October 2026 Board Meeting

AGENDA

October 22, 2026
City of Menomonie Council Chambers – 800 Wilson Ave Menomonie, WI 54751

Board of Directors Contact Information

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88227032588?pwd=PkHSn5BTKjxCMPCH0tNdebaTspDJZM.1

Meeting ID: 882 2703 2588
Passcode: 666990

I. 7:30am     Call to Order/Additions to Agenda 

II. 7:35am    Consent Agenda 

September 2026 Donation Summary Report
September 2026 Grant Report
September 24, 2026 Board Minutes
September 30, 2026 Consolidated Balance Sheet
September 2026 Year-to-Date Consolidated Income Statement
September 2026 Year-to-Date Operating Income

III. 7:35am    Executive Director Update 

  • Staffing and planning for growth: Two additional Executive Committee meetings focused on staffing structure, responsibilities, and financial capacity. Amber has accepted the Finance Manager position. Liz’s last day is October 23. The Administrative and Events Coordinator position is posted and attracting strong applicants; the deadline is November 13. Read the job posting here: cfdunncounty.org/jobs/. Budget discussions include compensation, benefits, and staffing needs. Other priorities include core procedures, succession planning, staff development, and measurable goals to support continued growth.
  • Giving and community impact: As of October 19, the donation dashboard shows $3,859,153 received through 1,255 gifts from 711 donors, excluding internal donations. Grants and scholarships total $1,032,122, comprising 369 grants and 82 scholarships. Seven funds established in 2026 have received $2,188,867 in contributions; these gifts are included in the overall giving total. Teacher Mini-Grant applications are open through November 1 at 4 p.m. Details: cfdunncounty.org/teacher-mini-grants-apply/
  • Legacy giving and donor development: The Jerry Wagner estate has provided $2,052,176.48 in total distributions; only a small final distribution may remain. The Senior Center legacy presentation generated two very strong prospects. We have followed up with one and are preparing to follow up with the other. Brad requested three “soft leads” from each board member; four members have submitted leads and are being contact individually with the results. It is always helpful if you can contact your leads first to prime the pump.
  • Evening of Gratitude and Nonprofit Impact Tour: Evening of Gratitude was a major success, celebrating our largest grant award evening to date: $130,523 across 38 grants. Donors and fundholders supported 27 of those grants in whole or in part through additional giving. The October 8 Nonprofit Impact Tour drew ten attendees and received very positive feedback, giving participants a closer look at the work of local nonprofit partners.
  • Community Indicators: The dashboard is publicly available through a soft rollout, with review underway by the UW–Stout advisory group and nonprofit partners. Community Safety is the remaining section; local crime data requires cleaning before publication. Feedback will help strengthen the dashboard’s clarity and usefulness for community planning. Read it here: https://dashboards.mysidewalk.com/dunn-county-community-indicators-307f8c236321/about-community-indicators.
  • Board nominations: We have three open board seats. Please review the Board Recruitment Matrix to identify skills, community connections, and perspectives we could strengthen, and bring forward potential nominees who would help fill those gaps.
  • Community visibility: An upcoming billboard will highlight the Foundation’s message, “making more good possible through the power of collective giving.” Public radio advertisements and a recent podcast feature are also helping raise awareness of our work.
  • Jeans and Jewels coordination: Pairing staff and board members on specific responsibilities, such as the live auction, has been a positive approach. The auction and seating-plan software are both working well. A separate event update will provide further details.

IV. 7.45am     Committee Reports

Executive – Brad Waznik
Meeting Minutes

Investment – Brad Waznik

Finance – Dana Brunstrom

Events & Marketing – Kevin Nolan (psst – Jeans and Jewels is on the agenda further down)

Grants – Paul Horvath
Community Indicators: https://dashboards.mysidewalk.com/dunn-county-community-indicators-307f8c236321/about-community-indicators
Grants committee meeting again before year end to distribute more $$ including Teacher Mini Grants

V. 8.15am Board Business

OLD BUSINESS – UPDATES

  1. Donor development and Legacy Society: Four board members have submitted leads toward the request for three soft leads per member. Remaining members are encouraged to submit introductions. Our goal is a Legacy Society of 100 members.
  2. Fund Asset Development Committee: Tim Eiden will chair the committee, with former board members Elizabeth Serratore and Kim Porter returning to serve. Staff have shared resources to support the committee’s work and will coordinate with Tim to schedule an initial meeting and establish priorities. Fund development experience and an interest in this committee would also be valuable considerations for new board nominees. We might rename this to Donor Engagement and Development Committee.
  3. Board recruitment: Three board vacancies remain. Review the Board Recruitment Matrix and bring forward nominees who strengthen our skills, connections, and perspectives.
  4. Men’s Giving Circle: Initial meeting scheduled for October 20 at Wilson Creek.
  5. Organizational capacity: Current priorities are the staffing transition, recruitment, and preparations for Jeans & Jewels. Broader work on written procedures, bylaws review, and succession planning will be phased in as staffing capacity allows, with the new administrative position expected to support documentation and coordination.
  6. Board member leads: Aim to share three potential donor introductions per quarter. You do not need to ask anyone for a gift – your role is to help us make connections, and staff will guide the follow-up. Please consider using our Natural Networks Worksheet to spark ideas about people you know through work, friendships, community groups, or other connections. You don’t need to complete every section or approach anyone about a gift. Please share three names with Chelsea or me, and we’ll talk through a comfortable next step together.
  7. Legacy Society: Our goal is for at least two-thirds of board members to join the Legacy Society. A planned gift of just 1% of your estate can create a lasting community legacy. Please schedule a brief conversation with Georgina or Chelsea to learn more about the simple membership form. You do not need to disclose the value of your estate or share private financial details.
  8. Board Endowment Challenge: Four board members have contributed a combined $2,500 to the CFDC Endowment. Thank you for helping strengthen the Foundation’s permanent support. Other board members are encouraged to participate. Read more here.
  9. Staff compensation and development: Work with the Executive Committee continues on health insurance options, salary benchmarking, and budgeting for staff compensation and professional development. Board members with relevant experience or resources are encouraged to reach out and contribute to these discussions.

NEW BUSINESS

  1. Local News Partnership: Work is moving forward on a memorandum of understanding between the Local News Group and Menomonie Minute to support local civic news coverage. The agreement will clarify responsibilities, funding arrangements, and editorial independence.
  2. Agency Endowment Matching Opportunity: Consider authorizing an additional matching opportunity for the Scouts while retaining the Boys & Girls Club’s existing opportunity.
  3. Additions?

JEANS AND JEWELS

Update from the Committee Chair Dianna Fiergola

Please review our fundraising progress toward the $124,000 net goal, auction and raffle preparations, guest information, and remaining board assistance needed in the attached J&J Board Update.

Link to In Kind donation page – https://cfdunncounty.org/in-kind-donation-form/. If you are handing any in kind donations it is so important that you get the specifics and the FMV to Amber as soon as possible.

Volunteer availability: A signup sheet will be circulated. Please indicate the times you are available to help with setup, event activities, and cleanup so we can finalize volunteer assignments.

9am     Adjourn

News, Resources, & Happenings

Check out our Facebook Feed if you haven’t for a while – it’s full of wonderful news! https://www.facebook.com/cfdunncounty

2026 Events Calendar – Put these in your date book!

2026 Board Member Listing – please email or call Amber with changes at alenz@cfdunncounty.org and 715-232-8019.

Take a look at our Jeans and Jewels website.