The Loop

Perhaps you’ve heard the statistic from the U.S. Surgeon General – loneliness is as lethal as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. While the statistic may shock you, we here at Nonprofit Leadership Initiative (NPLI) recognized the significance of community building and networking long before it became a headline-worthy topic. NPLI’s Three-Prong Approach When NPLI was […]

Hello! My name is Madi Schneider, and I am the newest member of the Community Foundation’s Community Engagement Team! The Foundation’s commitment to helping area nonprofits succeed greatly aligns with my interests and passions which made me incredibly excited to come onboard! I am originally from Appleton, but more recently lived in Minnesota while my […]

Do you know how our youth are doing, as far as mental health and wellness? How can we in the Fox Valley help our teens, and prevent the things that can lead to anxiety or even a crisis? The answers are complex, and challenging. NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) has published a helpful website, […]

Today we’re doing an entire podcast episode about podcasts! Why do people like them so much, and how are organizations using this audio platform to tell their stories in a whole new way? And what do you need to do to start your own podcast? It’s easier than you might think! What is a podcast? […]

Experts say living a life of gratitude is the scientifically proven path to happiness. So, when the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley celebrated its 25th Anniversary on Friday, August 18, it was no surprise to see so many smiling faces amongst the crowd of former and current Club members, donors, Board members, […]

Thirty years ago, the Volunteer Action Council, a network of a dozen volunteer administrators, formed the Volunteer Center of East Central Wisconsin. Their goal was to find a way to help local nonprofit organizations address critical needs in the Fox Cities. With funding from Aid Association for Lutherans and United Way Fox Cities, the Volunteer […]

Being a child of the Civil Rights Era, I saw the power of volunteers and philanthropy helping disadvantaged people. The legislation on equality in the 1960s gave many people, including me, opportunities that my ancestors did not have. But the work is not done, and I have attempted to contribute to the ongoing openness of […]

Things have been busy at Crossfire Ranch and we want to thank the Chilton Area Community Foundation (one of five Community Foundation affiliate partners) for supporting the youth we serve through our mentoring program! For those just learning about Crossfire, we help build resilient youth and change the trajectory of vulnerable youth through equine-assisted mentoring […]

Clintonville Middle School students learned about the stars and galaxies above their heads, and the fossils and the earth below their feet, thanks to a $1,000 grant from the Natural World for Kids Fund within the Clintonville Community Foundation, our regional affiliate partner. Last fall, eighth graders went to Barlow Planetarium at UW-Oshkosh Fox Cities […]

Kayla Hokenstad’s interest in education started as an elementary student, as a serious “basement” educator in play with her sister. That interest grew as she witnessed the difference her teachers made in the lives of her and her classmates. In 2014, Kayla received the Pearl Smith Future Teacher Scholarship, which helped her pursue a Bachelor’s […]