Small grants, big impact
November 14, 2025
| By La Crosse Community Foundation |
How your giving ignites community change
Sometimes, it doesn’t take a large grant to make a lasting difference.
Through La Crosse Area Community Foundation’s microgrant program, small bursts of funding are enabling local changemakers to turn good ideas into real change — often within weeks, not months. The projects may be modest in scale, but their impact radiates throughout our community, touching lives, lifting spirits, and strengthening connections.
Each story below began with a simple question: What if we could…?
Thanks to the generosity of donors like you, the answer has been a resounding “We can.”
Building bridges through shared stories
At Hamilton Elementary, a districtwide reading project is reminding families that stories have the power to connect us all. With support from a donor-advised fund prompted by a microgrant application, the Hamilton Literacy Resources project is providing books by author Angela Dominguez to students and families across La Crosse — inspiring a love of reading and a sense of belonging that extends beyond the classroom.
In the months ahead, students and families will continue exploring Dominguez’s books together, building anticipation for her upcoming visit and discovering new ways to celebrate reading as a shared experience. Thanks to donors, those shared moments will build bridges across classrooms, cultures, and generations — through the simple joy of a good story. Read “The Stories We Share.”
Helping veterans find their way home
For local veterans struggling with the invisible wounds of service, connection can be life-changing. A recent LACF microgrant is helping the La Crosse Area Veterans Mentor Program strengthen outreach, upgrade technology, and expand awareness — so more veterans can find a mentor who truly understands.
“PTSD isn’t something you can see like a broken arm,” said program founder and retired judge Todd Bjerke. “Veterans have to learn ways to deal with it every day.”
Because of donors’ support, more veterans and families now know where to turn for help — and hope. Read “A Grant That Helps Veterans Find Their Way Back.”
Reimagining justice with compassion
In another corner of our community, the Mental Health Coalition of Greater La Crosse is working to ensure people in crisis receive care instead of punishment. A microgrant made possible the area’s first Sequential Intercept Model Mapping Workshop, bringing together 61 participants — from law enforcement and courts to advocates and families — to identify where intervention can prevent incarceration.
“The jail has become, by default, one of the largest mental-health facilities in our community,” said Executive Director Diana DiazGranados. “That’s not where people belong. They deserve care, not confinement.”
The workshop has already led to focused work groups improving screening, diversion, and crisis-response systems. Read “Building a Better Path.”
Measuring what matters through public art
Not every project funded by a microgrant tackles social systems — some simply lift our spirits. The volunteer-led Onalaska Art Keepers used an LACF microgrant to bring “Calibration,” a shimmering sculpture by artist Luke Achterberg, to the city’s southern gateway.
“It’s not just about putting up art,” said Artistic Director Joyce Diveley. “It’s about bringing a sense of happiness and beauty to people’s lives.”
The light-catching sculpture, reflecting craftsmanship and community, has become a joyful landmark and a testament to what neighbors can create together. Read “Measuring What Matters.”
Small gifts, lasting change
From literacy and mental-health care to veterans’ support and public art, these microgrants prove that meaningful progress often begins with a single idea — one that donors help ignite.
When you give to La Crosse Area Community Foundation, you make these moments possible. Together, we’re building bridges across generations, causes, and communities — creating connections that keep our region strong and thriving.
