LEGACY GIFT. As stewards of the Bingham Family Endowment Fund the Eau Claire Community Foundation annually awards local organizations with significant grants monies. This year's awardees included the American Red Cross of Northwestern Wisconsin. (Photo via Facebook)

Since 2023, the unrestricted endowment fund established in honor of the late William “Bill” A. Bingham – stewarded by the Eau Claire Community Foundation (ECCF) – has provided nearly half a million dollars in grant awards.

As announced in a media release on Nov. 13, the Bingham Family Endowment Fund recently awarded a total $198,000 to three local organizations: American Red Cross of Northwestern Wisconsin, Grace Lutheran Foundation and Hope Gospel Mission.

Awardees must be local nonprofit organizations which work to improve the Eau Claire area’s quality of life. This fall’s recipients were selected by a panel of ECCF grant reviewers, the media release noted.

• American Red Cross of Northwestern Wisconsin – $71,000 for the purchase of a new blood collection vehicle.
• Grace Lutheran Foundation – $84,000 for a wireless nurse call system.
• Hope Gospel Mission – $43,680 for a Case Management Supervisor at the Community Have House/Day Resource Center. 

Since its creation – which marked the single largest gift ECCF has ever received – the Bingham Family Endowment Fund has provided over $475,000 to Chippewa Valley organizations. Donations can be made to the fund online.

Learn more about the Eau Claire Community Foundation online at eccfwi.org.