It is an exciting time for the Black River Falls Area Foundation. Over the past few years, we’ve welcomed several new faces to our Board of Trustees, each bringing fresh energy and valuable expertise. I am pleased to recognize and welcome Mary Beth White-Jacobs, Jack Taylor, Jim Hoffman, Paul Millis, Marianne Torkelson, and Dr. Carol Martin to the Board of Trustees and thank them for joining Trustees Dennis Young, Dr. Nick Kitowski, Kristi Hanson, Ashley Ahl, and me to help guide the Foundation forward.
We continue to celebrate the vision and dedication of our founders and long-time leaders. With the retirements of Gil Homstad in 2021, Dave Hoffman and Mike Dougherty in 2023, and Kay Finch in 2024, we continue to honor their enduring
legacy and the foundation they built for us to continue strengthening our community.
The past four years have been marked by meaningful progress and growth. With the help of a generous donor, we invested in new cloud-based software that transformed the way we operate, giving Trustees and fund advisors 24/7 access to records, providing online giving opportunities, and streamlining accounting processes. In partnership with Baker Tilly, we conducted a full review of our fund agreements, ensuring that our policies, procedures, and documentation meet current regulations and best practices.
In 2024, we began work on a long-range strategic plan. Under the guidance of Jamie Schloegel of Accelerated Nonprofit Strategies LLC, we have engaged in surveys, interviews, and listening sessions to hear directly from Trustees and community members. This process is helping us clarify our mission, evaluate our practices, and identify opportunities for future impact. Our September 2025 Strategic Planning Retreat is an important next step in shaping that vision.
Meanwhile, the work of the Foundation continues to touch lives every day. In 2025 alone, we awarded 56 scholarships
to graduating seniors and alumni totaling $99,000. In addition to our 2024 FRIENDS donations, 13 Donor Advised Funds
contributed their 2024 earnings to the 2025 Annual Grant Application Program making a total of $116,500 available.
Grants were awarded to 16 local non-profit organizations to assist them in the great work that they do. Together with
our donors, the Foundation also awarded over $292,000 in grants to a dozen local community organizations through donor-advised disbursements. These numbers reflect more than dollars; they represent opportunities created, partnerships strengthened, and a community invested in itself.
As I begin my term as Chairperson, I am both humbled and energized by the responsibility of building on the Foundation’s strong history while preparing for its future. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, thank you to our donors, partners, and community members who make this work possible. Together, we are ensuring that the Black River Falls Area Foundation remains a trusted steward of charitable giving and a catalyst for positive change for generations to come.
Respectfully,
A. Brad Chown
Chairperson, Board of Trustees