Working Together. Giving Back.

John J. “Jack” Keller enjoyed a successful career in the publishing and consulting business, founding J. J. Keller & Associates in 1953. In the beginning, Ethel was involved in getting the business up and running by answering phones. But Ethel is remembered primarily for her loving passion for the community. Jack’s entrepreneurial spirit and Ethel’s missionary spirit provided the financial means and social insight to participate in local philanthropic opportunities.

In 1990, Jack Keller gifted the Foundation to Ethel in honor of her 70th birthday. What began with an initial gift of $25,000 has since grown to be one of the largest private funders in Northeast Wisconsin. The Foundation allows Jack and Ethel’s giving spirit to live on across our communities.

J. J. Keller Foundation Milestones

Click and drag to view all Milestones - Click thumbnail to see galleries

1990

  • The Keller Foundation, Inc. is established in Neenah, WI, by John J. (Jack) Keller in honor of his wife Ethel’s 70th birthday.
  • Original Foundation Directors:
    • John J. Keller, Chairman 
    • Ethel D. Keller, Vice Chairman
    • Robert (Bob) L. Keller, President 
    • James J. Keller, Vice President 
    • Marion B. Murvine, Secretary
    • Ronald M. Phillips, Treasurer 

1994

  • The John J. and Ethel D. Keller Fund is established at the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region.

1999

  • John J. (Jack) Keller begins funding the Foundation with proceeds from his personal investments.
  • The Foundation distributes more than $100,000 in a year for the first time ($117,544).

2007

  • The J. J. Keller Foundation agrees to join forces with the Schmidt family and U.S. Oil (now U.S. Venture) to form the Basic Needs Giving Partnership.  A grant of $560,000 is approved by the Foundation Board. JJKF has thus far committed more than $12 million since the partnership began.  Basic Needs funds are granted to and distributed through community foundations in the Fox Valley, Oshkosh and Green Bay.
  • The J. J. Keller Foundation Donor Advised Fund is established at the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation with a $100,000 grant. 
  • John J. Keller passes away on June 13, 2007. The entire Keller estate was placed into an endowment that would be the cornerstone of the Foundation’s future.

2010

  • $25 million milestone of giving reached with $25,000 grant to LEAVEN.
  • The Social Innovation Leadership Experience (SILE) comes to life through a discretionary grant provided by JJKF’s Marne Keller-Krikava, in partnership with Marquette University. The first cohort of 12 executive directors from basic needs-related nonprofits begins a nine-month program. During the program’s duration, forty nonprofit executive directors of basic needs-related organizations in Green Bay, Oshkosh and the Fox Valley have graduated from the program.  SILE focused on teaching participants about successful social innovation and social entrepreneurship concepts, frameworks and models.  Its primary purpose was to create a mind shift in participants – illustrated by less contentment with managing social problems and more leadership devotion to solving them, resulting in positive, measurable social impact. 

2012

  • $35 million milestone of giving is reached with $35,000 grant to Fox Valley Literacy Coalition (now Fox Valley Literacy Council).
  • JJKF and Tri-County Dental collaborate to establish a mobile dental clinic used to provide much-needed oral health services to low-income children in surrounding counties. The bus was modeled after one JJKF toured during a family-philanthropy conference in Austin, Texas.  Information from the funder, St. David’s Foundation, was brought back to Bob Glass at Tri-County Dental, and he was encouraged to explore the opportunity to bring a similar service to the Valley.  The mobile clinic now serves over 38 schools across the greater Fox Cities. 
  • JJKF leads the inception of the “Race for Miracles,” later called “Race for a Reason,” mini-Grand Prix car race to benefit Catalpa Health.

2015

  • Foundation partners with Information Technology staff at J. J. Keller & Associates on the inaugural Give Camp to benefit the Fox Cities Housing Coalition.  A round-the-clock work-marathon weekend produces a new website for the Coalition.
  • Foundation begins its 25th anniversary year.

2017

  • The Foundation launches Kickstart. Nine nonprofits participated in the Kickstart program by concepting ideas to reduce suicide attempts in the Fox cities. A total of $100,000 was awarded for the ideas with the greatest potential for reduction. 

