Our Shawano Area Community Foundation affiliate partner recently released its 2023 Community Report celebrating charitable giving that’s making a lasting impact.

Bridge the Gap, Inc.

In 2023, the Foundation awarded $428,870 in grants to 102 nonprofit organizations. This total includes $37,000 in grants from its Shawano Area Fund to 17 local nonprofits serving the Shawano area. Bridge the Gap‘s one-to-one mentoring program was among the grant recipients. The organization provides a safe, nonjudgmental environment for those with autism and all abilities to reach their full potential as they journey from childhood through adolescence and into adulthood.

In 2023 the Foundation awarded 56 scholarships totaling $227,500 to area students to help them further their education. The Foundation received $507,950 in contributions increasing assets under management to $12,887,813.

Raquel Strayer

Area residents continue to see the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as many programs that assisted them come to an end, increasing the need for services provided by area organizations, said Raquel Strayer, board chair for the Shawano Area Community Foundation. “Many local community programs and nonprofits are experiencing unusually high demand to help fill the gaps in the area. The task of fighting the challenges of inflation, workforce shortages, economic uncertainty and reduction in government funding sources has led to an increase in funding and service requests,” she said.

Click on the image below to read the 2023 Annual Report.

The Shawano Area Community Foundation is one of five geographic affiliates we partner with in the Fox Valley. Our other partners include Brillion Area Family of Funds, Chilton Area Community Foundation, Clintonville Area Foundation and Waupaca Area Community Foundation.