Compeer Financial’s Fund for Rural America, the Farm Credit cooperative’s giving program, has awarded 40 General Use Grants, totaling $182,000. General Use Grants fund initiatives and organizations whose work enriches agriculture and rural America, aligning with Compeer Financial’s mission.
These grants will directly impact the lives of 1.2 million people and will touch 6.2 million lives. Eighteen grants, totaling $91,293 went directly to coronavirus-related efforts.
Since the program was established in 2018, the Fund has awarded 235 General Use Grants, totaling over $1.2 million. The Fund will offer this grant again in May 2021 to provide funding for summer 2021.
“The General Use Grant is integral to our organization’s commitment to the farmers and communities we serve,” said Karen Schieler, senior corporate giving specialist at Compeer Financial. “This program impacts the communities where Compeer clients and team members live and work, and embodies our commitment to enriching agriculture and rural America.”
The 40 organizations in Compeer Financial’s territory receiving support from the General Use Grant Program, include:
Catholic Charities, Inc., Diocese of Madison: Mobile Food Pantry program
Community Connections Free Clinic: for desktop computers, phones and a portable blood pressure machine to equip exam rooms and the telehouse suite to serve patients virtually
Dairy Girl Network, Inc.: developing program materials, marketing and events for cultivating gender respect and inclusion on your dairy farm program
Envision Greater Fond du Lac Agri-Business Council: Little Hands on the Farm interactive mock farm
Feed My People: rural pop up food pantries
Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin: concrete repairs in the facility and a refrigeration unit for the delivery van
Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association: purchasing television air time for the Humble Logger ad
ICAA, Inc.: digital marketing technical assistance for rural businesses
Junior Achievement of Wisconsin, Inc.: digital program expansion to schools in rural communities
Living Hope Food Pantry: purchasing dairy, fruits, vegetable boxed meals, quick cook meals, and healthy snacks to supplement Second Harvest and TEFAP boxes
Marshfield Medical Center – Beaver Dam: Recovery Meals Program for discharged patients
Mutual Community Mission Group: weekend food supplementation program for elementary students
Rice Lake Area Free Clinic: air purifiers, face shields, touchless thermometers, vials of insulin, and support for coordinated care via telephone: telemed platform subscription, electronic stethoscope and a camera
Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action Program: purchasing food and expenses for rural pop up food pantries
Stepping Stones of Dunn County Inc.: support for rural pop up food pantries
Sunshine Place, Inc.: rent and utility assistance, food, clothing or personal care items for families financially impacted by COVID19
Turtle Lake Area Food Pantry: a walk in freezer and shelving
UW-Platteville Pioneer Farm: a new water pump, piping, hose and installing water flow sensors in the milking parlor to reduce water use
Wisconsin Rural Women’s Initiative: rural community outreach to promote mental and personal health
