To improve the quality of life in Rusk County through permanent endowments and grant giving.
A single dissolution distribution dominates the recent record: the Rusk County Community Foundation granted $2,144,330 to Eau Claire Community Foundation in 2023 for distribution of net assets upon dissolution. That transaction is the clearest marker of how the foundation handled its final assets, while a separate $10,000 operating support grant to Community Foundation of Chippewa County shows continued support for related community foundation infrastructure in the same year. The foundation’s stated purpose is to improve quality of life in Rusk County through permanent endowments and grant giving. Its active program list shows a local funding profile that includes scholarships, arts and culture, health, community development, animal welfare, recreation, and religious or government-affiliated charitable projects when eligible. The scholarship offerings are especially specific: they include support for adult returning students, with awards for education and related costs such as travel and childcare, and other scholarship funds for post-secondary education. Rusk County Community Foundation also operates a community grant program for local nonprofits and charitable projects in Rusk County, indicating a mix of institutional giving and student support centered on the county it serves.
Education is a visible part of the foundation’s work. The NORDA Inc. Non-Traditional Scholarship Fund supports adult returning students age 22 or older with education and related costs, including travel and childcare. Another scholarship listing, Norda Scholarship, says awards are paid directly to the recipient’s college or technical school after required documentation is received. Community grants are another clear area. The GIVE 365 Rusk Grants Fund supports local nonprofits and charitable projects in Rusk County, with a 2026 theme focused on arts in action and community pride. Arts and culture also appears in the foundation’s broader focus areas, alongside community development. Health-related and special-needs support is also part of the portfolio, with a current Shane Jenness Special Needs Grants opportunity listed among active programs. Animal welfare, recreation, and eligible religious or government-affiliated charitable projects appear in the foundation’s stated focus areas as well.
$2.2M
$0
$140K
$2.2M
Most grants fall between $544K and $1.6M, with a median of $1.1M.
25th Percentile
$544K
Median
$1.1M
75th Percentile
$1.6M
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Typical grant size is large for the grants on file: the 25th percentile is $543,582, the median is $1,077,165, and the 75th percentile is $1,610,748. The recent record is also concentrated in a very small number of grants, including one major distribution tied to dissolution and one operating-support grant. The foundation is a public charity, gives locally, and funds 501(c)(3) nonprofits, existing grantees, and other charitable organizations. Its scholarship work includes awards to individuals rather than organizations, but the grants dataset itself shows institutional funding activity only in the recent grants list. One current local program, GIVE 365 Rusk Grants Fund, accepts unsolicited applications; the scholarship opportunities listed do not.
Giving is entirely in Wisconsin: 100% of grants in the data go to recipients in WI, and the top state by grant count is WI. Recent recipient locations include Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls. The active program list is centered on Rusk County, Wisconsin, including scholarships and local community grants. The geography in the record is therefore county-focused, with recipient organizations appearing in Wisconsin rather than outside the state.
The foundation funds 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, existing grantee organizations, and other charitable organizations. Its stated focus areas include education and scholarships, arts and culture, health, community development, animal welfare, recreation, and eligible religious or government-affiliated charitable projects.
The GIVE 365 Rusk Grants Fund does accept unsolicited applications. The listed scholarship opportunities do not; they are shown as application-based scholarship programs with eligibility and documentation requirements.
The grant size distribution on file is large: the 25th percentile is $543,582, the median is $1,077,165, and the 75th percentile is $1,610,748.
Its giving is local and entirely in Wisconsin. The data shows 100% of grants going to recipients in WI, with recent recipient cities including Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls, and active programs centered on Rusk County.
The active programs include the NORDA Inc. Non-Traditional Scholarship Fund for adult returning students age 22 or older, covering education and related costs such as travel and childcare. Another listed scholarship program pays awards directly to the recipient’s college or technical school after documentation is received.
2023
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2023.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAU CLAIRE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | EAU CLAIRE, WI | $2,144,330 | 2023 | DISTRIBUTION OF NET ASSETS UPON DISSOLUTION |
| SCHOOL DISTRICT OF LADYSMITH | LADYSMITH, WI | $19,641 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF LADYSMITH |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF CHIPPEWA COUNTY | CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI | $10,000 | 2023 | OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| NATURE'S EDGE THERAPY CENTER INC | RICE LAKE, WI | $5,700 | 2023 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
EAU CLAIRE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$2,144,330DISTRIBUTION OF NET ASSETS UPON DISSOLUTION
SCHOOL DISTRICT OF LADYSMITH
$19,641TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF LADYSMITH
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF CHIPPEWA COUNTY
$10,000OPERATIONS SUPPORT
NATURE'S EDGE THERAPY CENTER INC
$5,700PROGRAM SUPPORT
Current and upcoming funding from Rusk County Community Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Programs or events must benefit residents of Rusk County. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) and 509(a) organizations, government organizations, and religious organizations.
Deadline: Applications are due by the second Friday of February, April, June, August, October, and December.
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