A Joint Initiative Between     Heart of Wisconsin     Business & Economic Alliance and     Community Foundation of Greater     South Wood County

Home About Us B2B Club Breaking News Contact Donate Events / Programs Feedback Ideas Incubator Industry Clusters Links / Resources Progess Funds Progress Teams Public Art / Murals Publications		Breaking News September 21, 2004 By Antoinette Rahn, Daily Tribune Staff On the heels of its 10-year anniversary celebration, the Community Foundation of South Wood County is implementing changes under a new three-year strategic plan. Under the plan, foundation board members and staff will work to encourage more small contributions and to increase donations to the Community Grants fund. The fund finances grant requests filed by nonprofit groups in the community. Other plans include providing more assistance to nonprofit organizations, supporting collaboration between funding agencies and ensuring the board of directors represents the community's diversity. The plan is the product of focus group meetings held in the spring and information from board members and foundation staff. "It was a very wise use of time. We learned a lot about how the community feels about the Community Foundation," said Kelly Lucas, chief executive officer and president of the Community Foundation of South Wood County. "This is the community's community foundation, and therefore we feel we're responsible to do comprehensive planning for the future, to include the community in the planning, to share the results of planning with the community and be accountable to the community." The Community Foundation of South Wood County builds charitable endowments and provides grants to community services and programs. Members of the focus groups, which involved about 70 people from throughout south Wood County, said the foundation's strengths include its staff members, its financial health and its leadership as a community catalyst. The foundation board's sense of unity is a key strength that it brings to the community, said Naomi Nash of Wisconsin Rapids. Nash and her husband, Larry, attended a meeting last week where the strategic plan was reviewed. "I have served on volunteer community groups, committees and boards where there's been a lot of disparity," Nash said. "The Community Foundation Board is absolutely a community group. There's a great sense of unity there. "And each group that appeals for and receives funding (is) always so thankful for the money and support." The focus group members also identified areas that need improvement - and many of those issues were addressed in the strategic plan. The plan includes strategy for better educating the community about how the foundation works, providing more help to organizations seeking matching funds, making the community more aware of gaps and needs in services, continuing the Wood County Asset Survey and improving how the community is perceived through programs like the Community Progress Initiative and Endowing Your Community. You can reach Antoinette Rahn, Daily Tribune, at 715-422-6726.
		Copyright © 2004, Community Progress Initiative, South Wood County & Town of Rome