Foundation Blog

Read all about our impact in the community, upcoming events, news, and general information about our Community Foundation.

What’s Happening

News & Notes

Bill Cowden Aviation Scholarship Accepting Apps Now Through May 19

Bill Cowden Aviation Scholarship Accepting Apps Now Through May 19

For Bill Cowden, aviation wasn't just a career choice, but a way of life.  Since he was a young boy, Bill had always dreamed of being a pilot.  Through diligence and perseverance, he nurtured that goal into a 25-year-long aviation career. As a private pilot, North...

What Happens? Leaving a Bequest to My Fund at the Foundation

What Happens? Leaving a Bequest to My Fund at the Foundation

Many donors and fund holders at the Community Foundation of Dunn County have updated their estate plans to leave a bequest to their donor-advised or other type of fund. Some bequests take the form of a “specific bequest,” which means that the fund at the Foundation...

The Mabel Steps It Up

The Mabel Steps It Up

Menomonie’s Historic Mabel Tainter Theater is already thinking spring and looking forward to a major renovation project that will repair and replace the double staircase on the building’s historic main entrance at 205 Main Street. After enduring 134 years of Wisconsin...

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Nonprofit Organizations

Be prepared: Tips for donors’ due diligence

Be prepared: Tips for donors’ due diligence

As you and your team build momentum implementing your 2024 fundraising plan, keep in mind that many individual donors look at the same criteria used by foundations to determine whether to support a charitable organization. You may not even be aware that a prospective...

Giving May Be on the Upswing

Giving May Be on the Upswing

Despite what some people viewed as a softening in charitable giving over the last couple of years, philanthropy now appears to be on the upswing and is expected to rise by 4.2%. This is good context for your work with donors, especially as donors strive to engage...

Planned giving playbook: Undeveloped land launches a legacy

Planned giving playbook: Undeveloped land launches a legacy

Many nonprofit partners across the nation have requested their community foundation teams provide a detailed example of how a complex gift comes to life and how their teams can seize the opportunity. We’re pleased to share this playbook to illustrate a situation where...

charitable giving partnership

Professional Advisors

Charitable planning for wealthy clients: In the spotlight

Charitable planning for wealthy clients: In the spotlight

As you read up on techniques to structure philanthropy plans for your high-net-worth clients, we recommend reviewing the potential impact of the estate tax exemption sunset, as well as making sure you’re one of just half of advisors (!) who are truly helping their...

“Shell funds” and other handy tools for charitable clients

“Shell funds” and other handy tools for charitable clients

Getting a jump on a future “to-do” list is always such a good feeling. The team at the Community Foundation of Dunn County can help you with your clients’ long-term charitable giving plans by putting in place the structures to receive bequests decades from now....

Gifts of appreciated stock: Let the numbers do the talking

Gifts of appreciated stock: Let the numbers do the talking

No matter how frequently you remind clients to pause before they automatically reach for the checkbook to make their charitable gifts, many clients still give cash! As an attorney, accountant, or financial advisor, you are well aware that giving long-term appreciated...