INCOURAGE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC
478 E GRAND AVENUE NO 200, WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI 54494 www.incouragecf.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: FOUNDED AS A TRADITIONAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION IN 1993, INCOURAGE HAS EVOLVED INTO AN ENTREPRENEURIAL NONPROFIT, DEDICATED TO AND LED BY THE PEOPLE OF CENTRAL WISCONSIN. OVER TWO DECADES, INCOURAGE HAS ADAPTED ITS WORK TO MEET THE COMPLEX NEEDS OF A REGION RECOVERING FROM SIGNIFICANT DISINVESTMENT. TODAY, INCOURAGE PLAYS MANY ROLES IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: STEWARD, ADVOCATE, CONVENER, MODERATOR, TRAINER, RESEARCHER, GRANT-MAKER, INVESTOR, AND FUNDRAISER. INCOURAGE OPERATES FROM A CENTRAL BELIEF THAT PEOPLE ARE ITS MOST IMPORTANT ASSET AND THAT POSITIVE COMMUNITY CHANGE HAPPENS WHEN SYSTEMATIC BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION AND ENGAGEMENT ARE ELIMINATED SO THAT EVERY PERSON AND THE COMMUNITY CAN REALIZE THE POWER OF THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.

GUIDED BY VALUES OF EQUITY, OPPORTUNITY, SHARED STEWARDSHIP, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE, INCOURAGE PARTNERS WITH RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND CIVIC LEADERS IN RURAL CENTRAL WISCONSIN TO CO-CREATE AN INCLUSIVE, ADAPTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY THAT WORKS WELL FOR ALL PEOPLE. INCOURAGE IS A VALUES-LED, USER-CENTERED, PLACE-BASED PHILANTHROPIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION THAT PROMOTES COMMUNITY-LED PHILANTHROPY IN FURTHERANCE OF BUILDING COMMUNITY.

STRATEGIC PHILANTHROPY: INCOURAGE PROMOTES COLLECTIVE AND STRATEGIC PHILANTHROPY PRINCIPALLY IN THE SOUTH WOOD COUNTY AREA IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN. THIS RURAL AREA INCLUDES TEN MUNICIPALITIES LOCATED IN PARTS OF WOOD AND ADAMS COUNTIES, WITH A COMBINED POPULATION OF ABOUT 45,000. IN 2019, 206 GRANTS WERE APPROVED (EXCLUDING AGENCY GRANTS SUBJECT TO FAS 136) BENEFITTING 95 TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS. IN ADDITION, STARTING IN 2017, SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS, RATHER THAN BEING ADMINISTERED AND PAID INTERNALLY BY INCOURAGE, ARE INSTEAD ADMINISTERED THROUGH INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP AND TUITION SERVICES, A THIRD-PARTY SCHOLARSHIP ADMINISTRATOR. THE 177 SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED IN 2019, TOTALED $159,750 AND BENEFITTED 151 RECIPIENTS. THIS AMOUNT IS REFLECTED AS A GRANT TO INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP AND TUITION SERVICES ON SCHEDULE I. INCOURAGE ALSO HAS SEVERAL FUNDS THAT BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY BY DIRECTLY SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS A DRUG COURT, FIRE FIGHTERS AND VETERANS MEMORIALS, A COMMUNITY CHOIR, ZOO PROGRAMS, A HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE PLAYGROUND, VARIOUS COMMUNITY CAPITAL CAMPAIGNS (I.E. A SHORT TRACK RACING MEMORIAL AND A RESPITE RETREAT FOR THOSE SUFFERING FROM A LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESS), ETC. THROUGH ITS "WHAT IF" GRANTS, INCOURAGE HAS FUNDED COMMUNITY RESIDENT INITIATED PROJECTS SUCH AS SUPPORTING THE SEED TO TABLE EXPERIENCE (CREATING AWARENESS AROUND SEEDS USED TO GROW FOOD), RAPIDS AREA VOLLEYBALL FOR EVERYONE (RAVE), AND YOUTH OFF-ROAD RIDERS (RIDING CLINICS TO FOSTER INCLUSIVE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES). INCOURAGE'S GRANTMAKING STRATEGIES ARE ALIGNED WITH THE MISSION AND VALUES DRIVEN PROGRAMS ALSO NOTED IN PART III LINES 1, 4B, 4C AND 4D.

