The Community Foundation’s unrestricted fund are used to make grants to qualified organizations throughout the year. Funds are professionally invested for long term growth and only the earnings on those funds are used to make grants each year.

Since the first grant was awarded in 1997, more than $500,000 has been distributed through the competitive grant process.  Congratulations to all past grant recipients, and thank you for all you do to make Dunn County better.

 

2022 Competitive Grant Recipients

Badger Boys State, Inc. – $1,200
To Increase Representation of Students From Dunn County

Boyceville Community Education – $5,000
Bulldog Adventure Canoes

Boyceville Middle School – $1,000
Health & Wellness Materials

The Boys & Girls Club of the Greater Chippewa Valley – $4,000
Menomonie Center – Increasing Food Access

The Bridge to Hope – $2,606
Survivor Art Therapy supplies

Chippewa Valley Council, Boys Scouts of America – $2,500
Furnace/Air Conditioner Replacement

Chippewa Valley Habitat for Humanity – $2,500
Flooring & Installation for Home Build in Boyceville

Dunn County Health Department – $1,000
Preparedness Grant

Girls Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes – $3,000
Volunteer Training Opportunities

Indianhead Enterprises, Inc. – $6,269
ADA Automatic Door Openers

Junior Achievement of WI, Inc. – $2,000
Programming for Middle and High School Students

Literacy Chippewa Valley – $500
Career Training for Inmates

Menomonie Area Free Clinic – $4,900
Behavioral Health Outpatient Services Program

Menomonie Public Library – $6,000
Supporting Early Literacy and Reluctant Readers by Leveraging Technology in the Collection

Menomonie Theater Guild – $3,000
Exterior Improvements to Guild Building

The Neighbors of Dunn County – $5,000
New Bus Project

Shirley Doane Senior Center – $1,529
Washer/Dryer Replacement

Stepping Stones of Dunn County – $4,500
Fuel Costs for Food Pantry Vehicles

Stepping Stones of Dunn County – $4,800
Food Access Program

Thursday’s Table – $5,000
Dish Machine

Town of Rock Creek Park Commission – $5,000
Pickleball Courts

Wildlife Rehabilitation & Release, Inc. – $4,000
Construction of a 50-foot Flight Enclosure for Raptor Birds

2021 Competitive Grant Recipients

Boyceville Community School District – $1,700
Tiffany Creek Elementary Mental Health Video Modules

Chippewa Valley Council Boy Scouts – $5,000
Computer Purchase & Scholarship Assistance

Colfax Railroad Museum, Inc. – $2,500
Events Center Handicap Accessible Restrooms

Dunn County Historical Society – $2,791
Dunn County Finders BioBlitz

Dunn County Humane Society – $1,200
Technology Upgrade for Social Media Specialist

Junior Achievement of WI, Inc. – $1,500
Financial Literacy Programming for Dunn County youth

Literacy Chippewa Valley – $4,339
Job Readiness Re-Entry Training for Inmates

Menomonie Parks & Recreation – $2,000
Wakanda Waterpark Funbrellas

Menomonie Theater Guild – $4,169
Children’s Summer Program

Stepping Stones of Dunn County – $5,040
Pop Up Pantry Voucher and Fuel

The Wisconsin Foster Closet, Inc. – $1,200
Extinguishing Roadblocks to Foster Care Licenses

2020 Competitive Grant Recipients

To mark our 25th anniversary, the Community Foundation of Dunn County invited area nonprofits to apply for Endowment Challenge Grants of $5,000 through the February 2020 Competitive Grant Cycle.

This new initiative was a competitive, matching-grant program established to help up to five Dunn County nonprofit organizations open or build an endowment fund at the Community Foundation. Nonprofit endowments are designed to help nonprofits invest in the mission and the future of the organization by providing general operating support, stability during cyclical income variances, and income for areas of high importance to the organization. Building an endowment fund is critically important to the current and future stability of your nonprofit’s work.

The following (5) nonprofits received a $5,000 matching grant to build or open an agency endowment at the Community Foundation of Dunn County.  Contributions to each fund are welcome, and each is listed in the dropdown menu of funds found on our DONATE page.

