Sun Prairie, Wis., (February 4, 2025) – Compeer Financial’s Fund for Rural America, the Farm Credit cooperative’s giving program, has awarded 12 General Use Grants, totaling $69,600 to Wisconsin community organizations. These grants fund initiatives and organizations whose work aligns with Compeer Financial’s mission by enriching agriculture and rural America.
The funding will directly impact the lives of 18,415 people. Grant recipients fall under one of the following categories:
- Education: educating young, beginning or future farmers.
- Environment: maintaining or improving the quality of the rural environment.
- Technology: supporting the advancement and utilization of technology for the benefit of farmers and rural communities.
- Quality of Life: programs or initiatives that enhance the quality of life for farmers and rural communities.
Since 2018, the Fund for Rural America has awarded 519 grants throughout Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin, totaling $3 million in local support.
“Compeer Financial is proud to give back to the communities where our team members live and work through the Fund for Rural America,” said Karen Schieler, Compeer Financial manager of corporate giving. “The General Use Grants directly contribute to the health and vitality of rural America. From food security to STEM education to rural mental health programs, these worthy projects and programs will make a difference for years to come.”
The Wisconsin organizations receiving support from the General Use Grant Program include:
| CESA 3: equipment for agriculture, food and natural resources careers education |
| Church Health Services, Inc.: dental and mental health services |
| Columbus FFA Alumni: electrical, plumbing, heating and structural repairs to school greenhouse |
| Couleecap, Inc.: technical assistance for small businesses |
| Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership: Wisconsin Youth Leadership Seminar |
| Marbleseed: addressing language access gap with resource materials |
| Northeast Entrepreneur Fund, Inc. dba Entrepreneur Fund: business consultant and technical assistance for small businesses |
| Scenic Bluffs Health Care Inc.: completing renovations and equipping a mobile dental unit |
| School District of Wisconsin Dells – Brew Farm: barn fans and new barn doors |
| Shepherds Ministries: essential equipment for student success |
| The Swap and Shop Inc.: chest freezer and display cooler |
| University of Wisconsin-Platteville: precision agriculture equipment for data analysis |
Applications will open in May 2025 for summer 2025 Compeer Financial General Use Grants.
For more information, visit Compeer.com/giving-back.
About the Fund for Rural America
The Compeer Financial Fund for Rural America is the corporate giving program of Compeer Financial, structured to support Compeer Financial’s mission to enrich agriculture and rural America. Compeer Financial’s Board of Directors has dedicated one percent of annual net earnings to support the Fund’s focus areas of agriculture education, youth engagement, rural development and community enrichment, agricultural advocacy and development, and cooperative initiatives. The Fund is managed by a Board of Trustees, made up of team members and members of the Compeer Financial Board of Directors. More information about opportunities available through the Fund can be found at Compeer.com/giving-back.
About Compeer Financial
Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities. The $33.1 billion organization provides loans, leases, risk management and other financial services throughout 144 counties in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Based in the Upper Midwest, Compeer Financial exists to champion the hopes and dreams of rural America, while providing personalized service and expertise to clients and the agriculture industry.
Compeer Financial is the third largest cooperative of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of lending institutions supporting agriculture and rural communities with reliable, consistent credit and financial services. Learn more about Compeer Financial.
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