Mission
& History

La Crosse Area Community Foundation connects donors, nonprofits, and community partners to strengthen the quality of life in La Crosse County. We steward charitable funds, award grants and scholarships, and support local organizations working to build a welcoming, thriving community.

Our mission is to invest in communities, for good, forever. We help generous people support the causes they care about and ensure charitable resources grow to benefit La Crosse County for generations.

Trust-based philanthropy guides how we partner with nonprofits. It means reducing unnecessary burdens, supporting organizational health, being transparent in our processes, and building long-term, collaborative relationships.

We work to ensure that everyone in La Crosse County feels welcome, valued, and connected. Our grantmaking, partnerships, and donor services reflect a commitment to belonging, thoughtful language, and listening to community voices.

La Crosse Area Community Foundation was established in 1930, making it one of Wisconsin’s earliest community foundations. For more than 90 years, we have helped donors create lasting impact close to home.

Residents across La Crosse County benefit through grants to nonprofits, scholarships for students, and community initiatives that address local needs and strengthen social capital. Donors also benefit from trusted guidance, flexible giving tools, and meaningful ways to support the community.

Donors can create donor-advised funds, designated funds, field-of-interest funds, scholarship funds, and other charitable vehicles. Each option provides different ways to support the community now and in the future.

As a community foundation, we focus on long-term stewardship. Gifts are invested, grow over time, and generate ongoing support for local nonprofits. We also offer local expertise, personal guidance, and a commitment to elevating community connection and shared responsibility.

We offer competitive grants, operational support, coaching, training opportunities, and resources through our Nonprofit Resource Center. We also provide guidance on fiscal sponsorship and help organizations build sustainability.

You can explore ways to give, browse local nonprofit resources, read donor and grant stories, or contact our staff for personalized guidance. We welcome conversations with donors, nonprofits, advisors, and anyone interested in giving back to the community.