Community Foundation Releases Non-Profits & the Economy Survey Results 

The financial health of the greater Green Bay non-profit sector is improving but fundraising remains the major challenge that most non-profits face. These findings and other important data about the health of the local non-profit sector can be found in the recently released Non-Profits and the Economy Survey in Northeastern Wisconsin report.  Read what the sector says about their overall financial health and outlook, fundraising and donor relations, and demand for services. The report is available online.

The report is based on responses from 69 northeastern Wisconsin non-profits to an online survey, which was conducted in January. Community Foundation President & CEO David Pamperin said that the survey is a helpful indicator of how the local non-profit sector has been impacted by the recession the past few years, how well they are prepared for the future and what the northeastern Wisconsin community can do to help.

The survey results will help donors understand the issues that the non-profit sector faces. The economy is changing every year and donors should note the changing situations of non-profits in their philanthropic giving. The survey will also help non-profits to understand the current state of non-profits in the greater Green Bay area and what issues other local non-profits are facing.

"The performance and health of our non-profits is critical to our overall quality of life," commented Pamperin. "We plan to use the information we've learned from this year's survey to guide us in our support of non-profit organizations in the coming year. We think the survey will help donors understand the issues the non-profit sector faces and it will spur a healthy discussion and exchange of ideas about the important role of non-profits in our community."

Celebrating 20 Years of Philanthropy in the Greater Green Bay Community 

Richard Resch

The Greater Green Bay Community Foundation is celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year. GGBCF filed its Articles of Incorporation in June 1991. In the beginning, a small group of community leaders identified the need, developed the plan, and formed the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation. This article is part of a series that will appear on the Community Foundation website that will profile early Community Foundation leadership and their involvement. Once the Articles of Incorporation were filed, the founding members quickly helped the Community Foundation raise more than $1.0 million in pledges towards endowment funds and administrative expenses.   

"It was important to have a Community Foundation established in Green Bay to bring organizations together and have a structured and analytical way to give money," stated Richard Resch, the initial founding member of the Community Foundation. "My tax attorney Cort Condon and I met with the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region to understand how they operated and what the pros and cons were of a foundation. After the meeting, I knew we needed to bring a community foundation to Green Bay, so I asked Cort to develop the articles of incorporation for the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation."

By the end of the Community Foundation's second fiscal year, assets had grown to more than $3.0 million; a 200% increase in assets gained over the two years. Over the next five years, the Community Foundation continued to grow rapidly and in 1995, assets accrued to more than $10.5 million. By the end of the Community Foundation's 1998 fiscal year, it had amassed more than $22.4 million in funds.  

Resch stated that it was important to have a foundation in Green Bay because it gave the community a focal point for giving outside of, and in addition to, other channels such as United Way. "Philanthropy is important in our community because it's a useful vehicle for targeting specific needs besides just basic needs. The Community Foundation has the structure to target the specific needs, as well as the structure to allow donors to participate and donate money into the community without a large time investment. The foundation does a lot of vetting in the community and donors can trust the work they do and trust that money is being invested properly and that grants are going to good initiatives in the community. The Community Foundation makes donating money to organizations an easy process for donors."

Since its inception in 1991, more than $66.0 million has been granted into the greater Green Bay community. The Community Foundation has received more than $132.0 million in gifts from donors in the community since 1991.

When asked what he thinks the Community Foundation will look like in the future, Resch stated, "In the next ten to twenty years, the Community Foundation will be playing a much bigger role in our community, and it should, because the Foundation has a great structure in place. Non-profits should focus on their work and follow their mission and let the Community Foundation help them with the financial side."

Currently, the Community Foundation has almost $70.0 million in assets and helps to improve the quality of life in Brown, Kewaunee and Oconto Counties. More than 500 funds have been established and thousands of grants have been dispersed annually with expected continued growth.

Resch added, "When the Community Foundation was organized, I had no idea and couldn't dream that it would reach assets greater than $70.0 million. I hope the foundation continues to grow and serve the needs of not just big organizations, but smaller organizations as well."

