The Loop

Hello! My name is Hope Schaefer (she/her) and I’m thrilled to be a part of the Nonprofit Leadership Initiative (NPLI) team as Program and Communications Manager! My official start date was May 1, but I’ve been part of the NPLI community for several years. I’m a graduate of the 2019-2020 Leadership Institute, I’ve attended many […]

When most people think about hunger, they imagine it in some far-off place. But hunger is right here in our communities – especially the rural small towns in the Fox Valley. More than 427,000 Wisconsinites have a hard time getting enough food to meet their basic needs, a situation commonly known as food insecurity. That’s […]

Job training that includes behavioral health is one of many ways Rawhide helps to heal and support the youth they serve. Often, the kids who need help the most are denied community programs because of their past. They may not get the support they need to learn career skills or receive technical training — leading […]

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is now the most common mental health problem in the United States, affecting 16.5% of the population. Applied across the greater Fox Valley and surrounding communities, about 83,000 of our Northeast Wisconsin neighbors are impacted by SUD. And consider that 1 in 8 children live in a household with at least […]

In the Fox Cities and Northeast Wisconsin, there’s an opportunity for growth in the housing sector. While recent studies reveal that only a quarter of the required housing is currently being built, this presents a chance for innovative solutions and expansion. By actively engaging with this issue, we not only cultivate a more dynamic community […]

The Fox Valley is home to an abundance of natural beauty and the Environmental Stewardship Fund within the Community Foundation continues to support organizations and efforts that increase access and inclusion in the outdoors so more people can enjoy it. The Environmental Stewardship Fund was created in 2006 by 54 generous donors with an interest […]

Unsheltered homelessness has increased by 70%, notably affecting families and the elderly, mainly due to rising rents. The number of homeless students in Appleton Area School District has exceeded 500 this school year, surpassing last year. To help address this increased need, Pillars, which provides shelter and affordable housing and other basic needs in the […]

Retirement life is never boring for Eugene and Sue Doell, who have relationships with several funds at the Community Foundation. The retired Appleton couple began their love story after meeting at a funeral home. “I had worked with Eugene’s cousin’s dad who had died, and we met at the Wichman Funeral Home,” smiles Sue. The […]

You can’t talk with anyone in the Fox Valley – or anywhere in Wisconsin – without hearing about how child care challenges are affecting families, employers, the economy, and child care providers. Child care isn’t just a convenience; it’s a cornerstone of healthy child development and a vital driver of economic productivity, enabling parents and […]

Hello! My name is Micah Beck, and I recently joined the Community Foundation as a Community Engagement Coordinator. Before joining the Community Foundation, I received my Master of Public Service from the University of Arkansas-Clinton School of Public Service. My graduate education focused on program planning and evaluation in the nonprofit/public sector, skills that align […]