2019

  • The Foundation celebrates $60 million milestone in giving.

2022

  • JJKF welcomes additional staff to support operations – Jen Peeters, Foundation Administrator, and Candice Olson, Grants Manager.
  • The Foundation hires (Incoming) Executive Director, Monica Stage, to replace exiting Heidi Dusek.
  • $75 million milestone in giving is reached. Celebrated with an event held at Catalpa Health with a surprise announcement, awarding Catalpa Health $75,000 for Care Management in honor of the occasion. Heidi Dusek was thanked for her time as ED and Monica Stage was welcomed as the new ED.

1991

  • First grant is made to American Cancer Society for $20.
  • The IRS grants The Keller Foundation, Inc. tax exempt status.
  • The Foundation’s largest donation is granted to United Way for $1,500.
  • Jack & Ethel Keller join Legendary Packers quarterback Bart Starr and his wife, Cherry Starr, to commemorate a J. J. Keller Foundation grant for the Rawhide High School at the Rawhide Boys Ranch, known as Rawhide Youth Services today.
  • A total of $7,293.40 was awarded in the Foundation’s first year.

1998

  • The Foundation’s first grant of $10,000 or more is awarded to United Way Fox Cities for $13,000.
  • Marne Keller-Krikava becomes a director of the Foundation.

2004

  • Brian J. Keller becomes a director of the Foundation.
  • Ethel Keller passes away on December 21, 2004.

2008

  • Mary Harp-Jirschele is hired as the first Executive Director of JJKF. 
  • Bob Keller becomes Chairman of the Board.
  • Associate Matching Gifts Program is established for full-time staff members of J. J. Keller & Associates.
  • JJKF joins forces with Affinity Health System, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, ThedaCare and Dave Vander Zanden to establish the Fox Valley Children’s Mental Health Clinic, which evolved into Catalpa Health.  Ethel’s efforts, along with granddaughter Marne Keller-Krikava, helped launch the 2004 campaign to get the clinic off the ground. In 2008, Fox Valley Children’s Mental Health Center opens its doors, bringing the late Ethel Keller’s dream of behavioral health care for children to life. Today, Fox Valley Children’s Mental Health Center is known as Catalpa Health.
  • First year to surpass $1,000,000 in grants ($2,595,727).

2011

  • $30 million milestone of giving is reached with a $30,000 grant to Oshkosh Area Community Pantry.
  • J. J. Keller Foundation Donor Advised Fund is established at Greater Green Bay Community Foundation.

2014

  • $40 million milestone in giving reached with $40,000 grant to Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin.

2016

  • Foundation celebrates its continued partnership with Habitat for Humanity by supporting the 13th Habitat home built by associates of J. J. Keller & Associates and the Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity.
  • Foundation partners with Marketing Department at J. J. Keller & Associates on a Give Camp to benefit Partnership Health Center’s new onsite clinic at COTS in Appleton.  A plethora of full-color marketing materials and hands-on information for clients of the clinic is produced. 
  • $50 million milestone in giving reached with a $50,000 grant to Riverview Gardens.  
  • The Foundation’s second Executive Director Heidi Dusek is hired, replacing the retiring Mary Harp-Jirschele.

2018

  • B.O.S.S., later rebranded as Intersector, was formed by $100,000 seed funding from JJKF. This program connected nonprofits with business talent and services to increase social impact by supporting nonprofit leadership in human resources, finance, information technology, and operations.

 

2020

  • JJKF responds to the COVID-19 pandemic by collaborating with several community partners to establish a PPE distribution center.
  • Over $3.9M is distributed to provide continued support for area nonprofits.

2023

  • For the first time in 33 years, the J. J. Keller Foundation Board of Directors welcomes new president and board chairman, Marne Keller-Krikava. Although Bob stepped down from his officer position, he remains an integral member of the four-person board.
  • The board celebrates Bob’s 33 years of dedicated leadership. To mark the occasion, Bob provided an additional $33,000 in discretionary funding to nonprofits of his choosing.
x close