Local Nonprofits, Elementary Schools, 4-H Programs, More Impacted By AmeriCorps Cuts
as Wisconsin joins multi-state lawsuit against federal government's action against AmeriCorps, the Chippewa Valley sees impacts
In the first few months of President Donald Trump’s administration, thousands of federal government employees and staff have been affected by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)’s efforts to slash spending on federal contracts, grants, and loans.
In April, the country’s leading federal agency for volunteerism, AmeriCorps, abruptly learned its staff and funding had largely been cut.
Statewide, over 300 AmeriCorps sites that support literacy and math skills for children, addiction and substance misuse recovery, conservation efforts, and more have been impacted. According to Gov. Tony Evers’ April 29 statement – in which he announced intentions to join the multi-state lawsuit against the Trump administration over the AmeriCorps cuts – over half of Wisconsin’s 72 counties are seeing direct affects.
AmeriCorps was created over 30 years ago as a federal government agency – devoted to address poverty, improve the environment, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. Serve Wisconsin, the state's AmeriCorps agency, was informed it must cease all 25 of its currently operating AmeriCorps programs, as part of the cuts.
In the Chippewa Valley, dozens of formerly AmeriCorps-funded roles with a variety of programming have been terminated or affected. Those programs include Chippewa County, Eau Claire County, and Pepin County 4-H organizations; reading tutors in Menomonie, Fall Creek, Eleva-Strum, Cornell, and Osseo-Fairchild area elementary schools; support at Eau Claire and Altoona Head Start programs; UW-Eau Claire's ECLIPSE program; Stepping Stones of Dunn County; and more.
Beaver Creek Reserve (BCR), Chippewa Valley Museum (CVM), and the Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes (GSNWGL) are some of the area's organizations that now face immediate staff and funding losses.
Beaver Creek Reserve Faces $195,000 Funding Pitfall
In a press release and social media post made on April 29, BCR shared its immediate $75,000 funding pitfall due to AmeriCorps cuts; of BCR’s 18-person team, six are supported by AmeriCorps funding, which it has received since 2015. BCR was one of five Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) AmeriCorps sites in the region that received the notice, the organization said.
According to the release, BCR received an email from MCHS AmeriCorps with an update on the Community Corps and Recovery Corps programs termination. “It has been determined that our awards no longer support governmental agencies’ priorities,” the email notice stated. “You must immediately cease all member and host site activities. This is a final agency action and is not administratively appealable.”
“We planned to utilize our six AmeriCorps members’ skills and expertise to finish out our spring field trip season, support our summer camps which run June-August, our Butterfly House season which opens July 5, as well as summer Citizen Science projects,” BCR's release stated.
In its April 29 social media post, BCR called for community support in filling its abrupt $75,000 funding loss. About $15,000 had been raised as of April 30.
“Our goal is to keep our AmeriCorps members until the end of their scheduled term, which is August 29, if we can generate enough financial support,” BCR Marketing and Program Director Kristen Giefer said in an exchange with Volume One.
Giefer said on April 30, the organization also learned funding will no longer be available for the 2025-26 term, which results in a $195,000 funding loss for the organization.
Anyone wishing to support Beaver Creek Reserve's efforts can visit beavercreekreserve.org/support/donations/.
Chippewa Valley Museum Loses Full-Time Program Manager
CVM's full-time Program Manager role had been supported by AmeriCorps funds since 2022, a position which oversees program development and volunteer recruitment and coordination. The organization has over 300 volunteers who serve the museum in some capacity throughout the year.
In 2024, the museum oversaw 6,107 volunteer hours, equivalent to three full-time positions, CVM Executive Director, Carrie Ronnander said. Volunteers contribute to the museum by staffing the front desk and store, leading school tours, assisting with exhibit construction and maintenance, and providing support for outreach and community events.
As an example of the latter, events like the four-day U.S. Open Chainsaw Sculpture Championship – which has been hosted in Eau Claire for the past two events – received staffing support by 130 museum volunteers.
The organization currently lacks the financial capacity to support a full-time salary for this role on its own. “(On April 30) the museum board approved using reserve museum funds (to keep former AmeriCorps member, Declan Melchoir, on staff) part-time for the remaining months of his term, which goes through August,” Ronnander said.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have enough reserve funds that we can comfortably hire Declan full-time. We’d need to raise $11,000 immediately to do that. Maybe we can. I don’t know,” Ronnander told Volume One.
As of Friday, May 2, Melchoir's job title had been changed to "Program Assistant" on CVM's website.
“There are lots of places that need help right now," Ronnader said. "And then there’s next year…”
Anyone wishing to support the Chippewa Valley Museum's efforts can visit cvmuseum.com/donate/.
Girl Scouts of Northwestern Great Lakes Announce 'Reaching Out' Program May Be Eliminated
On Friday, May 2, GSNWGL said at least one of its programs, Reaching Out, has been immediately impacted. The organization said the program, which aims to break down barriers to participation in out-of-school activities for youth in underserved communities, serves over 3,000 individuals in 14 cities across the state – including Altoona, Chippewa Falls, and Eau Claire.
"GSNWGL is working hard to find continued support for our AmeriCorps members, but currently, they are left without the living stipend, health coverage, and education support provided by the AmeriCorps program," the organization told Volume One. "They're not only losing the opportunity to make a difference in young lives, but also the meaningful professional development and career pathways. Many go on to serve our communities as teachers, counselors, and social workers; some even find full-time roles with Girl Scouts."
GSNWGL Assistant Program and Inclusion Director, Brittany Pyatt, noted Reaching Out especially benefits communities with a high percentage of families facing economic hardship, are English Language Learners, or are people of color.
"This initiative was never just about access; it was about building relationships and trust where Girl Scouts have historically been underrepresented," GSNWGL Program and Inclusion Director, Gwen Taylor, said.
Anyone wishing to support the Girl Scouts of Northwestern Great Lakes' efforts can visit gsnwgl.org/donate.
This is a developing story. An interactive map of AmeriCorps programming in Wisconsin can be found on Serve Wisconsin's website. You can learn more about AmeriCorps' impact in Wisconsin at americorps.gov/national-service-report/wi.
