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The generosity of the Fox Valley region has shown through once again in the results of the Columbus Survey, the leading national measure of community foundation charitable activity, which shows the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region was the 51st largest in the United States last year.

The ranking puts the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley region and our $444 million in assets in the company of community foundations in much more populous areas, including the Greater New Orleans Community Foundation and the Dallas Foundation. We are Wisconsin’s second-largest, trailing only the Greater Milwaukee Foundation.

The annual industry report prepared by CF Insights gathered information on 238 certified community foundations nationally. The survey was started by the Columbus (Ohio) Foundation in 1988 and administered by CF Insights since 2008.

Curt Detjen

“The Columbus Survey shares with the entire nation that our Fox Valley is home to extraordinarily charitable people,” Curt Detjen, president and CEO, says. “We genuinely care about one another and give generously to make our communities better for today and into the future. We’re honored to serve, and proud of the ranking that shows the spirit of the Fox Valley region. Philanthropy is critical to our quality of life, and we encourage more to join with us in building a flourishing community.”

Jon Stellmacher, Community Foundation board chair, attributes our success to strong leadership and a staff of skilled, expert professionals.

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“Over its 34 years, the Community Foundation has been a reliable, trusted partner for generous members of the Fox Cities community,” he says. “Success is based on feeling confidence and comfort that our collective philanthropic dollars will make a meaningful difference in the lives of donors and recipients.”

The report shows giving of $96.44 per capita for the population of about 390,000, ranking 36th nationally in per-capita giving. The Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region also ranks 36th in number of transactions (total of gifts received and grants awarded). The average transaction was $7,771. Our service area includes Outagamie, Calumet, Shawano and Waupaca counties, plus the Neenah-Menasha area of Winnebago County.

Nationally, the assets of community foundations responding to the survey grew by 8.4%, from $86.8 billion in 2018 to $94.1 billion in 2019.

Check out our report to the community! What does a Community Foundation do? Glad you asked! Learn more here.