1. DUNN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

2. LANDMARK CONSERVANCY

3. MABEL TAINTER CENTER FOR THE ARTS

4. STEPPING STONES OF DUNN COUNTY

5. WEST CAP

2019 Competitive Grant Recipients

February

  • Boyceville Community Fire District – Particulate-Blocking Hoods for Firefighters – $2,800
  • Boyceville Police Department – Safety Equipment – (3) AEDs – $4,068
  • Dunn County Dementia Coalition – Dementia Live Training – $1,537
  • Dunn County Health Department – Training for Nurse-Family Partnership Program – $2,500
  • Elk Mound Wrestling Club LLC – Wrestling Team Equipment – $3,000
  • Feed My People Food Bank – Industrial Cold Storage Unit – $5,000
  • Hmong Friendship Center – Nonprofit Status Filing – $1,500
  • Literacy Chippewa Valley  – Barrier-Free GED Attainment – $2,500
  • Positive Alternatives – Equipment for Community Based Services – $5,000
  • The Reach Foundation – Technology for Supported Employment Services – $1,250
  • Stepping Stones of Dunn County – Homeless Services – $5,000
  • UW-Stout Fostering Success – Summer Camp for Foster Students Entering College – $3,750
  • Village of Ridgeland – Playground Equipment for the Eldon H. Luer Fairgrounds – $2,500

August

  • Boys & Girls Club – Menomonie Center – Update and Enhance Safety Communication – $4,000
  • Bridge To Hope – Safe Transportation for Victims$3,564
  • Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes – Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) and Financial Assistance$1,500
  • Hope Gospel Mission – Women With Children Program Support$5,000
  • HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital – Mobile Mammography for Western Wisconsin$5,000
  • Ludington Guard Band – Percussion Equipment$4,850
  • Menomonie Area Senior Center – Embroidery Exploration for Seniors$1,200
  • Tainter Menomin Lake Improvement Association – Red Cedar Watershed Conference$5,000
  • WI Foster Closet Inc. – Airing Out the Laundry – More Than a Change of Clothes$3,000
  • Workforce Resource – Successful Re-entry Through Job-Readiness Training$5,000

2018 Competitive Grant Recipients

February:  $36,217 in grants to the following 12 local, charitable organization:

  • Alano Club of Menomonie Great Room Multi Media System $776.83
  • The Arc of Dunn County, Inc. Online HR System $2,500
  • Boyceville Community School District Science Olympiad 3D Printer $6,128
  • Village of Colfax Colfax Rescue CPR Manikins $7,506.30
  • Community for Veterans Expanded Transitional Housing for Veterans $4,000
  • Community Foundation of Dunn County Cops 4 Kids Program Support $1,000
  • Dunn County Historical Society “Make It!” Summer Children’s Program $1,460
  • Menomonie Public Library Foundation Wi-Fi Hotspots To-Go $2,400
  • School District of the Menomonie Area MHS Boys’ Swim & Dive Team Equipment $2,500
  • Soft Landing Transition Services, LLC Supportive Services for Persons in Recovery $3,500
  • University of Wisconsin – Stout BOLD STEPS: Building Opportunities through Leadership development $1,446.00
  • West CAP Menomonie Farmer’s Market Outreach & Education $3,000

August:  $41,247 in grants to the following 13 local, charitable organizations:

  • Arts Coming Together Electronic Media Upgrade $530
  • Boyceville Community School District Tiffany Creek Streambank Project $5,000
  • Colfax Health and Rehabilitation Center Cycling Without Age Equipment $5,000
  • Dunn County Home Health Care Reducing UTIs in Home Care $800
  • Family Resource Center, Inc. Play ‘N Learn Play Groups for Dunn County $2,450
  • Girl Scouts of the NW Great Lakes, Inc. STEAM Program at UW-Stout $2,300 from the Don and Marilyn Fanetti fund, a donor advised fund of the Community Foundation.
  • Hmong Friendship Center Supporting the Health and Wellbeing of Elderly Hmong $4,287
  • Hope Gospel Mission Dunn County Lives Rescued, Rebuilt, and Renewed $5,000
  • Let’s Go Fishing-Menomonie Boat Equipment and Safety Improvements $4,200
  • Menomonie Area Senior Center Adult Day Services Equipment $2,180
  • Menomonie Theater Guild Building Improvement Projects $1,500
  • Stepping Stones of Dunn County Food Aid For Dunn County Pantry Patrons $3,000 from the Tuesday’s Table Fund of the Community Foundation of Dunn County.
  • Workforce Resource, Inc. Preparing Women for Non-Traditional Careers $5,000