ALIGNMENT OF COMMUNITY CAPITALS: RECOGNIZING THAT GRANTS ALONE CANNOT SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF AN INNOVATIVE, EMERGING ECONOMY, INCOURAGE HAS COMMITTED TO ALIGN AND LEVERAGE ALL OF ITS CAPITALS, INCLUDING MORAL, HUMAN, SOCIAL, INTELLECTUAL, REPUTATIONAL, NATURAL AND FINANCIAL, TO ADVANCE ITS MISSION. INCOURAGE OPERATES WITH A STRATEGY THAT EMBRACES INTENTIONAL FURTHER DEVELOPMENT AND DEPLOYMENT OF VALUES-ALIGNED, PLACE-BASED INVESTMENTS OF ITS FINANCIAL ASSETS, SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS MISSION, IMPACT, OR COMMUNITY INVESTING. CURRENT MISSION ALIGNED INVESTMENTS INCLUDE INSURED DEPOSITS IN LOCAL BANKS AND CREDIT UNIONS AND FIXED INCOME INVESTMENTS IN REGIONAL HIGH-PERFORMING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS (CDFI'S) THAT PROVIDE FINANCING TO REGIONAL BUSINESSES, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IN 2017 INCOURAGE DEVELOPED AND LAUNCHED A PASSIVE EQUITY INDEX FUND CALLED THE WISCONSIN SHARED STEWARDSHIP EQUITIES FUND ("WSSEF"). IT INCLUDES A CUSTOMIZED PORTFOLIO OF PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANIES THAT TILTS TOWARD COMPANIES THAT ARE BASED IN OR EMPLOY PEOPLE IN WISCONSIN. IN ADDITION, THE WSSEF ALLOWS FOR PROXY VOTING AND SHAREHOLDER DIALOGUE TO ENCOURAGE RESPONSIBLE PRACTICES AND BUSINESS GROWTH IN WISCONSIN. IN 2018, INCOURAGE, ALONG WITH FIVE OTHER FOUNDATIONS, FOUNDED THE WISCONSIN IMPACT INVESTING COLLABORATIVE, AN EFFORT TO HELP A WIDE VARIETY OF INVESTORS LEARN ABOUT AND JOIN WITH OTHERS IN INVESTING IN INCLUSIVE, VIBRANT AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN'S URBAN, RURAL AND TRIBAL AREAS. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COLLABORATION AT WWW.WI3C.ORG. TRIBUNE BUILDING - AN ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY HUB FOR SOUTHERN WOOD COUNTY AND CENTRAL WISCONSIN: INCOURAGE'S COMMITMENT TO PLACE-BASED INVESTING AND TO USER-CENTERED DECISION MAKING FOR SOUTHERN WOOD COUNTY'S FUTURE IS SYMBOLIZED BY THE CONTINUING RE-DEVELOPMENT OF THE FORMER DAILY TRIBUNE BUILDING, WHICH INCOURAGE PURCHASED THROUGH ITS SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION, COMMUNITY PROPERTY, INC., IN DECEMBER OF 2012. A HISTORIC LOCAL PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE BANKS OF THE WISCONSIN RIVER IN DOWNTOWN WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WISCONSIN, FROM THE BEGINNING, THE TRIBUNE BUILDING PROJECT, (THE "TRIBUNE") HAS BEEN ABOUT MUCH MORE THAN REDEVELOPING A BUILDING. IT IS A DEMONSTRATION OF A USER-CENTERED PROCESS TOWARD REALIZING INCOURAGE'S VISION OF PARTNERING WITH RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND CIVIC LEADERS IN RURAL CENTRAL WISCONSIN TO CO-CREATE AN INCLUSIVE, ADAPTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY THAT WORKS WELL FOR ALL PEOPLE. THE REDEVELOPED FACILITY WILL BE AN ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY HUB TO SERVE AS A LABORATORY FOR INNOVATION FOR SOUTHERN WOOD COUNTY AND CENTRAL WISCONSIN WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON THE NEEDS OF RURAL COMMUNITIES. IT WILL SERVE AS: AN ENTREPRENEURIAL AND WORKFORCE SUPPORT CENTER, A FOCAL POINT OF REGIONAL COLLABORATION AND INNOVATION AMONG MAJOR INSTITUTIONAL DRIVERS OF ECONOMIC