The Water-Right Charitable Fund, supported by the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, aims to benefit nonprofit organizations in the Fox Valley and surrounding areas, as well as to support the charitable interests of Water-Right employees. The fund’s mission aligns with supporting community well-being through grants, with a clear preference for basic needs, environmental needs, and education. This structure allows the fund to address critical community challenges while also empowering its employees to contribute to causes they value, reflecting a theory of change that combines corporate social responsibility with community-led initiatives.
The primary beneficiaries are nonprofit organizations that are 501(c)(3) public charities, residing in or serving residents from Green Bay to Oshkosh, with a particular emphasis on the Fox Valley Region. The fund targets projects and causes that are important to employees and align with its core funding areas. The impact goals are to address basic needs (food, clothing, shelter), promote environmental well-being, and advance education within the specified geographic area.
The fund prioritizes projects addressing basic needs, followed by environmental needs and education. An advisory committee, composed of staff from Water-Right and Clean Water Center, reviews requests to ensure thoughtful and impactful grants. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed beyond the funding areas, the expectation is that grants will lead to improved access to essential resources, enhanced environmental quality, and increased educational opportunities for residents in the target region. The grants, with awards potentially up to $3,000, aim to make a tangible difference in the lives of community members.
The strategic priorities of the Water-Right Charitable Fund are to foster community resilience and enhance quality of life through targeted support in its preferred funding areas. The fund operates on a theory of change that by investing in basic needs, environmental protection, and education, it can create a more stable, healthy, and informed community. The emphasis on employee involvement in identifying causes reinforces a commitment to community relevance and engagement. The fund explicitly excludes individual schools, religious organizations (with exceptions for inclusive public programs), event sponsorships, operational expenses, political or controversial organizations, "nest eggs," and conferences, ensuring that funds are directed towards direct programmatic impact.
