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.
Executive Director – Sarah Ellingson
Sarah brings with her over 20 years of experience in for-profit and nonprofit strategy and development and has served on Women’s Fund marketing committee for over three years. She has worked with businesses and organizations of all sizes including State Farm Insurance, State Bank Financial and UW-Madison and served on numerous nonprofit boards and committees including Friends of the La Crosse Library board.
Sarah lives in La Crosse with her husband and two daughters. When she isn’t cheering on her daughters from the stands, you’ll find her on the river or on the ski slopes.
Get in touch with Sarah at Sarah@womensfundlacrosse.org or 608-780-5710.
2021 Board Members
Ruthann Schultz, President
Courtney Daniels, Vice President
Tammy Wills, Treasurer
Erica Rytilahti, Secretary
Amy Every, Past President
Reggi Johnson
Florence Aliesch
Kenna Christians
Renee Dehn
Pat Heim
Barb Kruse
Nancy Mueller
Cheryl Neubauer
Kelly Nowicki
Dina Zavala
History: 20 Years Supporting Women and Children in the Coulee Region
1998 – Signe Schroeder and Roberta Gelatt create 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 – 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.
September 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.
2018 – Women’s Fund celebrates 20 years of supporting women and children in our community.
Mission
Women’s Fund of Greater La Crosse exists to enrich the lives of women and girls so they can do the same for others.
Vision
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