CHANGE, AND A DYNAMIC COMMUNITY PLACE FOR WORK, PLAY, AND COMMERCE. INCOURAGE ENGAGED OVER 2,000 RESIDENTS IN THE PLANNING AND DECISION MAKING PROCESS. THE TRIBUNE HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO REFLECT RESIDENT PRIORITIES AND CAPITALIZE ON COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL ASSETS. PHASE ONE IN 2013 AND 2014, CONSISTED OF FOUR PUBLIC MEETINGS WHERE EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY WAS INVITED TO SHARE THEIR IDEAS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE SPACE, INCLUDING ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS TO SHIFT THEIR THINKING FROM "ME" TO "WE". PHASE TWO IN 2014, CONSISTED OF SEVEN PUBLIC MEETINGS WHEREBY THE COMMUNITY WAS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE DESIGN AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THE FACILITY. PHASE THREE IN 2015 AND 2016, CONSISTED OF TEN PUBLIC MEETINGS IN WHICH PARTICIPANTS FOCUSED ON DEEPENING RELATIONSHIPS AND FURTHER DEFINING PROGRAMMING WITHIN THE FACILITY, AND DEVELOPING RESIDENT-LED FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP REALIZE THE BUILDING. IN 2017 AND 2018 COMMUNITY MEMBERS EXPLORED HOW SIMILAR PROJECTS IN OTHER REGIONS DEVELOPED AND FUNDRAISING EFFORTS AT THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL EXPANDED. IN 2018 AND 2019 FURTHER COLLABORATIONS WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS IN REGIONAL ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION AND GROWTH WERE ACTIVELY PURSUED. IN 2019, THE STATE OF WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED A PROPOSED $3 MILLION INVESTMENT IN THE TRIBUNE'S FUTURE RECONSTRUCTION, AND INCOURAGE AND THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-STEVENS POINT ANNOUNCED A COLLABORATION TO PROVIDE EXPERTISE FOR SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC CHANGE IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN. THE PARTNERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES WILL ALIGN UNIVERSITY RESOURCES TO SUPPORT INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY IN THE TRIBUNE BUILDING.TO DATE, OVER 2,000 RESIDENTS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THIS MULTI-YEAR PLANNING PROCESS, INCLUDING WORKING TOGETHER TO PRIORITIZE END USE IDEAS THAT WILL CELEBRATE LOCAL ASSETS, CONNECT RESIDENTS, AND ACT AS A CATALYST FOR FUTURE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT. AT ITS CORE, THE TRIBUNE WILL BE A TRUE COMMUNITY SOCIAL ENTERPRISE FOCUSED ON CULTIVATING ENTREPRENEURS AND GROWING A SUSTAINABLE LOCAL ECONOMY. (SEE INCOURAGECF.ORG/LEAD/TRIBUNE-BUILDING, FOR MORE).BLUEPRINTS FOR TOMORROW TRAINING PROGRAM: REALIZING THAT BUILDING A COMMUNITY WITH A LOCAL, INCLUSIVE, SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY WILL TAKE INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS WORKING TOGETHER IN NEW AND DIFFERENT WAYS, INCOURAGE OPERATED AND LED BLUEPRINTS FOR TOMORROW, A 25-MONTH USDA-SUPPORTED PROGRAM HELD IN 2016-2018, TO BUILD NETWORKS, VISION AND SKILLS NEEDED TO LEAD A NEW REGIONAL ECONOMY BASED UPON THE VALUES OF EQUITY, OPPORTUNITY AND SHARED STEWARDSHIP. THE CURRICULUM INCLUDED: ADAPTIVE LEADERSHIP; IMPACT INVESTING AND FINANCING; COLLABORATIVE DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES; AND