Oshkosh Area Community Foundation

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Oshkosh Area Community Foundation Call today to learn how you can make an impact! For 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝. For 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫.

Serving Winnebago, Waushara, and Green Lake counties, and the city of Ripon, we strengthen our communities by providing leadership through grantmaking and fund development.

For nearly two decades, Tom and Penny Harenburg have helped keep Menominee Park Zoo a place where families can discover ...
10/22/2026

For nearly two decades, Tom and Penny Harenburg have helped keep Menominee Park Zoo a place where families can discover wildlife, make memories, and visit free of charge.

Through their 𝘛𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘺 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘨 𝘡𝘰𝘰 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘥 at the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation, their love of animals is creating lasting opportunities for our community.

Read the full story here: https://www.oshkoshareacf.org/grant-stories/destination-for-discovery/

In honor of National Estate Planning Awareness Week, we’re highlighting the important role thoughtful planning can play ...
10/20/2026

In honor of National Estate Planning Awareness Week, we’re highlighting the important role thoughtful planning can play in shaping the future.

As wealth passes from one generation to the next, the decisions made today can have a lasting impact on families and communities for years to come. Give Forward encourages individuals and families to learn more about this moment of opportunity and consider the legacy they hope to leave.

Learn more at GiveForwardWI.org, or contact our team to begin a conversation about your charitable goals.

🌼 Celebrate Día de los Mu***os with the Oshkosh Public Museum on Saturday, October 24! 💀Now in its fifth year, this FREE...
10/19/2026

🌼 Celebrate Día de los Mu***os with the Oshkosh Public Museum on Saturday, October 24! 💀

Now in its fifth year, this FREE, family-friendly event is a joyful way to honor loved ones who have passed while experiencing the music, dance, art, and storytelling traditions that make this day so meaningful.

There's something for everyone to enjoy!

🎺 Live Mariachi Music – Mariachi Corcel de Madison
💃 Folklórico Dancing – Hola's Grupo Folkloric
🎨 Hands-On Crafts
🧡 Community Ofrenda – A traditional altar honoring loved ones
🌮 Authentic Mexican Food – Available for purchase
🏛️ Free Museum Admission

📅 Saturday, October 24 | 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
📍 Oshkosh Public Museum | 1331 Algoma Blvd.
🎟️ FREE admission and activities!

This celebration is made possible in part by a Community Arts grant from your Community Foundation. We're proud to support events that celebrate cultural traditions, bring neighbors together, and make meaningful arts experiences accessible to everyone.

Come celebrate life, honor loved ones, and experience the traditions that enrich our community! ❤️

Hands up for creativity, community, and a whole lot of color! 🙌🎨 There's plenty to celebrate at Read Elementary School, ...
10/16/2026

Hands up for creativity, community, and a whole lot of color! 🙌🎨

There's plenty to celebrate at Read Elementary School, where students, staff, and community volunteers have helped bring a beautiful new mural to life!

Working alongside artist Neo Medina, students helped create a colorful work of art that reflects the diversity, creativity, and resilience of their school community. Its message, “Somos semillas” (“We are seeds”), celebrates the potential of every child to grow and thrive with the encouragement of a caring community.

The mural was funded in part by the 𝘌𝘮𝘪𝘭 & 𝘓𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘩𝘯 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘔𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘥 at the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation. Established to support the continued beautification of Oshkosh, the fund is creating a lasting legacy that will enrich our community for generations to come.

A special thank you for the generosity behind this meaningful legacy, and congratulations to everyone who helped bring the mural to life! ❤️

There’s still time to register! Join us for an informative session about the transfer of wealth underway in our region a...
10/08/2026

There’s still time to register! Join us for an informative session about the transfer of wealth underway in our region and why thoughtful estate planning conversations are more important than ever for nonprofits.

Choose the date and location that work best for you:

📅 October 15 | 7:45–9:00 a.m.
📍 UW Oshkosh – Culver’s Family Welcome Center

📅 October 27 | 7:45–9:00 a.m.
📍 Green Lake Town Square Community Center

Reserve your spot today: https://oacf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/list/ticket

Two Free Performances. One Day of Mariachi! 🎺🎻 The trumpets, strings, and unmistakable energy of mariachi are coming to ...
10/07/2026

Two Free Performances. One Day of Mariachi! 🎺🎻 The trumpets, strings, and unmistakable energy of mariachi are coming to Oshkosh this Saturday, October 10! Mariachi San José from San José State University will bring its vibrant sound to two free community performances.

Catch the band's performance at the Oshkosh Farmers Markets Saturday morning or see them at The Grand at UW-Oshkosh at 7 p.m.

The performances are part of Academia Popular de Mariachi, an initiative that brings mariachi music, culture and learning opportunities to local students, educators, and the broader community.

