Walter L. Rugland

Did you know the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region was created in 1986 with $5,000 Walter L. Rugland received as part of the first “Community Service Award” presented by Aid Association for Lutherans now known as Thrivent? With this award, Walter wanted to pursue his dream of a “catalyst for change” working across the region. By helping to create the Community Foundation, he achieved his dream. Since then, we have grown to be the second-largest certified community foundation in Wisconsin, and among the top 10 percent nationwide!  

Volunteers work to restore Stony Brook in Calumet County

“Generous donors through the Community Foundation have enabled us to award cumulative grants totaling $485 million since our founding in 1986. Each gift no matter the size makes a difference to the nonprofits who receive them and the people they serve,” said Curt Detjen, President and CEO. “Our grants address a wide range of community priorities that contribute to quality of life, education, environment, health and human services, arts and culture, and community improvement.” 

During National Community Foundation Week Nov. 12-18, we celebrate the efforts of all community foundations in Wisconsin and around our country who are making a tremendous impact in their communities. Community foundations represent one of the fastest-growing forms of philanthropy. Every state is home to at least one community foundation working to advance solutions on a wide range of social issues. 

Lisa Strandberg, Executive Director of Pillars accepts grant check from Curt Detjen, President/CEO of the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region

Community Foundations help people, businesses, and organizations make a difference by supporting nonprofits working on the causes the donor cares about most, during and after their lifetimes. We help people of all ages create charitable funds with us that award grants to nonprofit organizations across the Fox Valley region and beyond.

Grand opening of Matt’s Field of Dreams, a new inclusive playground at Nennig Park in Chilton

Our affiliate partners work in Brillion, Chilton, Clintonville, Shawano, and Waupaca. The work we do strengthens the communities we serve for current and future generations by helping people make a difference in the lives of all. When engaging in our communities, we listen, learn, and seek to understand the avenues of opportunity where philanthropy can help bring about positive change with community-wide issues. These include affordable and accessible childcare, housing, mental health support, and trail development. We are community problem solvers, educators, inclusive partners, and impact-makers.  

Isabella, recipient of the Miller Family Music Education Scholarship, during one of her performances

In 2023, $32 million in grants were awarded from charitable funds with us to 1,548 nonprofits. This impressive total included 510 scholarships totaling $1.5 million. To learn more about our impact read our 2023 Report to the Community.  You will find that together, we flourish! 

“We are mission focused,” said Tammy Geenen, Vice President of Community Engagement. “To ensure all community members have access to information and insights that can spark collaborative decision-making to improve the health and wellbeing for all the Foundation is investing in the new Fox Valley Data Exchange (FVDEX). This centralized data platform makes public and community health facts across Calumet, Outagamie, and Winnebago counties accessible, easy to use, and actionable.”

Michelle Lippert Hardwick, Director of Gift Planning, speaks with members of the Himebaugh Legacy Circle celebration

Each of us in the Fox Valley region continues to be needed to help create the vibrant community we want today and for generations to come. To learn more about how we can help you achieve your charitable giving goals both today and after your lifetime, please call us at 920.830.1290 or email [email protected]. Together, we flourish.