LOCAL, INCLUSIVE, AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIES; WITH SIX LOCAL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS PARTICIPATING TOGETHER IN THE INAUGURAL PROGRAM. BY COMBINING TRAINING, COACHING AND COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE WITH EVOLVING DESIGN AND FINANCE TOOLS, BLUEPRINTS IS HELPING OUR COMMUNITY'S INSTITUTIONS DO BUSINESS IN NEW AND DIFFERENT WAYS, ENSURING THAT THEY ARE PREPARED TO SUPPORT AN ENTREPRENEURIAL CULTURE SHAPED BY RESIDENT PARTICIPATION. (SEE INCOURAGECF.ORG/LEAD/BLUEPRINTS-FOR-TOMORROW, FOR MORE). TOOLKIT FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES: IN THE FALL OF 2018, BUILDING UPON THE RESIDENT-LED DESIGN PROCESS FOR THE TRIBUNE, INCOURAGE BEGAN CONVENING A DIVERSE CIRCLE OF 22 RESIDENTS FROM OUR REGION TO FORM THE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES WORKING GROUP. IN 2018 AND 2019 THIS GROUP HAS ENGAGED RESIDENTS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY TO CO-CREATE A "BLUEPRINT" FOR THE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY THAT OUR REGION CAN BECOME. THE BLUEPRINT WILL ALSO INFORM THE PRIORITIES AND DIRECTION FOR THE PARTNERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES BETWEEN INCOURAGE AND UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-STEVENS POINT NOTED EARLIER. TO HELP DESIGN A PROCESS OF CUTTING-EDGE CO-CREATION, INCOURAGE IS COLLABORATING WITH JOANNA CEA AND JESS RIMINGTON, WHOSE WORK AND RESEARCH AS VISITING SCHOLARS AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY'S GLOBAL PROJECTS CENTER IS REPRESENTED IN THE STANFORD SOCIAL INNOVATION REVIEW ARTICLE, CREATING BREAKOUT INNOVATION, AND FOCUSES ON COLLABORATIVE PROCESSES FOR COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION. TOGETHER WE ARE FACILITATING A PROCESS THAT PLACES RESIDENTS IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO IDENTIFY A SET OF PRACTICES TO REALIZE OUR COMMUNITY'S VISION OF A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE. REALIZING THE POWER OF OUR POTENTIAL IS AT THE HEART OF WHAT INSPIRES INCOURAGE TO KEEP PUSHING THE ENVELOPE OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE IN OUR REGION, AND TO CONTINUE TO EXPLORE WHAT OUR ROLE SHOULD BE AS A COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OPERATING BY AND FOR THE PEOPLE.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY PROSPERITY BUILT ON VALUING WORKERS, SUPPORTING LOCAL EMPLOYERS, AND INVESTING IN ECONOMIC GROWTH, BETWEEN 2008 AND 2016 INCOURAGE, AS ONE OF THE FIRST RURAL ORGANIZATIONS NATIONWIDE CHOSEN BY THE NATIONAL FUND FOR WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS (NFWS), LED A PROJECT SITE THROUGH ITS IMPLEMENTATION PARTNER JOBS FOR THE FUTURE, INC. THE LOCAL NFWS INITIATIVE, WORKFORCE CENTRAL, PURSUED A DUAL-CUSTOMER, SECTOR-BASED APPROACH FOR ADVANCING WORKERS INTO JOBS WITH FAMILY SUSTAINING WAGES. ENHANCING THE INTEGRATION OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND MOBILIZATION OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IS A CORE ELEMENT OF THIS PHILANTHROPIC-LED STRATEGY. COMMUNITY COLLABORATION EFFORTS RESULTING FROM THIS WORK INCLUDE A MANUFACTURING PEER COUNCIL, A REGIONAL ECONOMIC GROWTH INITIATIVE, A BUSINESS AND