About Us
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.
The Women’s Fund exists to enrich the lives of women and girls so they can do the same for others.
Vision Statement
The Women’s Fund exists to encourage the advancement and full participation of women and girls in society by promoting their full range of choices and to fund projects in the community which:
- Foster an impact on attitudes and actions that benefit women and girls
- Promote opportunity, health and self-sufficiency for women
- Encourage women and girls to develop as philanthropists
History: 20 Years Supporting Women and Children in the Coulee Region
1998 – Signe Schroeder and Roberta Gelatt create The Women’s Fund within the La Crosse Community Foundation.
September 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 – The 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 – The 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 the Women’s Fund’s “helping others bloom” theme.
2005 – The 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 – The Women’s Fund establishes itself as its own nonprofit organization.
2013 – The Women’s Fund hosts its first Spring Fling to celebrate what unites us as women.
September 2013 – The Women’s Fund hires its first Executive Director to support the organization’s continuing growth.
2015 – The Women’s Fund creates a quasi-endowment to ensure the organization’s ability to provide grants in perpetuity.
2018 – The Women’s Fund celebrates 20 years of supporting women and children in our community.
2019 Board Members
Amy Every, President
Eileen Carns, Vice President
Tammy Wills, Treasurer
Erica Rytilahti, Secretary
Reggi Johnson, Past President
Flo Aliesch
Jen Jones
Kenna Christians
Erica Rytilahti
Ruthann Schultz
Cheryl Neubauer
Ilene Kernozek
Barb Kruse
Courtney Daniels
Renee Dehn
Pat Heim
Executive Director – Kaycie Green
Kaycie is the Executive Director of the Women’s Fund of Greater La Crosse. Prior to joining the Women’s Fund, Kaycie worked in state level policy and politics in New York, New Hampshire and Vermont. Kaycie brings enthusiasm and experience with nonprofits including Main Street Alliance and Planned Parenthood of Northern New England to the Fund.
Kaycie attended Syracuse University and has a background in communications. She lives in La Crosse with her husband and dog.
Get in touch with Kaycie at executive_director@womensfundlacrosse.org or 608-780-5710.
Media Spotlights
We believe in her.
Posted by Women's Fund of Greater La Crosse, Inc. on Tuesday, April 4, 2017