About Us

Stevens Point Area Foundation established by a group of visionaries led by Mark Makholm, Gil Oelke, Jack Butler, and John Holdridge. Election of officers held June 30, 1982.

First major gift to the newly formed foundation given in memory of Heidi Evenson. The Heidi Evenson Memorial Scholarship Fund is established.

Stevens Point Area Foundation receives a $103,000 stock gift. Fund One is created to “feed the poor of Portage County.”

Stevens Point Area Foundation changes name to Community Foundation of Portage County and hires Ann Shannon as first executive director. The foundation manages 12 funds and awards $11,000 in grants.

The Women’s Fund establishes a new fund as part of the Community Foundation.

The Community Fund, Green Circle Fund and Environment Funds are established, growing the foundation to 21 charitable funds. $46,000 distributed to the community.

Seed-A-Future Funds are established, giving donors a new way of giving through smaller gifts over time. Foundation assets reach $1 million with 42 funds under management.

Community Foundation establishes 11 new funds and collects $850,820 in new gifts. $73,000 is awarded to the community through grants from foundation funds.

The Community Foundation assets grow to $3 million with 85 funds under management.

Community Foundation of Portage County receives state and national recognition by meeting the National Standards for Community Foundations Documentation of Compliance.

Community Foundation assets top $6 million with 150+ funds under management.

The Community Foundation changes its name from the Community Foundation of Portage County to the Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin to help promote our expansion into Waushara County. Part-time staff increases to four.

Gifts exceed $2 million while grants and scholarships exceed $431,000. Field of Interest Funds become Mission Funds, to better promote their growth. The Living Legacy Circle is created to recognize donors who include the foundation in their estate planning.

The Community Foundation offers its first Waushara County grant from the Geraldine E. Hartford Estate. The C.O.L.L.E.G.E. Scholarship Fund is started and offers scholarships in the 2011 scholarship season.

The Community Foundation grants $986,751 to the community; first-time grants approach $1 million. Helen Godfrey is the first Living Legacy Circle Member to pass away; the gift from her estate is nearly $50,000. Arthur Heinz also dies, bequeathing nearly $4 million to the foundation. The Heinz Living Legacy Circle is created.

The Community Foundation celebrates its 30th anniversary and exceeds $10 million in total assets.

The Community Foundation creates an emergency fund to allow as-needed grants.

The Community Foundation passes another milestone by giving back more than $1 million in a single year.

The Community Foundation assets grow to $18 million with 264 funds under management.

The Community Foundation completes a strategic plan and launches online grants, scholarships, and a donor portal.

The Community Foundation team grows with new positions in Grants & Scholarships and Communications.

The Community Foundation launches new logo and website to enhance services to our community.

The Community Foundation refreshes its Strategic Framework and hires its first Women’s Fund Director.

The Community Foundation revamps its grantmaking program to better serve the community.