Generous gift provides another $6.24 million to Northeast Wisconsin non-profit organizations, including UW-Green Bay

Thirty-two nonprofits throughout northeastern Wisconsin received a much-needed boost when the David L. and Rita E. Nelson Family Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region awarded more than $6.24 million in grants. The fund has provided over $21 million in grants since its creation four years ago.

The Nelsons, who lived in De Pere, died in 2017. She was a teacher, (and UW-Green Bay alumna) and he was the chief financial officer for the Post-Crescent in Appleton and the Green Bay Press-Gazette until the family newspapers were sold. He then invested in radio stations and other businesses. The Nelsons left more than $100 million from their estate to their family fund at the Community Foundation. The gift was by far the largest ever received by the Community Foundation and one of the largest charitable gifts in the state’s history.

UW-Green Bay has now received more than $350K in funding since 2019. The most recent donation is specific to:

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, $100,000 to help finalize Phase II of the project that refurbished and replaced the Cofrin Arboretum bridges and improved the trail system at UW-Green Bay’s Cofrin Memorial Arboretum and its 290-acre natural area with more than 6 miles of trails. This area provides opportunities for recreation, nature appreciation, research, education, and environmental conservation. 

Read the full list of organizations receiving funds on the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region web site.