Give Where You Live (GWYL) is an owner-powered giving program that strengthens our community by raising awareness and essential funds for local non-profits that provide important services in our area.
How it Works:
Each October, co-op owners can nominate local schools and non-profits for the GWYL ballot. Each November, we hold an election for owners to vote on the organizations they choose to support. The eleven organizations with the most votes become the recipients for the next year’s register round-up program. The twelfth recipient is the Viroqua Food Co+op Cooperative Community Fund.
The Donation:
The GWYL donation is comprised of:
The generous support of co-op owners and shoppers who round-up their transactions at the registers.
Other monetary donations that are collected at the registers.
The co-op donates 1% of every second Wednesday’s sales.
Together we make a difference.
Mary Mulvaney-Kemp from the RedLou Library says,
“Thank you once again for all your support. We have also gotten two additional volunteers since February. They credited the co-op for learning about Red Lou. Your Give Where You Live program is phenomenal!”
April Give Where You Live Recipient
2025 Give Where You Live Recipient Schedule
January Living Faith Food Pantry
February Red Lou Library, Inc.
March Friends of Vernon County Parks and Forests
April Vernon Trails
May Driftless Humane Society
June Friends of Kickapoo Valley Reserve
July WDRT-Driftless Community Radio
August Valley Stewardship Network
September Couleecap Inc.
October VFC Cooperative Community Fund
November McIntosh Memorial Library
December Community Hunger Solutions
Congratulations, co-op community! With your generosity, we have raised and donated over $250,000 to local organizations through GWYL!
FAQ
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Co-op owners do! Every November an election is held to determine the 11 recipient organizations for the next year! The 11 organizations that receive the most votes will be assigned a month in the next year. October, Co-op Month is always reserved for Viroqua Food Co+op's Cooperative Community Fund which grants funds to a project or event that aligns with the co-op's mission.
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An owner must nominate them! Every October the nomination period is opened. Once open, the application for nominations can be found on this webpage. Co-op owners can nominate any qualifying organization. Once nominated, qualifying organizations are reviewed to meet requirements, and then, if confirmed, added to the list.
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Months are ranked by historical monthly sales totals. The organization with the most votes will be assigned to the month with the highest sales from the previous year and then the second most voted will get the next highest highest month, and so on.
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Eligible organizations are:
local 501 (c)(3) non-profit organizations
local schools
Organizations must also be:
non-partisan
non-discriminatory
secular
align with the mission of the co-op
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All nominations must be submitted by an owner. If you are an owner, you are allowed to nominate an organization! If you're not an owner you must find a co-op owner willing to nominate your organization.
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1% Wednesdays are the 2nd Wednesday of every month. On these days 1% of total co-op sales goes to the Give Where You Live total for that month's recipient.
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Other Ways We Donate
community fund
microloan
donations
sponsorship