Our HERstory
28 Years Supporting Women and Girls in the Greater La Crosse Area
— 1998
— 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.
— 2024
Women’s Fund exceeds $1 million in cumulative grantmaking.