Eau Claire Community Foundation Announcement:

“February 9, 2026

Eau Claire Community Foundation Selects Lutheran Social Services to Lead Regional Grief Services Initiative

The Eau Claire Community Foundation (ECCF) announced today that Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan (LSS) has been selected as the recipient of a three-year grant from the Monsignor Klimek Healing Presence Endowment Fund to lead implementation of a newly established Grief Services Project. LSS will receive $181,960 in Year One, with similar funding awarded annually over the three-year grant period.

The award follows a competitive Request for Proposals process launched in October 2025 to identify an organization capable of providing leadership, coordination, and long-term sustainability for regional grief support services.

“We are honored to support the next chapter of grief support in our region by selecting Lutheran Social Services as the lead partner for this important work,” said Wes Escondo, President and CEO of Eau Claire Community Foundation. “Their collaborative approach, strong regional presence, and deep commitment to compassionate care directly reflect the vision community members shared throughout the research process.”

LSS was selected from a strong pool of applicants based on its proven regional infrastructure, experience delivering holistic, community-based services, and a forward-looking implementation plan. As the lead grantee, LSS will oversee key project activities, including:

• Development of a centralized grief services information platform

• Coordination of a regional network of grief service providers

• Support for collaboration, training, and shared learning across the sector

“Lutheran Social Services is proud to partner with the Eau Claire Community Foundation and local providers to strengthen grief services across the region,” said Stephanie Pritchard, Western Director of Community-Based Services at LSS. “This initiative is rooted in collaboration—bringing together expertise, resources, and compassion to ensure individuals and families do not face grief alone.”

The Grief Services Project was developed following the transfer of approximately $4.8 million in endowed funds to ECCF to establish the Monsignor Klimek Healing Presence Endowment Fund. To honor the original donor intent—supporting individuals experiencing grief and loss—ECCF commissioned a comprehensive, community-driven research effort known as the Grief Services Research Project, conducted by AMK Nonprofit Coaching.

The research engaged more than 800 voices across individuals with lived experience, service providers, and community advocates. Findings identified several critical gaps across the Chippewa Valley and Western Wisconsin, including:

• The absence of a centralized grief services information hub

• Limited coordination among grief support providers

• A need for training and capacity-building to improve service quality and sustainability

• Gaps in access for underserved populations within the region

“This work honors the legacy of the generous donors who entrusted these funds to serve individuals experiencing grief,” said Ann Kaiser, Principal Consultant with AMK Nonprofit Coaching. “Through ECCF’s thoughtful stewardship and LSS’s leadership, the Grief Services Project is positioned to create meaningful, lasting impact across Western Wisconsin.”