As part of the Community Foundation of Dunn County’s 25th Anniversary, this year’s February grant cycle looked a little different. We invited local non profits to apply for the “2020 Nonprofit Endowment Challenge.” This challenge provides a $5,000 grant towards starting an endowment fund, which requires a minimum of $10,000. The challenge for these non profits is to raise a matching $5,000 to initiate their fund.
As of August 2020, three of the five recipients have met their goal and the remaining three are well on their way to achieving their goal. The recipients were The Dunn County Historical Society, Landmark Conservancy, The Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts, Stepping Stones of Dunn County and West CAP. The Dunn County Historical Society, The Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts and Stepping Stones of Dunn County were able to meet their $5,000 goal within six months of this challenge.
In June, the Mabel Tainter held their annual “Live at the Mabel” fundraiser and were able to raise the $5,000 to open their endowment fund. This event featured performers Sue Orfield, The Cutaways, The Memories and Karen Wilber which was streamed online to the public.
“The Mabel Tainter board of directors is committed to the long-term financial success of the organization that has proudly served Western Wisconsin since its opening on July 3, 1890. They appreciate the need to establish an endowment that will result in operational funds to support performances, youth oriented programming and community events for decades to come,” Mabel Tainter Executive Director Jeff McSweeney wrote.
Stepping Stones met their goal by inviting current and past board members to make a pledge towards the match. While these pledges have not yet been secured, Stepping Stones Executive Director Katherine Dutton is confident the pledgees will fulfill their pledges by the end of 2020.
Now more than ever, we realize the importance of an endowment fund for the sustainability of Stepping Stones,” Katherine said. “The world is a fragile and perilous place. Any one of us could find ourselves facing economic challenges for oh, so many reasons! We need places for people to turn to for help in such times. We want to ensure the organization will be financially stable for the long-term so it can continue to meet needs in our community related to food insecurity and homelessness.”
The Dunn County Historical Society (DCHS) met their $5,000 goal with most of their matching funds having been raised by donations of DCHS members and their board of directors.
Here is what one private donor had to say about why they support DCHS:
“Our family decided to donate to the Dunn County Historical Society Endowment because history affects us every day whether we are aware of it or not. The Rassbach Museum helps us connect to shared experiences of the past and ultimately learn about our present. Because of the Museum, we are able to see our area in new ways and develop new interests through facilities like Fulton’s Workshop and engaging special events. Our whole family simply loves visiting!”
Executive Director Melissa Kneeland said that opening their endowment fund will directly benefit the organization’s future. By investing in this fund, up to five percent each year in earnings will bounce back to them, helping to fulfill their mission to discover, preserve, interpret and share knowledge about the history of Dunn County and its role in Wisconsin, as well as inspire interest in the past.
Landmark Conservancy and West CAP are in the early stages of planning their endowment challenge fundraising and will have until May 2021 to meet their $5,000 goal. Landmark said recently that their fundraising efforts will begin in the spring, in conjunction with their Devil’s Punchbowl fundraising. To assist these two vital organizations in achieving this goal, visit http://cfdunncounty.org/give/donate to donate. Click on the drop down menu within the donation form and choose your desired fund.
