About Us
Who We Are
We are a tax-exempt 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization committed to enriching the lives of women and girls so they can do the same for others.
For 25 years, we have aligned people, philanthropy and resources to meet the immediate and long-term needs of women and girls in greater La Crosse. We improve our community by building partnerships and funding area programs serving women and girls.
Through an annual competitive grant application process, we have granted over $1 million to local programs working to build an equitable future for all women and girls. Our grantmaking is supported by two endowments, premier fundraising events, corporate sponsorships and generous donors. The Women’s Fund is changing the lives of women and girls right here in our community because of your support.
Together we are making a difference.
We invite you to learn more about what we do and how you can join us in helping women and girls see possibility.
Why It's Important
Right now, women are facing job insecurity, inflexible work schedules, limited or no access to childcare, and the skyrocketing cost of housing.. These crises create barriers to self–sufficiency for far too many women and girls. Our economy isn‘t set up to support and empower women.
With the generous support of donors and sponsors, we are able to fund programs that:
Prevent homelessness
Provide hair care and hygiene supplies
Help a woman continue her education or advance her career
Promote her physical and mental health
Build confidence
Our Staff
Executive Director - Sarah Ellingson
With over 23 years of experience in for-profit and nonprofit strategy and development, a background in communication, and a steadfast commitment to social issues impacting women and girls, Sarah is pivotal in leading Women’s Fund and driving our mission forward.
Sarah lives in La Crosse with her two daughters. She is a plant mom to many and a pet mom to a dog and two cats. When she isn’t attending volleyball games or dance competitions with her daughters, you’ll find her enjoying time at home or spending time with family and friends.
Get in touch with Sarah:
sarah@womensfundlacrosse.org OR 608-780-5710.
2025 Board Members
Sue Christianson
President
Rewired (not retired) Human Development Specialist and Registered Nurse
Sara Koopman
Vice President
Associate Administrator, La Crosse County
Jodi Ehrenberger,
Treasurer
SVP, Business Banking Officer at Coulee Bank
Leslie Meulemans
Secretary
Team Lead, Relationship Manager at Trust Point
Kelly Nowicki
Former President
Associate Teaching Professor, Management Department, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Audra Breeden – Licensed Massage Licensed Ma
Audra Breeden
Volunteer
Licensed Massage Licensed Massage Therapist/Owner, Ataraxis Massage
Amanda Jackson
Volunteer
Onalaska City Attorney, City of Onalaska
Betty Jorgenson
Volunteer
Retired Registered Nurse/Healthcare Administrator
Nicole Meyer
Volunteer
Vice President of Professional Services, HTP Energy
Nichole Pierce
Volunteer
Marketing Consultant, Emplify Health
DeeAnn Laux
Volunteer
Director of Community Relations and Philanthropy, Laux Family Fund
Ellie Rundahl
Volunteer
Communications and Public Relations Specialist at Dairyland Power Cooperative
Our History
Mission, Vision, and Values
Our mission at the Women’s Fund is to impact all women and girls in our community by supporting organizations with the collective power of philanthropy.
Our vision is that the Women’s Fund of Greater La Crosse will be leaders in:
- Addressing current and critical needs of all women and girls in our community
- Creating a more inclusive and equitable life for all women and girls so they can do the same for others.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Women’s Fund of Greater La Crosse exists to positively impact all women and girls by supporting organizations through the collective power of philanthropy.
We believe in diversity, inclusivity and equity and that all individuals, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, identity or sexual orientation, education or disability, feel valued and respected. We are committed to a nondiscriminatory approach and providing equal employment and advancement opportunities. We respect and value diverse life experiences and heritages and work to ensure all voices are valued and heard.
We’re committed to maintaining an inclusive environment with equitable treatment for all.
To provide informed, authentic leadership for cultural equity, Women’s Fund of Greater La Crosse strives to:
- See diversity, inclusion, and equity as connected to our mission and critical to ensuring the well-being of our staff, volunteers and the communities we serve.
- Acknowledge and dismantle any inequities within our policies, systems, programs, and services, and continually update and report organization progress.
Explore potential underlying, unquestioned assumptions that interfere with inclusiveness. - Advocate for and support board-level thinking about how systemic inequities impact our organization’s work and how best to address that in a way that is consistent with our mission.
- Help to challenge assumptions about what it takes to be a strong leader at our organization and who is well-positioned to provide leadership.
Practice and encourage transparent communication in all interactions. - Commit time and resources to expand more diverse leadership within our board, staff and committee bodies.
- Lead with respect and tolerance. We expect all employees to embrace this notion and express it in workplace interactions and everyday practices.
- Women’s Fund of Greater La Crosse abides by the following action items to help promote diversity and inclusion in our workplace:
Pursue cultural competency throughout our organization by participating in learning opportunities
Improve our cultural leadership pipeline by creating and supporting policies that foster leadership that reflects the diversity of our community
Ensure our grantmaking process supports underrepresented constituents by connecting with nonprofit organizations committed to diversity and inclusion efforts.
Develop a system for being more intentional and conscious of bias during the hiring, promoting, or evaluating process. Train our hiring team on equitable practices.
Include a salary range with all public job descriptions.
Advocate for public and private-sector policy that promotes diversity, inclusion, and equity. Challenge systems and policies that create inequity, oppression and disparity.
— 1998
Signe Schroeder and Roberta Gelatt create Women’s Fund within the La Crosse Community Foundation.
— 1998
The first Fall Luncheon is held with Carol Gilligan, chair of Gender Studies at Harvard, speaking on “The Validity and Value of Women’s Voices.”
— 1999
Women’s Fund endowment is established through a challenge grant by the La Crosse Community Foundation. The total grant is $19,000. This grant continues today and the earnings are used for the yearly grant distributions.
— 1999
Women’s Fund awards its first grants totaling $2000.
— 2003
First Artist of the Year Award presented to Eileen Daily for her artwork inspired by Women’s Fund’s “helping others bloom” theme.
— 2005
Women’s Fund receives a bequest from the estate of Roberta Zurn and creates the Roberta Zurn Women in Leadership Award. The first winner is June Kjome, missionary, nurse and social activist.
— 2010
Women’s Fund establishes itself as its own nonprofit organization.
— 2013
Women’s Fund hosts its first Spring Fling to celebrate what unites us as women.
— 2013
Women’s Fund hires its first Executive Director to support the organization’s continuing growth.
— 2015
Women’s Fund creates a quasi-endowment to ensure the organization’s ability to provide grants in perpetuity.
— 2023
Women’s Fund celebrates 25 years of supporting women and children in our community.
Our Sponsors