EDUCATION ALLIANCE, A MANUFACTURING PARTNERSHIP AND OTHER COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN GROUPS THAT MAY NOT HAVE TRADITIONALLY WORKED CLOSELY TOGETHER TO SOLVE WORKFORCE ISSUES. SINCE 2016, INCOURAGE HAS WORKED WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO TRANSITION THESE PROGRAMS TO PERMANENT HOMES, INCLUDING MID STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE AND VARIOUS LOCAL MANUFACTURERS. (SEE INCOURAGECF.ORG/LEAD/WORKFORCE-CENTRAL-2, FOR MORE).COMMUNITY INFORMATION: STARTING IN 2008, INCOURAGE BEGAN PARTICIPATING IN THE JOHN S. AND JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION'S COMMUNITY INFORMATION CHALLENGE, FOCUSING ON USER-CENTERED PROCESSES TO CREATE A MORE INFORMED, ENGAGED, AND CONNECTED COMMUNITY. IN 2012, INCOURAGE ENGAGED IN DIALOGUE WITH AREA RESIDENTS FOCUSED ON CHALLENGES FACING THE COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY STRENGTHS, VISION FOR THE FUTURE AND INTEREST IN ENGAGING WITH INCOURAGE'S WORK. INCOURAGE THEN SPONSORED THE LARGEST COMMUNITY-WIDE SURVEY IN THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH WOOD COUNTY AREA, WITH OVER 4,100 RESIDENTS RESPONDING. THE FOUR MAIN PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED BY THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE 2012 SURVEY WERE, A STRONG ECONOMY, OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG ADULTS AND FAMILIES, OPENNESS TO NEW IDEAS AND CHANGE, AND A FOCUS ON NATURE AND RECREATION OF THE AREA. IN 2017, INCOURAGE AGAIN SURVEYED NEARLY 4,000 RESIDENTS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR CURRENT HOPES AND CONCERNS AND HOW THEIR GOALS AND PERSPECTIVES HAVE CHANGED. THE MAIN PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED BY THE COMMUNITY WERE SIMILAR TO 2012 AND INCLUDE: GOOD QUALITY JOBS ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL, QUALITY EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS, ATTRACTING AND RETAINING YOUNG ADULTS AND FAMILIES, SUPPORT FOR LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESS OWNERS, AND A HIGHLY TRAINED AND COMPETITIVE WORKFORCE. IN 2018 THE SURVEY RESULTS WERE DISCUSSED WITH MORE THAN 30 COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND WITH THE BROADER COMMUNITY AT A PUBLIC FORUM, AND THE RESULTS ARE ALSO LOCATED ON INCOURAGE'S WEBSITE. THESE PRIORITIES CONTINUE TO INFORM INCOURAGE'S STRATEGY AND INCOURAGE IS COMMITTED TO HELPING THE COMMUNITY COORDINATE EFFORTS FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY PRIORITIES AND A SHARED VISION FOR THE FUTURE. (SEE INCOURAGECF.ORG/LEAD/COMMUNITY-INFORMATION, AND /COMMUNITY-SURVEY-2017 FOR MORE).THE CONNECTEDNESS AND INTEGRATION OF A VARIETY OF GRANTS, PROGRAMS, AND INITIATIVES ALLOWS FOR A "COMMUNITY SPECIFIC" FRAMEWORK THROUGH WHICH COLLECTIVE RESOURCES CAN ACHIEVE GREATER IMPACT IN THE FORM OF SYSTEMS CHANGE AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. AN EXAMPLE IS SUPPORTING RESEARCH INTO LOCAL DATA TO PRODUCE VITAL SIGNS TYPE REPORTS AND THEN TO HOST CRITICAL COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS FOR INFORMING STRATEGY AND ACTION WITH TIMELY, ACCURATE AND RELEVANT DATA (SEE INCOURAGECF.ORG/LEARN/VITAL-SIGNS, FOR MORE).

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