nonprofits where they need it most

The grant-making landscape at LCF has changed considerably in the last two years. We’ve moved from a very traditional grant-making organization to being a trail-blazer in the region. We are one of few funders in the tri-state region making unrestricted grants to nonprofits.

The shift is a result of a national push toward Trust Based Philanthropy that seeks to address the inherent power imbalances between foundations and nonprofits. The goal is a healthier and more equitable nonprofit sector. In practice, it means we are offering unrestricted, multi-year grants, are working to streamline the application and reporting processes, and are committed to building relationships with nonprofits based on transparency and mutual learning.

As such, we now have several grant programs for unrestricted grants. The Pandemic Relief & Recovery Grant program was created to provide unrestricted funding support to nonprofits who’ve lost a considerable amount of revenue during the pandemic. We also started a “regular” unrestricted grant program in January of 2020 that we anticipate offering well past pandemic recovery grants. And as part of that program, just this summer we started the Nonprofit Launch Grant to provide start-up nonprofits with unrestricted funding to help them get started.

And, of course, we still offer the more traditional grant types for nonprofits seeking project-based support. Our hope is that we can continue to be flexible with our grant offerings to ensure nonprofits are receiving the help they need in the way that’s most helpful to them. We couldn’t do any of this without the support of this generous community and the patience and dedication of our grant committee and board. Thank you!

Complete list of summer grants awarded:

Grant ProgramOrganizationAmount AwardedPurpose
Pandemic Relief & RecoveryLa Crosse County Historical Society$5,000 from Community Giving FundUnrestricted
Pandemic Relief & RecoveryAdult & Teen Challenge of Western Wisconsin$30,000 from Community Giving FundUnrestricted
Pandemic Relief & RecoveryChildren's Museum of La Crosse$10,000 from Community Giving FundUnrestricted
Pandemic Relief & RecoveryGROW La Crosse$20,000 from Roland Beranek, Myrick Hixon EcoPark, and Community Giving fundsUnrestricted
Pandemic Relief & RecoveryLa Crosse Boychoir, Inc.$2,000 from Community Giving FundUnrestricted
Pandemic Relief & RecoveryWashburn Neighborhood Association$900 from David Morrison Family and Community Giving fundsUnrestricted
Mini Grant (project-based request $7,500 or less) Privilege Institute, Inc.$5,000 from June Kjome Justice and Peace FundTo sponsor the upcoming White Privilege Symposium
Mini GrantIM Education, Inc.$2,500 from Community Giving FundRebuilding American Civics Community Class
Mini GrantUnitarian Universalist Fellowship of La Crosse$3,750 from Community Giving FundCreating a Healthier Multicultural Community Deep Dive "Anti-Racism" Workshop
Mini Grant APTIV Foundation$5,059 from Mary Grace Sieber FundImprovements to Onsite Programs for Individuals with Disabilities
Mini GrantREACH-A-Child$3,000 from Barb and Dave Erickson FundHelping the Onalaska First Responders Comfort Children with Activity Bags
Standard Grant (project-based grant for requests over $7,500)Safe Families for Children$40,000 from Jean Gitz Bassett, Norman L. Gillette, Sr. Family, David Morrison Family, Rudy & Jean Schnurrer, and Robert & Eleanor Franke Charitable fundsStrengthening Families: Community Partners Investing in Social Capital
Standard GrantNikinana Inc.$3,000 from Community Giving FundNikinana Resale and Consignment Store: On a Mission to Support Legal Fees for Immigrants
Standard GrantLa Crosse Area Family YMCA$65,000 from NYSP and Community Giving fundsCommunity Family & Youth Director Supporting the System of Care
TOTAL AWARDED$195, 209