2017 Competitive Grant Recipients

February: $35,000 in grants to 13 local charitable organizations 

  •  THE ARC OF DUNN COUNTY, INC.: Launchpad Home for Young Adults
  • CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING OF WESTERN WI: Dispatch Software Upgrades
  • DUNN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY: Summer Children’s Program
  • DURAND SWIM CLUB: WSI Lifeguard Training Program
  • EAU CLAIRE AREA HMONG MUTUAL ASSISTANCE ASSOC.: Dunn County Rice Pantry
  • GRASSROOTS EMPOWERMENT PROJECT, INC.:Alternatives to Suicide Facilitator Training
  • MABEL TAINTER CENTER FOR THE ARTS: Security Camera Support
  • MENOMONIE AREA (SHIRLEY DOANE) SENIOR CENTER: Dining Room Chair Replacement
  • SOFT LANDING TRANSITION SERVICES, LLC: Housing, Transportation & Support Services
  • STEPPING STONES OF DUNN COUNTY: Supplemental Food for Meals on Wheels
  • UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN – STOUT: STEPS for Girls Camp Scholarships for Minority Youth
  • WEST WISCONSIN LAND TRUST: Devil’s Punchbowl Safety & Accessibility
  • WORKFORCE RESOURCE, INC.: Technology for Training Room

August: $35,000 in grants to 14 local charitable organizations

  • BOYS & GIRLS CLUB – MENOMONIE CENTER: Member Scholarships for Those Who Need Us Most
  • CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF EAU CLAIRE: Sky Stories: Planetarium Outreach Program
  • GIRL SCOUTS OF THE NW GREAT LAKES, INC.: Girl Scout Leadership Experience STEM Program
  • COLFAX RAILROAD MUSEUM, INC.: Site Development for Colfax Heritage Event
  • MABEL TAINTER CENTER FOR THE ARTS: Children’s Series
  • STEPPING STONES OF DUNN COUNTY: Food Aid for Food Pantry Patrons
  • THE ARC OF DUNN COUNTY: Life Skills Program Space for Individuals with Disabilities
  • THE BRIDGE TO HOPE:  Comfort Essentials for Domestic Violence Victims
  • DUNN COUNTY DEMENTIA COALITION  Making Dunn County Dementia-Friendly
  • INDIANHEAD ENTERPRISES, INC.:  Vocational Equipment for Individuals with Disabilities
  • DUNN COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY:  Pets for Seniors And Vets Program
  • BOYCEVILLE COMMUNITY AMBULANCE:  Reflective Safety Equipment for EMS Staff
  • RIDGELAND AREA LIBRARY:  Basement Remodel for Program Expansion
  • REACH OUT AND READ: Pediatric Literacy Program at Mayo Clinic-Red Cedar

2016 Competitive Grant Recipients

February

  • Boys & Girls Club – Menomonie Center Health & Life Skills Programming $2,000
  • Chippewa Valley Habitat for Humanity New Home Construction in Menomonie $5,000
  • Community Foundation of Dunn County Nonprofit Capacity Building Event $1,550
  • Dunn County Historical Society Children’s Summer Program $978
  • Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts Children’s Series $2,500
  • Menomonie Police Department Community Policing Initiatives $1,000
  • Menomonie Sunrise Rotary Caddie Woodlawn Park Updates $3,500
  • Ridgeland/Wilson Fire Department Firefighter Gear Update $6,000
  • Stepping Stones of Dunn County Supplemental Food for Meals on Wheels Recipients $4,800
  • WestCAP Menomonie Farmer’s Market Support $2,500
  • Wisconsin Dental Association Mission of Mercy Dental Clinic $6,597

