Helping sustain future grantmaking through endowments
February 10, 2023
| By Megan Pierce, Donor Services Director |
Endowments: Helping our community forever
Have you ever wondered how we’re able to distribute grants year after year without a large, yearly fundraising campaign? We figured some people have wondered this, so let’s break it down.
As the largest and oldest grantmaking charitable organization that serves our community, we work as the liaison between donors and nonprofit organizations to ensure La Crosse County is a healthy, safe, and vibrant place to live, now and forever.
Becoming a La Crosse Community Foundation donor
Anyone can be a donor and contribute a gift, small or large, to the foundation. We work together with donors to realize their philanthropic goals, matching their interests and community needs. Donors have the ability to establish a new fund (with any amount) or give to existing funds.
Growing our investments
Donors’ gifts are the building blocks of permanent endowment funds. An endowment fund is where the original gift is invested to grow over time. We use a percentage of the annual earnings from these funds to provide grants to qualified nonprofits, this allows the fund to exist and grow to support the causes donors love forever.
Making grant distributions for maximum community impact
La Crosse Community Foundation has three types of grant distributions: competitive grants, noncompetitive grants, and scholarships.
Competitive grants are made from our unrestricted and field of interest funds. Local charitable organizations can apply to our quarterly grant competitions for projects, programs, and general operating expenses. Requests are thoroughly vetted by our grant committee.
Noncompetitive grants are awarded from donor advised, designated, and agency funds. Donors can select any charitable organization in the world as the recipient.
Finally, our scholarship grants are for students seeking higher education. Scholarship awards are made to schools and awarded based on the criteria selected by the establishing donors.
Why choose La Crosse Community Foundation?
A key benefit of the community foundation model is that we can adapt to the changing needs and opportunities of the people and communities we serve. Our staff has a deep, unique understanding of our community, the ability to objectively evaluate nonprofit organizations, expertise in impactful charitable giving, and a commitment to sustainable philanthropy.
We’d love to have you be part of the La Crosse Community Foundation family, where our number one goal is to make La Crosse County a better place for all to live. If you’d like to discuss starting your own fund or how we can help to meet your philanthropic goals, please give us a call today – 608-782-3223!