To strengthen our community by offering donors opportunities to establish charitable legacies, by making grants, and by serving as a catalyst to address community needs.
Focus Areas
Arts & CultureEducationHealth & Human ServicesNature & RecreationWomen & ChildrenScholarshipsCommunity needs / general operating support
Who They Fund
school-aged children and youthstudents seeking scholarshipsfamilies and parents (FRC/parenting program participants)local nonprofit organizations (operational capacity recipients)
Funding Style
About Eau Claire Community Foundation
A defining feature of Eau Claire Community Foundation’s recent grantmaking is its combination of large community awards and designated local funds that serve specific groups and places. The largest recent grant in the dataset is $201,000 to YMCA of Chippewa Valley for general support, and the next tier includes major awards to Boys & Girls Club Greater Chippewa Valley - Mary Markquart Center, Children's Museum of Eau Claire Inc, and Eau Claire Confluence Arts Inc. That mix points to a funder that supports core operating needs as well as project-based work across youth development, arts, and human services.
The foundation also backs programs through named grant cycles and funds tied to particular community needs. Examples include the Women's Giving Circle, which supports initiatives benefiting women and children in Eau Claire County, and the Community Grant Cycle, which funds local organizations addressing the greater Eau Claire area’s pressing needs. Its active programs also include scholarships, accessibility support, and designated funds for specific purposes such as tutoring at St. Mary's Elementary School in Altoona. Across the recent grants list, the foundation’s support reaches schools, service agencies, cultural organizations, and recreation-related groups, showing a broad local role anchored in Eau Claire County and nearby Wisconsin communities.
What Eau Claire Community Foundation Funds
Education appears in several forms. The foundation gave $108,871 to School District of Loyal for a financial literacy program, and it also awarded $64,210 to Regis Catholic Schools Foundation for general support and operational needs. For student aid, ECCF administers scholarships for students in the Eau Claire area.
Youth enrichment is another visible theme. Boys & Girls Club Greater Chippewa Valley - Mary Markquart Center received $190,322 for operational and project needs, including STEAM and positive behavior programming, while Jr Achievement of Wi N and W Cent R received $50,744 for general support.
Health and human services are also part of the mix. Hope Gospel Mission Inc received $93,023 for an emergency fund, and Chippewa Valley Free Clinic received $36,500 for general support and operational needs. Community support extends to organizations like The Hub Homeless Services Inc, which received $59,000 for general support.
How Eau Claire Community Foundation Gives
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$1.3M
Total Assets
$55.7M
Total Revenue
$13.7M
Total Expenses
$2.7M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $8K and $25K, with a median of $13K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$13K
75th Percentile
$25K
Geographic Reach
Local15 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Deep Analysis
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general/unrestricted operating supportoperational/project-specific fundingcapital campaign / capital projectsemergency / contingency fundingscholarships and individual support
Topics
STEAM education and positive behavior programmingafter-school enrichment programsfinancial literacy / financial stability programs1-to-1 mentoring and youth continuity programslibrary expansion and facility/infrastructure projectsscholarships and direct student aidparenting support / family resource center initiatives (e.g., Triple P)
Typical awards cluster in the five-figure range: the p25 is $7,820, the median is $13,446, and the p75 is $25,420. The recent grants list also shows a small number of much larger community awards, which is consistent with a funder that combines routine support with higher-dollar projects and operating grants. Recipient names recur across years in some cases, including YMCA of the Chippewa Valley and School District of Loyal, suggesting ongoing relationships rather than one-time support only. Eau Claire Community Foundation is a public charity, not a fund for individuals, and its active grant programs include both unsolicited cycles and designated funds.
Where Eau Claire Community Foundation Makes Grants
Grantmaking is strongly local: 85% of grants go to recipients in Wisconsin, and the recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. Eau Claire is the main city appearing in the recent grants list, with additional awards in Altoona, Loyal, Durand, Chippewa Falls, Fall Creek, Hayward, Ladysmith, and Moline. The pattern centers on the greater Eau Claire area and nearby western Wisconsin communities, with a few grants reaching farther into the state and one recent award to New York-based King Baudouin Foundation United States.
Frequently Asked Questions About Eau Claire Community Foundation
What kind of organizations does Eau Claire Community Foundation support?
The foundation supports local nonprofits, schools, arts groups, health and human services providers, recreation organizations, and scholarship programs. Recent grants include support for a YMCA, a children’s museum, a public school district, a homeless services provider, and a clinic, alongside scholarships and designated funds for tutoring and accessibility.
What is the typical grant size?
Typical grants are in the five-figure range. The listed distribution shows a p25 of $7,820, a median of $13,446, and a p75 of $25,420, with some larger awards for general support, operating needs, and capital or project work.
Does the foundation support more than one grant cycle?
Yes. Active programs include the William A. Bingham Grant Cycle, the Community Grant Cycle, the Physicians’ Community Impact Fund, and the Women’s Giving Circle Grant Cycle. It also administers scholarships and several designated or agency-endowment funds.
Who are some recent grantees?
Recent grantees include YMCA of Chippewa Valley, Boys & Girls Club Greater Chippewa Valley - Mary Markquart Center, Children's Museum of Eau Claire Inc, Eau Claire Confluence Arts Inc, School District of Loyal, Hope Gospel Mission Inc, and Chippewa Valley Free Clinic.
What geographic area does the foundation focus on?
Its giving is local and centered in Wisconsin. 85% of grants go to recipients in Wisconsin, and the recent grants list is concentrated in Eau Claire and nearby communities such as Altoona, Loyal, Durand, Chippewa Falls, Fall Creek, Hayward, and Ladysmith.
Who can apply: For Eau Claire-area nonprofits seeking support for staff or board professional development, professional development partnerships, or strategic planning.
Community healthHealth accessHealth and well-being
Who can apply: Supports initiatives addressing local health needs and improving health and well-being in the Eau Claire area. Applicant criteria were not provided in the scraped content.
Programs benefiting womenPrograms benefiting children
Who can apply: Organizations with programs that benefit women and/or children in Eau Claire County. Additional eligibility rules: funding must be used between Jan 1 and Dec 31 of the following year; recipients must be willing to speak at a WGC event; organizations funded two years in a row are ineligible the third year.
Deadline: Applications available April; deadline to submit in June (exact June date varies by year).
Arts and cultureEducationNature and recreation+2 more
Who can apply: For nonprofits serving the Eau Claire area. Grants may support programs, organizations, and operating expenses during transitions, revenue loss, or unusually high expenses.
Who can apply: Programs must benefit women and/or children in Eau Claire County. Requests up to $8,500 will be considered. Funding must be used between January 1 and December 31 of the following year. Recipients must be willing to speak at a WGC event to share program impact. If an organization is funded by WGC in two consecutive years, its application will not be considered in the third year; it may apply again in the fourth year.
Deadline: The grant cycle will open on April 1, 2027. Applications are available in April and the deadline to submit WGC grant applications is in June.
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.