LACF launches new grant program

November 20, 2024

By La Crosse Community Foundation

New grants program awards $300,000 in first year

La Crosse Area Community Foundation today announced its latest initiative to strengthen the local nonprofit sector — a new grants program the Capacity Building Grant program. The program is designed to provide funding where nonprofits need it most: operational costs and internal growth to improve sustainability.

Through the new grant program, nonprofits in La Crosse County can cover essential expenses like staffing, utilities, and infrastructure alongside targeted training to enhance their organizational capabilities. Grant recipients will receive funding each year for up to three years. In this initial year, LACF awarded a total of $300,000 to four local nonprofit organizations.

• Hmoob Cultural and Community Center — $100,000 to support community development, advocacy, and cultural revitalization.
• Sustainability Institute — $50,000 to advance sustainability efforts and foster collaboration within the environmental community.
• The La Crosse Lighthouse, Inc. — to provide peer-directed outreach, advocacy, and support for individuals with mental health and substance use challenges.
• Next Steps for Change — $90,000 to deliver peer support programs aiding those in substance recovery.

“With a three-year commitment to each recipient, LACF aims to ensure not only immediate relief but sustained growth,” said foundation Impact Director Lauren Journot.

Each grant allows up to 70% of funds to go directly toward critical operational costs, with the remaining support allocated to essential training and strategy. This approach lets nonprofits overcome operational challenges while fostering long-term sustainability.

“We designed this program to address the fundamental needs of nonprofits based on feedback from focus groups held this spring,” said Journot. “By reducing the financial pressures of day-to-day operations and investing in professional development, our nonprofit partners gain some breathing room to focus on their missions while building a sustainable operation.”

The new grant program is a “game-changer,” said Abigail Spanjers, executive director at The La Crosse Lighthouse, Inc. “By helping to cover basic operational costs, we can focus on our mission with few capacity barriers. This support allows us to be fully present for our community, knowing that the foundation has our back on critical needs.”

In addition to financial support, grantees will receive in-kind resources such as technical assistance and ongoing coaching to strengthen their organizational infrastructure. This combined support model allows nonprofits to assess their needs openly, with no disadvantage in identifying growth areas during the application process.

“The Capacity Building Grant makes our work more sustainable by providing not just funding but also the resources and training to help us grow strategically. The number of people looking to get into recovery from a substance use disorder is on the rise because we are normalizing ‘being in recovery.’  With this support from LACF, we can build a stronger foundation for the future — one that allows us to focus on long-term goals and continue impacting lives for years to come,” said Natalie Morescki, founder and executive director of Next Steps for Change.

Helping local nonprofits thrive is a must in building a vibrant, inclusive, and thriving community, said Journot. “That means offering the tools they’re requesting, wherever possible, to be resilient and capable of responding to community needs. This initial funding marks a significant step in ensuring that nonprofit organizations in La Crosse County have the stability to continue their impactful work for good and forever.”