📆 Saturday, October 10
☀️ Oshkosh Farmers Market | 9 a.m. | Free
🌙 The Grand at UW-Oshkosh | 7 p.m. | Free (registration required)

Thanks to generous donors to the 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘴, these free performances are opening the door for more people to experience the music, culture, and traditions of mariachi during Hispanic Heritage Month.

The Grand Oshkosh

What Does Support for Older Adults Look Like? 💜A wheelchair that makes it easier to get around. A safe place to stay. Fr...
10/05/2026

What Does Support for Older Adults Look Like? 💜
A wheelchair that makes it easier to get around. A safe place to stay. Fresh food. Dental care. Counseling. A garden that brings people together.

These are just a few of the ways grants from the 𝘓𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘉𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘚𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘺: 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘖𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘈𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘴 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘥 made a difference in the Oshkosh area in the past year, and now a new round of funding is available!

More than $36,000 was awarded to local organizations. Here’s what those grants helped make possible:

🍎 ADVOCAP,Inc: Personal items and services to improve quality of life for 15 older adults who receive home-delivered meals.
🏠 Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services, INC.: 33 nights of safe shelter for older adults experiencing domestic or elder abuse.
🔑 COTS: Transitional housing and individualized support for older adults experiencing homelessness.
🧴 Day By Day Shelter: Health and hygiene supplies for more than 45 older adults experiencing homelessness.
🦽 Evergreen Retirement Community: 10 wheelchairs to help meet residents’ mobility needs.
🥕 Oshkosh Area Community Pantry: More than 2,000 pounds of food for Oshkosh adults age 55+.
☕ Oshkosh YMCA: Free Memory Café gatherings for older adults living with dementia and their caregivers.
🌱 Park View Health Center: Tools for a therapeutic garden club that encourages relaxation and connection.
💜 Reach Counseling: Trauma-specific counseling and advocacy for older adults who have experienced sexual violence.
🔨 Rebuilding Together Fox Valley: No-cost home safety modifications and repairs to help older adults prevent falls.
🧠 Samaritan: 25 mental health counseling sessions for older adults experiencing anxiety, depression, grief, and isolation.
🦷 Tri-County Dental Clinic: Dental care for at least 40 underserved older adults.
🗣️ Winnebago Area Literacy Council: Language learning and community experiences to help older adults build practical English skills and social connections.

📣 Does your organization make a difference for older adults in the Oshkosh area? Applications for the next round of funding are now open.

Learn more and apply before the 10/15 deadline: https://www.oshkoshareacf.org/apply-for-grants/ladies-benevolent-older-adults/

📸: Day By Day Shelter. In 2025, 1 in 4 shelter guests were 55 or older.

What happens when a college student, a small business owner, and a professional musician share the same stage? 🎶 At the ...
10/02/2026

What happens when a college student, a small business owner, and a professional musician share the same stage? 🎶

At the Oshkosh Symphony Orchestra (OSO), they don’t just make music. They learn from one another, form connections, and create something that reflects the community around them.

That’s the idea behind OSO’s community-centered model, which brings students, community musicians, and professionals together to perform side by side. 🎻

And local donors are helping it grow. Support from funds at your Community Foundation is helping create opportunities for musicians while keeping concerts affordable and free for youth.

This month, those musicians will take the stage in a newly renovated and accessible Music Hall at UW-Oshkosh as OSO opens its 85th season on October 17.

As Music Director Dylan T. Chmura-Moore says, “People make music, and it rings more true when your neighbor is the one making it with you.” ❤️

Read how local donors are helping OSO bring people together through music:
https://www.oshkoshareacf.org/grant-stories/building-community-through-music/

📸 Photo by Michael J. Cooney

Congratulations to the Twentieth Century Club of Oshkosh on an incredible 1️⃣3️⃣0️⃣ years!Founded in 1896 by Mary Jewell...
09/28/2026

Congratulations to the Twentieth Century Club of Oshkosh on an incredible 1️⃣3️⃣0️⃣ years!

Founded in 1896 by Mary Jewell Sawyer and a group of education-minded Oshkosh women, the club was created to foster art, music, education, philanthropy, and community engagement. From advocating for women on the school board to helping to establish ice skating rinks and tennis courts in recreational areas, its members have been making a difference in Oshkosh for generations.

That spirit continues today. The club supports numerous local organizations each year through charitable giving and has partnered with the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation since 1999 through the 𝘛𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘺 𝘊𝘭𝘶𝘣 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘥.

Perhaps founder Mary Jewell Sawyer said it best in 1905:
“We are here to help others — not to advance ourselves.”

What a wonderful legacy to carry forward 130 years later. Happy anniversary to the Twentieth Century Club, and thank you for your continued commitment to our community! ❤️

Address

230 Ohio Street, Ste 100
Oshkosh, WI
54902

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 12pm

Telephone

+19204263993

Website

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