August:  Over $50,000 in grants to 22 local organizations

  • ARBOR PLACE – Youth Mental Health First Aide Project
  • BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS – 1-to-1 Youth Match Mentoring for Dunn County
  • BOYCEVILLE COMMUNITY AMBULANCE DISTRICT – CPR and First Aid Training Equipment
  • BOYCEVILLE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT – Guest Speaker on Anti-bullying and Tolerance
  • BOYCEVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT – Protective Equipment Purchase
  • BOYCEVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY – Handicap Ramp Entrance Improvements
  • CHIPPEWA VALLEY FUND RAISING PROFESSIONALS – Nonprofit Training
  • CITY OF MENOMONIE – Menomonie Trail System Wayfinding Signage
  • COMMUNITY FOR VETERANS – Transitional Housing for Veterans Basement Remodel
  • FEED MY PEOPLE FOOD BANK – Dunn County Produce Initiative
  • GLENWOOD CITY AMBULANCE SERVICE – Stryker Power Lift Cot
  • HOUSE CALLS OF MENOMONIE – Guardian and Representative Payee Services
  • JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF WISCONSIN, INC. – Personal Finance & Career Exploration
  • MABEL TAINTER CENTER FOR THE ARTS – Color Printer Purchase
  • MENOMONIE AREA MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION – FixIT Bicycle Repair Station
  • MENOMONIE HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS COMPLEX – Track & Field Equipment  
  • REACH, Inc. – Menomonie Annex Sit-to-Stand Device
  • STEPPING STONES OF DUNN COUNTY – Rental Assistance for Shelter Families
  • THE ARC OF DUNN COUNTY – Computers for Adults with Developmental Disabilities
  • UNITED WAY OF DUNN COUNTY – Data Management Software Program and Training
  • VILLAGE OF WHEELER – Community Improvement Equipment
  • WEST WISCONSIN LAND TRUST – Dunn County Land Protection

2015 Competitive Grant Recipients

February

  • ARC OF DUNN COUNTY, INC.Sibshops and Arc FAMS Programs – $2,500
  • BOYS & GIRLS CLUB – MENOMONIE CENTERHealth & Recreation Program – $6,500
  • COLFAX MUNICIPAL BLDNG RESTORATION GROUPBasement Restoration of Theater – $3,000
  • COLFAX RAILROAD MUSEUM, INC.Restoration of 1898 Depot – $1,500
  • DUNN COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETYFeline Low Cost Spay/Neuter Program – $1,510
  • GAYLORD NELSON AUDUBON SOCIETYNature Festival: Birds, Bugs and Blooms Bash – $1,000
  • HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF WISCONSINWest/NW WI Fund Development – $3,000
  • MENOMONIE MIDDLE SCHOOLBig Kids Small World – Social Experiences – $1,250
  • MENOMONIE MIDDLE SCHOOLMiddle School Garden – $3,000
  • RED CEDAR BASIN MONITORING GROUP, INCAcoustic Bat Monitoring – $3,176
  • UNITED WAY OF DUNN COUNTYUnited Way Gifts In Kind Health/Safety – $2,954
  • WATCH US GROW CHILDREN’S VILLAGEGlider Rocker and Infant Equipment – $500

August:

  • THE ARC OF DUNN COUNTYHealth & Wellness Class for Individuals with Disabilities – $3,000
  • THE BRIDGE TO HOPE Computer Upgrade for Staff and Clients – $1,500
  • CHIPPEWA VALLEY COUNCIL BOY SCOUTS Dunn County After-School Cub Scouting – $2,500
  • COLFAX HEALTH & REHABILITATION CENTER Colfax Community Transport Service – $5,000
  • FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER – Parent Café Support Program for Dunn County – $4,386
  • GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH Flooring for Thrift Store – $2,500
  • MABEL TAINTER CENTER FOR THE ARTSHistoric Organ Renovation – $3,000
  • MENOMONIE ARCHERY CLUB Handicap Accessible Satellite Restroom – $1,750
  • WAKANDA ELEMENTARYAmerican Traditional Dance/Music Residency – $1,1500
  • SHIRLEY DOANE SENIOR CENTERComputer Hardware Purchase – $2,000
  • STEPPING STONES OF DUNN COUNTY Food Pantry & Homeless Shelter Updates – $3,325
  • WEST WISCONSIN LAND TRUST – Menomonie Punchbowl Renewal Final Phase – $500

 

2001-2014 Competitive Grant Recipients

To view a list of competitive grants awarded each year, click on the links below:

2014 
2013 
 2012 
2011 
2010
 2009
 2008 
2007 
2006 
2004-2005 
2003  
2002 
Grants 2001