How can I get involved?

Member since 2006

About Us

Over 4,000 households in La Crosse County (10%) live at or below the poverty line. Of these families, 3,276 are headed by female, single parents. Only 6.5% of all grant money awarded in the U.S. supports programs that specifically serve women and children.

In the 1980's, women's funds began to appear as components of community foundations. Women who served as administrators and board members of community foundations noticed that there was a large gap in philanthropy for programs for women and girls.

In May 1998, a group of community-minded women of the La Crosse area explored the need for a Women's Fund within the La Crosse Community Foundation to address the unique needs of women in our area. They identified a variety of challenges women face each day in terms of self-sufficiency, health and safety, and enrichment opportunities.

In September 1998, Carol Gilligan, chair of Gender Studies, Harvard University, spoke at a luncheon to announce the formation of the Women's Fund of the La Crosse Community Foundation. The La Crosse Community Foundation issued a challenge grant in the amount of $50,000 to launch the new Women's Fund. Two years later, the Women's Fund met that challenge. The $100,000 endowment became the basis of grant-making for programs focused on women and girls.

In 1999, the Women's Fund awarded grants in the amount of $2,000. In 2007, the Women's Fund granted $24,600 to enrich the lives of women and girls so they can do the same for others. The Women's Fund has awarded a total of $108,000 to date.

YES! I'D LOVE TO DONATE, BUT WHY TO AN ENDOWMENT?

So many times we're asked, 'Just what is an endowment and why should I consider it for my donation, as opposed to simply writing a check to a specific charity or event?'

Through an endowment, YOUR GIFT keeps on giving . . . and giving . . . and giving. An endowment is a fund of money that is set aside PERMANENTLY. Its ASSETS are invested for the purpose of earning and providing income for generations to come! It is these perpetual earnings, derived from the monies invested in the endowment that allow us to provide ANNUAL dollars through grants to non-profit programs. And, of course, when the endowment grows (through your generous gifts), so do the earnings accrued for dispersal.

The contributions received for the Women's Fund are invested by the La Crosse Community Foundation. Each year, a percentage of the earnings from the investments is made available to the Women's Fund Advisory Board for disbursement according to its mission.

A summary of why we encourage you to support our endowment

• An endowment lasts forever.
• Your gifts will be pooled with gifts of others for the long term!
• Our endowment has an administrative fee of only 1%; that leaves 99% of your donation to work for good.
• Like most charities, every year we must continue to raise funds; however, we NEVER have to start from scratch again.
• When you give now, it means your gift 'gives' forever!
• An endowment is like a seed, sown for future and continual harvest - and like yeast, it grows when it's fed.

We want to make a difference for the long term and, as such, have chosen to finance the Women's Fund objectives via an endowment. We are committed to the present and, more importantly, to the future. Remember, writing a check may be easy; however, philanthropy - in other words, a gift to an endowment - takes wisdom, thought, and time!

How can I get involved?

Explore the following options and take your place in this organization of incredible women

• Give to the endowment and/or establish your own named fund
• Volunteer your time and talent by joining a committee
• Attend an event
• Help us spread the word by telling others about the great work of the Women's Fund

For more information contact Melissa Schultz, Administrative Coordinator, at (608) 386-4136 or e-mail