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Legacy Foundation Of Central Wisconsin Inc

Annual Giving
$7.2M
Grant Range
$100K - $3.0M
Success Rate
82%

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7.2-8.6 million USD
  • Success Rate: 82% (repeat grantees strongly favored)
  • Decision Time: Variable (invitation-only process)
  • Grant Range: $100,000 - $3,000,000 USD
  • Average Grant: $311,000 - $459,000 USD
  • Geographic Focus: Central Wisconsin (Wood County and surrounding areas)

Contact Details

Location: 130 1st St N, Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494-4156

Note: The foundation does not have a publicly listed website, email, or phone number. All contact information appears to be managed privately.

Overview

Founded in 2015 and granted 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status the same year, the Legacy Foundation of Central Wisconsin is a private foundation with total assets of approximately $142 million. The foundation exists to improve the health and well-being of communities in central Wisconsin. Since its inception, the foundation has worked collaboratively with public health organizations, social service agencies, school districts, and health systems to create healthy communities throughout the region. The foundation made 23 grants totaling approximately $7.2 million in 2024, and 17 grants totaling $7.8 million in 2022. As a private foundation, it operates through trustee discretion and does not accept unsolicited grant applications.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with published application deadlines. Instead, grants are awarded through trustee discretion to preselected organizations. Grant amounts vary significantly based on project scope:

  • Major Health Initiatives: $3,000,000 (example: UW-Stevens Point population health partnership)
  • Health Care Projects: Average $300,000
  • Youth Development Programs: Highest total funding category at $6.15 million annually
  • Recreation & Sports: Average $100,000

Priority Areas

Primary Focus - Health and Well-being:

  • Population health initiatives
  • Community health partnerships
  • Healthcare access and delivery
  • Health outcomes improvement through data-driven approaches

Secondary Focus - Youth Development:

  • Boys & Girls Clubs
  • YMCA/YWCA programs
  • School district partnerships
  • After-school and summer programs for at-risk youth

Tertiary Focus - Human Services:

  • Family services programs
  • Advocacy organizations
  • Professional associations
  • Community support services

Geographic Priority: The foundation focuses specifically on central Wisconsin communities including: Wisconsin Rapids, Nekoosa, Port Edwards, Stevens Point, Marshfield, Weston, Babcock, Rudolph, and surrounding South Wood County areas.

What They Don't Fund

As a private foundation operating through trustee discretion, the foundation:

  • Does not accept unsolicited grant applications
  • Does not fund organizations outside central Wisconsin
  • Does not provide information on specific exclusions, but focuses heavily on health and youth development sectors

Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel

Michael Bovee - Executive Director (since 2015)

  • Previously served as Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Riverview Hospital Association (1999-2015)
  • Annual compensation: approximately $380,000-$480,000
  • Stated mission: "The Legacy Foundation of Central Wisconsin exists to improve the health and well-being of our communities. This partnership will help align our efforts and resources with those of local schools and universities, health care providers and government agencies."

Board Officers:

  • Steven Bell - Chair
  • Robb Sigler - Vice Chair
  • David Kumm - Treasurer
  • Pamela Ross - Secretary
  • Timothy Mancl - Director
  • Jean Paul La Chapelle - Director

All board members serve in part-time, uncompensated positions.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. According to their IRS Form 990-PF filings, they explicitly do not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Grants are awarded through trustee discretion based on the foundation's strategic priorities and existing relationships with community organizations.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation identifies potential grant recipients through its collaborative network in central Wisconsin's health and human services sectors. Specific strategies based on the foundation's documented approach:

Partnership Approach: The foundation emphasizes alignment and collaboration. Executive Director Michael Bovee stated their goal is to "align our efforts and resources with those of local schools and universities, health care providers and government agencies." Organizations already working with the foundation's known partners may have better visibility.

Known Partnership Network: The foundation has documented partnerships with:

  • Wood County Health Department
  • Aspirus Riverview Hospital and Aspirus Riverside Foundation
  • Marshfield Clinic Health System
  • Wisconsin Rapids, Port Edwards, and Nekoosa Public School Districts
  • University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
  • Local Boys & Girls Clubs
  • South Wood County YMCA/YWCA

Sector Involvement: Organizations active in central Wisconsin's health and youth development sectors who participate in regional health initiatives and demonstrate commitment to collaborative, outcomes-based approaches may come to the foundation's attention through sector activities.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. As a private foundation making grants through trustee discretion, the foundation does not operate on fixed application cycles or published decision schedules.

Success Rates

  • Overall: Only 18% of grants go to new grantees (based on historical data)
  • Repeat Grantees: In 2020, 100% of grants went to repeat grantees
  • Grant Size Disparity: New grantees receive significantly smaller grants (average $167,000) compared to repeat grantees (average $514,285)
  • Annual Volume: The foundation makes between 7-23 grants per year, with recent years trending toward higher grant counts

These statistics indicate the foundation strongly favors established relationships and repeat grantees.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as there is no public application process. Organizations that have previously received funding may continue to receive support based on trustee discretion and ongoing relationships.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's invitation-only model and strong preference for repeat grantees, success factors are distinct from traditional grant-seeking:

Mission Alignment is Critical: The foundation's explicit mission is to "improve the health and well-being of our communities." Organizations whose work directly advances community health outcomes in central Wisconsin align with core priorities.

Collaborative Approach: Michael Bovee emphasized alignment of "efforts and resources with those of local schools and universities, health care providers and government agencies." The foundation values cross-sector partnerships and collaborative problem-solving over single-organization initiatives.

Data-Driven, Outcomes-Based Work: The foundation's major grants, such as the $3 million UW-Stevens Point partnership, focus on population health data analytics, outcomes assessment, and evidence-based interventions. Organizations that can demonstrate measurable impact have documented advantages.

Geographic Focus: The foundation concentrates exclusively on central Wisconsin, particularly South Wood County communities. Organizations serving this specific geographic area receive priority.

Recent Funding Examples Demonstrate Priorities:

  • $3 million to UW-Stevens Point for population health research and partnership coordination
  • Ongoing support to Boys & Girls Clubs for after-school and summer programming for at-risk youth
  • Health center development projects in collaboration with Aspirus and Marshfield Clinic Health System
  • School district partnerships addressing student health and wellness

Established Presence Required: With 82% of funding going to repeat grantees and significantly higher average grants to known organizations, having an existing relationship with the foundation or its partners is the most significant success factor.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - This foundation operates exclusively through trustee discretion and invitation-only grantmaking
  • Relationship-driven funding model - 82% of grants go to repeat grantees; new organizations receive grants averaging $167,000 vs. $514,285 for established partners
  • Health is the primary mission - "Improve the health and well-being of our communities" drives all funding decisions; align any proposal with health outcomes
  • Collaboration is highly valued - The foundation prioritizes partnerships across healthcare providers, schools, government agencies, and universities over single-organization projects
  • Geographic specificity matters - Focus is exclusively on central Wisconsin, particularly South Wood County communities (Wisconsin Rapids, Nekoosa, Port Edwards area)
  • Significant assets enable major grants - With $142 million in assets and average grants of $311,000-$459,000, the foundation can support substantial, multi-year initiatives
  • Youth development is a secondary priority - After health, youth programs (particularly Boys & Girls Clubs and YMCA initiatives) receive the most funding at $6.15 million annually

References

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