For Goodness Sake presents check to Eau Claire County Department of Human Services Outreach Team
Fall 2026
Let’s start at the beginning so we’re on the same page. I’m Jill Christopherson and I’m one of the founders of For Goodness Sake — an outcome-based funding source focused on Ending Homelessness in Eau Claire through collaborative and measurable community solutions.
I believe that the money needed to end homelessness exists in our community, however, we need to do things differently and that’s why I started For Goodness Sake.
The idea came to me at the same time that the documentary, Beyond The Bridge, was shown at the Pablo Center in September 2024. I had recently served on the City Council and was disappointed in the lack of coordination or collaboration in local governments and between service providers. It was clear that the vision to end homelessness did not drive community investment for solutions in Eau Claire.
Since then, the Housing Our Neighbors Collaborative has been formed and For Goodness Sake has been an active partner from the start. A strategic plan has been developed that includes six strategies and community groups have begun the work. One continuing challenge is funding the solutions. That is where For Goodness Sake wants to change the expectations associated with giving in our community to an investment mindset rather than solely charity.
Let me explain how I view the fundamental differences between charitable giving and investment. Charity is given with the trust that it will be used to better the life of someone who is not able to care for themself or not able to afford the interventions necessary to become stable within the community.
However, many times no one giving charity asks questions about whether or not they are investing in effective results. Investors expect and want to know the outcome and highest return. That’s how we should regard the money we invest in the community to end homelessness.
For Goodness Sake believes there should be a shared agreement between those granting money and those receiving the grant that outlines goals, outcomes, and regular progress updates which are then accessible to the community. Here are a few questions we require answers to before deciding if we are funding a project:
What is the outcome?
Who are the community partners you are going to work with to get that outcome?
What data are you collecting to determine the effectiveness of the outcome?
We believe that more collaboration and accountability throughout our grant process will help move our community from unorganized charitable giving to investment in effective, strategic solutions.
Additional positives outcomes of tracking the community invested money will be:
Generating solid research data of what works and whose work is effectively providing the needed services.
Identify system gaps and target our investments there.
Encourage collaboration so that agencies cover gaps rather than duplicate services.
Discourage ineffective duplication of charity services that do not serve people with any expected accountability to the community vision of ending homelessness.
Hold service providers accountable for effective work.
For Goodness Sake has taken the first step to achieve the community outcomes we envision by granting our first round of funding to the Department of Human Services. The $10,000 will support housing two people for a year. This aligns with best practices that housing individuals is a first step to security. This pilot project is allowing us to test our grant application and review process. Here is the accountability we have mutually agreed to as part of funding this project:
Quarterly reports about costs
Description of work conducted to achieve the overall grant outcomes
Evaluation of impact and progress that has been made, including problems and how they were resolved
Our promise to our investors is to keep you updated along the way. You can expect to find these updates on our website and social media on a quarterly basis.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about For Goodness Sake. The $10,000 distribution for the pilot project was the majority of the funding we initially raised. Community partners estimate that it will require $3.5 million dollars to house those on the current housing wait list and streets of Eau Claire. If you want to support the outcome-based work we are doing, please consider an investment of $40 a month.
You can send checks to:
Online donations can be made here: https://onrealm.org/wcucc/-/form/give/forgoodnesssake
*Note - For Goodness Sake has a fund managed through overseen by the Wisconsin Foundation UCC
