The Fort Atkinson Community Foundation was organized in 1973 as a result of a $25,000 gift by a local citizen who wished to remain anonymous. Since its inception the foundation has made grants of over $11 million through June 30, 2009. The purpose of the foundation is stated on the home page. The foundation is organized under a formal Declaration of Trust and is exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Some obvious advantages to being a public foundation are that

	gifts to it are tax deductible by the contributor,
	it is a vehicle for those looking for a way to return to the Fort Atkinson area some of the good life that they have enjoyed here,
	it does not have to spend all of its income each year so that larger gifts can be made later, and
	in case of a designated donor gift, if circumstances change, the gift may be reallocated to a similar organization doing similar services.

During the last three fiscal years, the foundation has made grants that have averaged more than $1,700,000 per year. In the past year alone nearly $209,000 in scholarships were awarded to high school graduates and continuing education students. Click here to see the most recent published annual report, dated June 30, 2009. Click here for a photo tour of a number of the projects funded by the Foundation.

 The foundation's board has five members who volunteer their time. Each member is appointed on a staggered basis for a five year term by the School District of Fort Atkinson, the Trustees of the Foundation, the Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce, the Fort Atkinson Historical Society, and the Fort Atkinson City Council. 

                                           
The current directors and officers are:

	Randall Knox, President & Director
	J. Michael Phelps, Vice-President & Director
	James Nelson, Director
	Ron Vogel, Director
	Beth McLaughlin, Director
	Laurette Greenhalgh, Immediate Past President
	James Vance, Secretary & Legal Counsel
	Rod Ellenbecker or Jim Schafer, Trustee Representative
	Helen Rose, Program Administrator