New London Community Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region Awards $10,000 in Grants

The New London Community Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region awarded seven grants totaling $10,000 during its first-ever grant cycle in fall 2025. These grants were made possible thanks to a $10,000 grant from the U.S. Venture/Schmidt Family Foundation to kick-start granting to nonprofit organizations in the New London community.  

Grants awarded support the following projects:  

• City of New London – Three grants: $1,500 for the Parks & Recreation Department to purchase a lifeguard chair for the New London Aquatic Center, $1,000 to support the Eagle Scout Archery Range project, and $600 for solar lighting on navigational buoys located on the Wolf River in the New London area 

• Friends of Mosquito Hill - $1,800 to support the Mosquito Hill Nature Center pond platform replacement project  

• New London Public Schools - $1,800 to support the Lincoln Elementary School Lincoln Lookout Playground project  

• Washington Center Community Cupboard - $1,800 to support the purchase of perishable foods   

• Wolf River Art League - $1,500 to support the Sculpture Trail landscaping project  

The New London Community Fund, a permanent endowment created in partnership with New London residents, Joe Van Alstine and Lori Dehlinger Van Alstine, and the Community Foundation team, will provide funding to New London area nonprofit organizations forever. 

“Joe and Lori are wonderful community partners and by choosing to work with us, their efforts to create a permanent source of funding for community needs in New London will benefit their friends, family, and neighbors for years to come,” said Megan Schuessler, Vice President of Donor Services & Gift Planning for the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region. “Their fund is like a community savings account that anyone can contribute to that will be a lasting source of funding focused on community improvement.”  

Grant committee member, Susie Steingraber, agreed as she stated, “It’s a good way to give back to the community.”  

Joe was inspired to create the New London Community Fund by a story about the Community Foundation’s founder, Walter L. Rugland, who asked a farmer why he plowed a field under to lie fallow for a year. The farmer replied, “The land has been very good to us and if we don’t give some of it back, it probably won’t keep helping us.” As the Community Foundation celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, our founder’s mission continues through community partners like Joe and Lori. 

While this fund has raised nearly $292,000, the goal is to reach $350,000. Fundraising is ongoing, and donations of any amount are welcome and tax-deductible. To contribute, send a check made payable to the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region with a note in the memo line “Donation to the “New London Community Fund,” 4455 W. Lawrence Street, Appleton, WI 54914 or give online at www.cffoxvalley.org/give-newlondon.   

The Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, a Fox Cities-based nonprofit founded in 1986, helps people provide long-term support for favorite charities through endowments and other charitable funds. The second-largest certified community foundation in Wisconsin, its donors have allowed it to award more than $526 million to nonprofit organizations from more than 1,898 charitable funds. Affiliated community foundations operate in Brillion, Chilton, Clintonville, Shawano and Waupaca. To learn more, go to www.cffoxvalley.org, subscribe to The Loop at www.cffoxvalley.org/loop or connect with us on Facebook and LinkedIn.