The Black River Falls Area Foundation was established to help people give back to their communities by meeting their charitable objectives in the most flexible, easy and efficient ways possible. The Foundation features convenience, tax benefits, personalized service, and knowledge of community needs.
• We build charitable funds that grow and benefit Black River Falls area Communities.
• We help donors create permanent individual or family legacies.
• We offer donor involvement in selecting charities.
• We are known for prudent stewardship and investment practices.
• We are a local organization meeting a broad range of changing local needs.
• We provide a simple way to fulfill multiple charitable interests, with low-cost administration.
• We deliver personalized donor service and we are flexible and responsive to unique needs.
• We accept a wide variety of assets.
• We offer maximum tax advantages.
• We will preserve donor intent even when community needs and organizations change.
• We will preserve donor anonymity if asked to do so.
A fund may be established in an individual donor’s name, a spouse’s name, company name or any other title you desire. The Foundation offers you the opportunity to form a fund and will advise you on the type of fund most advantageous to you and your family or business.
Designated Funds
A Designated Fund allows donors to select a specific charity or charities to receive annual, long-term distributions of interest earned by the fund. The fund can be named after the donor. We regularly review designated charities to make sure that grants to these groups remain relevant over time and responsive to changing circumstances.
Scholarship Funds
Scholarship Funds enable individuals, families, companies, and organizations to help students pursue their academic goals. We administer the scholarship and you may choose to determine the guidelines. Recipients are selected by both school and foundation representatives.
Field of Interest Funds
A Field of Interest Fund allows you to support areas of specific interest such as the arts, human services, education, health, the environment, the elderly or other interests you may have. Our Trustees make grants to support programs and projects within the field of interest you have specified.
Pass-Through Funds
Pass-Through Funds are wholly expendable to grant recipients over a period of time as determined by the agreement between the donor and the Foundation. They may be discretionary, designated or field of interest funds.
Donor-Advised Funds
Donor-Advised Funds allow donors and a second generation to advise our Trustees on the distribution of funds to specific eligible charities. The recommendations reflect the donor’s interests and the donor may make recommendations at any time during the year. Grants can be made outside of Jackson County. Donor-Advised Funds may be endowed or pass-through, discretionary or field of interest funds.
Unrestricted Funds
Unrestricted Funds allow the Trustees the greatest flexibility to award grants to projects or programs that have the greatest need at any given time. The fund can be named for the donor.
Agency Funds
Agency Funds enable an agency to establish its own fund with the trustees handling the investment and management of the assets, distributing the earnings to the agency.
Legacy Funds
Legacy Funds recognize individuals who wish to benefit our community through careful estate planning. It can be through a bequest in your will or by naming the Foundation as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy, retirement plan or trust.
Black River Falls Educational Enrichment Fund
An idea of the fund was initiated by Al Lahmayer in 2005. After meetings, discussions and a commitment of a donation from Al and Jeannette Lahmayer, the fund opened in 2006. Funds are used for the purchase of goods and/or services which will enrich the educational and extracurricular experiences of students within the Black River Falls School District.
City of Black River Falls – Field of Honor/Veterans Park Maintenance and Improvement Fund
In 1999, with the support of the American Legion Post #200, the DAV Chapter 61, and the AMVETS Post #5494, the VFW Post #1959 requested the City of Black River Falls establish the former Swimming Pool Park as a Veterans Park. The request was accepted. A committee was formed and the fund drive began. The Field of Honor/Veterans Park Maintenance and Improvement Fund was opened with the Foundation in 2003 and earnings on the fund may be used for maintenance, improvements or repairs at the Field of Honor Park.
Developmental Disabilities Fund
The fund was opened in 1988 with earnings to be used annually to help the developmentally disabled in Jackson County.
Foundation Trail Maintenance and Improvement Fund
The fund was established in 2002 and 2003 by generous community donors. In 2004, the first Foundation Trail Mainte-nance Fund Walk, called “The Trail to Better Health,” was held to raise funds for trail maintenance and improvements. The walk is now an annual event. In 2006, to help maintain this community asset, the Foundation announced a two-fold project; 1) to raise funds to increase the existing Trail Maintenance Fund so that it can become a permanent funding source; 2) to develop a small and attractive Park along the trail.
Jackson County Humane Society Jane Erickson Memorial Fund
In November 2004, JCHS received a donation from Jane Erickson’s Estate. Ms. Erickson was a long-time supporter of the Jackson County Humane Society who felt strongly about humane treatment towards animals, responsible pet ownership, and reducing the number of unwanted companion animals by using incentives to alter pets. In honor of Ms. Erickson, the JCHS invested a portion of these funds to use for future endeavors that may be necessary to maintain the strength and quality of JCHS mission.
Mills Park Maintenance and Improvement Fund
With donations by family and friends, the fund was established in 2002 in memory of Tom Mills, who was instrumental in arranging for the donation of Mills Park to the City of Black River Falls by the Mills Family. Its purpose is to pay for periodic maintenance of the Park required to keep it attractive and in good condition. The Foundation may also consider requests from the fund for new improvements such as additional play equipment.
Skyline
- Club House Fund
- Golf Course Fund
- Legacy Fund
Skyline has been a central part of the lives of many people in the Black River Falls area. Families have played golf, dined and held social functions to celebrate graduations, weddings and class reunions at the Skyline. Each year Skyline receives requests to accept contributions from families for whom Skyline represents a memory of some happy event. 2007 marked the 50th Anniversary of the Skyline Golf Course. To commemorate this milestone these three Skyline funds were created with the Foundation into which contributions could be accepted to help guarantee that Skyline continue as a community resource for many years to come.
Mary Van Gorden Endowment Fund for Black River Falls Public Library – History Room
The fund was established by Mary in August of 1995 for the purpose of providing financial support for the Library’s Jackson County History Room. Earnings from the fund are used for; a) salary and fringe benefit costs of any paid employee(s) within the Room; b) educational experiences for the Room’s paid employee(s) and/or volunteers which will enhance the value to the Room.
Grace Webb Memorial Library Fund
In 1986 Grace Webb’s sister, nieces and nephews established the fund in her memory. Grace retired from many years of teaching in Jackson County schools. Annual earnings from the fund are used to purchase materials to enhance the enjoyment of reading by elementary school students in Jackson County.
Gifts to any of these funds are welcomed and appreciated.
For information on how you may start one of these funds, call the Black River Falls Area Foundation at 715- 284-3113.