The LIFE Study: Looking at Life in Brown County 

The Brown County LIFE (Leading Indicators for Excellence) Study is moving into its final analysis and publication phase this summer. GGBCF is leading and sponsoring the project along with the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and the Brown County United Way. The University of Wisconsin - Green Bay (UWGB) Center for Public Affairs and the St. Norbert College Survey Center are conducting the study.

The purpose of the study is to identify and understand our most pressing needs and the positive attributes that contribute to our overall quality of life in Brown County. Similar studies are being conducted concurrently in the Fox Cities and Oshkosh and together the effort will result in a Regional LIFE Report so community funders and leaders can see where there are similar issues and opportunities.

Last fall a survey of Brown County community leaders was conducted. This winter a survey sent to community residents was conducted. Response rates were so strong that the margin of error is 5% or less. UWGB is also convening focus groups of experts in key areas, such as work, home, recreation, learning, environment and arts and culture. Results from these focus groups will help the LIFE Study identify and select leading indicators and measure progress toward improvements in Brown County in the future.   

This LIFE Study is an initiative for the for-profit, non-profit, and government sectors of our community to understand local and regional needs so that resources can be used together and be aggregated and allocated for investments. You, our donors, are creating community impacts with your giving and this LIFE Study will offer you new tools to support your philanthropic passions.

The LIFE Study will provide us with the most comprehensive view that has ever been taken of the Brown County area. The report will be released after Labor Day 2011. You will be kept apprised through our GGBCF website and future e-newsletters.  

More than $200,000 in Scholarships Given to Area Students

Springtime is a time when graduates are making choices about furthering their education. More than forty scholarship funds are part of Community Foundation assets and they offer students funding for their education. The Community Foundation is pleased to announce that more than $200,000 in scholarships will be given to students from the greater Green Bay area this spring.  Students receiving these awards will be attending a range of post-secondary institution, studying in a variety of fields for the 2011-2012 school year.

One of the forty scholarship funds of the Community Foundation that is assisting students this year is the 2011 Pomp's Tire Scholarship.

"The winners of these scholarships represent dependents of Pomp's Tire employee's, who are current year high school graduates or students who are presently enrolled in College," stated Cathie Day, the Community Foundation's Scholarship administrator. "We received many excellent applications again this year and our selection committee members had a difficult time choosing the final Scholarship Recipients. This year we have selected five students to receive scholarship awards, but we wish we had the funding to provide assistance to all of the students who apply." 

Below are the names of this year's scholars, their high schools, and their intended colleges.

$2,000 per year  

Brent Jones, New Prague, MN. He is the son of Pomp's Employee Deb Jones Palma. Brent will be attending University of WI - River Falls pursuing a career in a Land Use planning.
Megan McCoy, Sioux Falls, SD. She is the daughter Pomp's Employee Jim McCoy.  Megan will be attending South Dakota State University.

$500 per year  Kaci Vandenheuvel, Cannon Falls, MN.She is the daughter of Pomp's Employee Joel Vandenheuvel.  Kaci plans to attend Winona State University pursuing a career in Nursing. 
Carolina Soria, Aurora, IL.She is the daughter of Pomp's Employee Martin Soria Salcido. Carolina plans to attend Aurora pursuing a career in Business Administration.     

$500 per semester   Adam Waerzeggers, Green Bay, WI. He is the son Pomp's Employee Bill Waerzeggers.Adam is attending Marquette University pursing a Mechanical Engineering degree.

For more information about scholarship funds and the next round of available scholarship applications available in November, go to our website at www.ggbcf.org.

Upcoming Grant Deadlines

Please note the upcoming grant deadlines before the next edition of the e-newsletter.

• Women's Fund of Greater Green Bay: Deadline June 15, 2011
• Crime Prevention Fund for Greater Green Bay: Deadline June 15, 2011
• Funds for Greater Green Bay: Deadline October 15, 2011
• School Spirit Educational Endowment: Deadline October 15, 2011

Use the GGBCF Website to Assist with Your Philanthropic Giving