History of our Community Foundation
Since 1998, the Community Foundation, a public charity, has served thousands of citizens who share a common concern—serving the charitable needs of the South Central Wisconsin area.
We were established as the Baraboo Area Community Foundation. From the earliest days of the organization, Foundation leaders realized that the establishment of a headquarters for our Community Foundation would substantially improve the Foundation’s ability to achieve its mission. This fact, coupled with the Baraboo Area Chamber of Commerce’s need for a new visitor center, provided the first challenge for the Foundation. After a successful capital campaign, our offices and a new visitor center opened to the public on May 4, 2000.
Even before the building was completed, the Foundation began expanding its board of directors to its focus on serving the needs of Sauk County and the surrounding area’s charitable needs, changing our name in 2004 to the Greater Sauk County Community Foundation. The board of directors is composed of community leaders who guide the organization’s efforts to help the citizens we serve create enduring charitable contributions in their communities.
The Baraboo Kiwanis River Walk Fund was established in November of 1999 as the first donor-advised fund. The citizens of South Central Wisconsin continue to establish funds at our Community Foundation to fulfill the philanthropic goals of the donors and help our area meet the challenges of changing times. We now serve the residents of Adams, Columbia, Iowa, Juneau, Richland, Sauk, and Vernon counties, leading to our new name of Community Foundation of South Central Wisconsin (effective 12/31/2020). The Community Foundation provides stewardship and management for over 90 funds.