History of the Charles D. Jacobus Family Foundation
By Missy MacLeod, President
My grandfather, D. C. Jacobus, started the Jacobus Foundation, Inc. in 1954, and was its founder and president. Contributions were made by D. C., members of his family, The Jacobus Company, and its affiliates. He encouraged family participation, and my father, Charles D. Jacobus, and his brothers and sister were regularly consulted in connection with grant-making decisions.
As grandchildren, we were encouraged to seek funding from the Jacobus Foundation for projects we were interested in. I remember the process well. I would meet with my grandfather in his study at his home in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. We would discuss the project, and he would ask me why I thought the project was worthy of funding and any concerns I had. He would then tell me he would take it to the Board of Directors, and he would let me know the result. Next we would have a glass of sherry with my grandmother, and she would tell my grandfather that he must help. He always did.
In 1977, the Heritage Wisconsin Corporation, a bank holding company controlled by the Jacobus family, began contributing to the Foundation. The Foundation then became a bit more corporate, changing its name to the Jacobus/Heritage Foundation, with the sponsoring organizations listed as the Jacobus Company, Heritage Wisconsin Companies, Olson Companies and Quickflash Fuels.
The next big changes occurred in 1985. My grandfather died early that year. Heritage Wisconsin Corporation was acquired by another Milwaukee bank and each of D. C.’s four children decided to split the Foundation along family lines, allowing each family to pursue its own charitable interests and objectives. The four new foundations became the Charles D. Jacobus Family Foundation, the Richard G. Jacobus Family Foundation, the John T. Jacobus Family Foundation and the Souder Family Foundation.
The Charles D. Jacobus Family Foundation began operations in 1986 under the leadership of my father, Charles D. Jacobus. My father asked all of his children, their spouses, and my mother, Eugenia, to be on the board with him. He then asked me, while on a family vacation in northern Wisconsin, to help him run our family’s foundation. It was a great honor to me and very much of a surprise. It was also one of the best father/daughter experiences I have ever had (besides him teaching me how to use my fairway woods just before my trip to Scotland).
Together as a family, we forged a new family foundation. We decided to make larger grants to fewer organizations and to focus on Milwaukee’s children. In 1993, we instituted the Special Program Grant whereby we funded specific program requests that helped children from the start, rather than intervening later when change becomes more difficult and is more expensive to accomplish.
By Missy MacLeod, President
My grandfather, D. C. Jacobus, started the Jacobus Foundation, Inc. in 1954, and was its founder and president. Contributions were made by D. C., members of his family, The Jacobus Company, and its affiliates. He encouraged family participation, and my father, Charles D. Jacobus, and his brothers and sister were regularly consulted in connection with grant-making decisions.
As grandchildren, we were encouraged to seek funding from the Jacobus Foundation for projects we were interested in. I remember the process well. I would meet with my grandfather in his study at his home in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. We would discuss the project, and he would ask me why I thought the project was worthy of funding and any concerns I had. He would then tell me he would take it to the Board of Directors, and he would let me know the result. Next we would have a glass of sherry with my grandmother, and she would tell my grandfather that he must help. He always did.
In 1977, the Heritage Wisconsin Corporation, a bank holding company controlled by the Jacobus family, began contributing to the Foundation. The Foundation then became a bit more corporate, changing its name to the Jacobus/Heritage Foundation, with the sponsoring organizations listed as the Jacobus Company, Heritage Wisconsin Companies, Olson Companies and Quickflash Fuels.
The next big changes occurred in 1985. My grandfather died early that year. Heritage Wisconsin Corporation was acquired by another Milwaukee bank and each of D. C.’s four children decided to split the Foundation along family lines, allowing each family to pursue its own charitable interests and objectives. The four new foundations became the Charles D. Jacobus Family Foundation, the Richard G. Jacobus Family Foundation, the John T. Jacobus Family Foundation and the Souder Family Foundation.
The Charles D. Jacobus Family Foundation began operations in 1986 under the leadership of my father, Charles D. Jacobus. My father asked all of his children, their spouses, and my mother, Eugenia, to be on the board with him. He then asked me, while on a family vacation in northern Wisconsin, to help him run our family’s foundation. It was a great honor to me and very much of a surprise. It was also one of the best father/daughter experiences I have ever had (besides him teaching me how to use my fairway woods just before my trip to Scotland).
Together as a family, we forged a new family foundation. We decided to make larger grants to fewer organizations and to focus on Milwaukee’s children. In 1993, we instituted the Special Program Grant whereby we funded specific program requests that helped children from the start, rather than intervening later when change becomes more difficult and is more expensive to accomplish.
My father concentrated his efforts on established institutions in the community, and I worked with grass roots human services organizations. It was a great match, and I think we both learned a lot about our community.
In 1996, we moved the Foundation and its operations to the new Jacobus Energy headquarters on Bradley Road in Milwaukee. Jacobus Energy continued to make generous contributions to the Foundation, as did my parents. At that time we also began visiting agency sites and requesting evaluations of projects that we funded. My father believed, and correctly so, that visiting an organization would make the application only part of the consideration for giving a grant, putting all organizations on more of an even playing field.
Just when everything was in place to become the family foundation we had worked so hard to create, my father died in August, 1997. I remember talking to him in the hospital about a big request. Instead of being preoccupied with his own health, he was more interested in knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the request.
I became president of the Foundation the following year – another real honor and an exciting opportunity. My vision is similar to my dad’s: To continue to be active and knowledgeable about our community, to make giving a pleasant and not burdensome process for applicants, and to concentrate on Milwaukee’s best asset, its children.
I always cringe at the phrase “giving back to the community,” because it implies a one-way experience born out of an obligation, not a strong belief that we as a community are one big family. Giving is more like a family relationship done with respect, understanding, dignity, support, lots of love, and fun. And through that experience, we as a family/community grow and become thriving, caring and strong.
I invite you into our “living rooms” to learn more about the Charles D. Jacobus Family Foundation.
Board of Directors –
Charles D. Jacobus Family Foundation
Missy MacLeod – President
Charles D. Jacobus, Jr. – Vice President/Secretary
Eugene T. Jacobus – Vice President/Treasurer/Registered Agent
In 1996, we moved the Foundation and its operations to the new Jacobus Energy headquarters on Bradley Road in Milwaukee. Jacobus Energy continued to make generous contributions to the Foundation, as did my parents. At that time we also began visiting agency sites and requesting evaluations of projects that we funded. My father believed, and correctly so, that visiting an organization would make the application only part of the consideration for giving a grant, putting all organizations on more of an even playing field.
Just when everything was in place to become the family foundation we had worked so hard to create, my father died in August, 1997. I remember talking to him in the hospital about a big request. Instead of being preoccupied with his own health, he was more interested in knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the request.
I became president of the Foundation the following year – another real honor and an exciting opportunity. My vision is similar to my dad’s: To continue to be active and knowledgeable about our community, to make giving a pleasant and not burdensome process for applicants, and to concentrate on Milwaukee’s best asset, its children.
I always cringe at the phrase “giving back to the community,” because it implies a one-way experience born out of an obligation, not a strong belief that we as a community are one big family. Giving is more like a family relationship done with respect, understanding, dignity, support, lots of love, and fun. And through that experience, we as a family/community grow and become thriving, caring and strong.
I invite you into our “living rooms” to learn more about the Charles D. Jacobus Family Foundation.
Board of Directors –
Charles D. Jacobus Family Foundation
Missy MacLeod – President
Charles D. Jacobus, Jr. – Vice President/Secretary
Eugene T. Jacobus – Vice President/Treasurer/Registered Agent