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Eau Claire Community Foundation

EIN 39-1891064 · Eau Claire, WI

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ESTABLISH ENDOWED FUNDS THAT WILL BENEFIT THE EAU CLAIRE COMMUNITY TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE.

Income
$13.7 million
Spending
$2.7 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
99.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
9
Volunteers
55
Highest pay
$123,597, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 99.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 80% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $2.2 million spent. THE EAU CLAIRE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FULFILLED THE GRANTMAKING PORTION OF ITS MISSION IN 2024 BY AWARDING 1,926,106 IN GRANTS, WHICH INCLUDES 168,690 IN AGENCY FUND GRANTS. WHILE MANY OF THESE GRANTS WERE RECOMMENDED BY DONOR ADVISORS TO NONPROFITS ALL OVER THE U.S., 813,222 WENT DIRECTLY TO EAU CLAIRE AREA NONPROFITS THROUGH ECCF'S ANNUAL COMMUNITY GRANT CYCLE. AN ADDITIONAL 53,939 SUPPORTED LOCAL NONPROFITS THROUGH THE GRANT CYCLE IMPLEMENTED BY THE WOMEN'S GIVING CIRCLE, A FUND OF ECCF. ECCF'S SUPPORT OF LOCAL NONPROFITS IS HELPING TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN EAU CLAIRE. ECCF'S MISSION ALSO INCLUDES "OFFERING DONORS OPPORTUNITIES TO ESTABLISH CHARITABLE LEGACIES." ECCF WORKED WITH DONORS TO ESTABLISH 59 NEW FUNDS IN 2024 AND HAS OVER 330 ACTIVE FUNDS. DONOR ADVISED FUNDS, SUCH AS THE NEW REV. KURT M. JACOBSON FAMILY FUND, ALLOW FUND HOLDERS TO RECOMMEND GRANTS TO NONPROFITS OF THEIR CHOICE, WHILE FIELD OF INTEREST FUNDS ALLOW FUND HOLDERS TO SUPPORT SPECIFIC AREAS OF INTEREST AND DESIGNATED FUNDS NAME SPECIFIC ORGANIZATIONS. ECCF ALSO ALLOWS DONORS TO CREATE OTHER TYPES OF FUNDS, INCLUDING UNRESTRICTED FUNDS TO SUPPORT LOCAL NONPROFITS THROUGH THE ANNUAL COMMUNITY GRANT CYCLE AND DESIGNATED SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS' POST-SECONDARY EDUCATIONS. ECCF ADDRESSES THE FINAL PORTION OF ITS MISSION- -TO SERVE AS A CATALYST TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY NEEDS--BY EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY ABOUT PHILANTHROPIC ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH EVENTS SUCH AS THE ANNUAL MEETING, PROFESSIONAL ADVISOR EVENT, AND THE WOMEN'S GIVING CIRCLE EDUCATIONAL EVENT. IN ADDITION TO INFORMING THE PUBLIC ABOUT ECCF AND ITS WORK, THE ANNUAL EVENTS ALLOW DONORS TO CONNECT WITH LOCAL NONPROFITS. ECCF'S PROFESSIONAL ADVISOR EVENT EDUCATES PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS ABOUT THEIR CLIENTS' CHARITABLE GIVING OPTIONS, WHILE THE EDUCATIONAL EVENT HOSTED BY ECCF'S WOMEN'S GIVING CIRCLE EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ABOUT PRESSING COMMUNITY ISSUES SUCH AS HOMELESSNESS, MENTAL HEALTH, OR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. IN 2024, THE EDUCATIONAL EVENT ADDRESSED CHALLENGES IN FINDING AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE. THROUGH THESE AND OTHER ANNUAL EVENTS, ECCF AIMS TO INCREASE AWARENESS, PHILANTHROPY, AND ACTIVISM IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE EAU CLAIRE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FULFILLED THE GRANTMAKING PORTION OF ITS MISSION IN 2024 BY AWARDING 1,926,106 IN GRANTS, WHICH INCLUDES 168,690 IN AGENCY FUND GRANTS. WHILE MANY OF THESE GRANTS WERE RECOMMENDED BY DONOR ADVISORS TO NONPROFITS ALL OVER THE U.S., 813,222 WENT DIRECTLY TO EAU CLAIRE AREA NONPROFITS THROUGH ECCF'S ANNUAL COMMUNITY GRANT CYCLE. AN ADDITIONAL 53,939 SUPPORTED LOCAL NONPROFITS THROUGH THE GRANT CYCLE IMPLEMENTED BY THE WOMEN'S GIVING CIRCLE, A FUND OF ECCF. ECCF'S SUPPORT OF LOCAL NONPROFITS IS HELPING TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN EAU CLAIRE. ECCF'S MISSION ALSO INCLUDES "OFFERING DONORS OPPORTUNITIES TO ESTABLISH CHARITABLE LEGACIES." ECCF WORKED WITH DONORS TO ESTABLISH 59 NEW FUNDS IN 2024 AND HAS OVER 330 ACTIVE FUNDS. DONOR ADVISED FUNDS, SUCH AS THE NEW REV. KURT M. JACOBSON FAMILY FUND, ALLOW FUND HOLDERS TO RECOMMEND GRANTS TO NONPROFITS OF THEIR CHOICE, WHILE FIELD OF INTEREST FUNDS ALLOW FUND HOLDERS TO SUPPORT SPECIFIC AREAS OF INTEREST AND DESIGNATED FUNDS NAME SPECIFIC ORGANIZATIONS. ECCF ALSO ALLOWS DONORS TO CREATE OTHER TYPES OF FUNDS, INCLUDING UNRESTRICTED FUNDS TO SUPPORT LOCAL NONPROFITS THROUGH THE ANNUAL COMMUNITY GRANT CYCLE AND DESIGNATED SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS' POST-SECONDARY EDUCATIONS. ECCF ADDRESSES THE FINAL PORTION OF ITS MISSION- -TO SERVE AS A CATALYST TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY NEEDS--BY EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY ABOUT PHILANTHROPIC ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH EVENTS SUCH AS THE ANNUAL MEETING, PROFESSIONAL ADVISOR EVENT, AND THE WOMEN'S GIVING CIRCLE EDUCATIONAL EVENT. IN ADDITION TO INFORMING THE PUBLIC ABOUT ECCF AND ITS WORK, THE ANNUAL EVENTS ALLOW DONORS TO CONNECT WITH LOCAL NONPROFITS. ECCF'S PROFESSIONAL ADVISOR EVENT EDUCATES PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS ABOUT THEIR CLIENTS' CHARITABLE GIVING OPTIONS, WHILE THE EDUCATIONAL EVENT HOSTED BY ECCF'S WOMEN'S GIVING CIRCLE EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ABOUT PRESSING COMMUNITY ISSUES SUCH AS HOMELESSNESS, MENTAL HEALTH, OR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. IN 2024, THE EDUCATIONAL EVENT ADDRESSED CHALLENGES IN FINDING AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE. THROUGH THESE AND OTHER ANNUAL EVENTS, ECCF AIMS TO INCREASE AWARENESS, PHILANTHROPY, AND ACTIVISM IN OUR COMMUNITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1997.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.