Supporting our firm’s mission to create a lasting, positive impact
The Wipfli Foundation supports organizations that reflect our mission and that our associates are personally committed to.
Through an employee matching program, we support charities with a focus on:
- Education
- Health
- Human services
- Public/societal benefits
Each year, the foundation also supports scholarships, including the Mary T. Wylie Scholarship for women in accounting and the National Association of Black Accountants leadership program.
The foundation was formed in 2005 as part of an effort to give back to colleges and universities. At that time, the funds the foundation donated were primarily used to fund scholarships, purchase textbooks and, occasionally, support universities’ capital campaigns and endowed professorships. The program also provides an opportunity for the foundation to match donations from associates and retired partners to universities.
In 2020, the foundation expanded its focus to include a new emphasis on promoting diversity, equity and inclusion through scholarships, leadership programs and campus programs.
In 2021, we refined and expanded the foundation’s mission to reflect our commitment to the communities we serve by creating an employee matching program for charitable organizations.
In recognition of urgent needs in our world, the foundation also occasionally offers to match associate donations to causes, such as to India during the height of the pandemic, and to Ukraine charities following the Russian invasion.
The foundation does not accept external requests for funding.
The fund is overseen by an elected board of directors.
Wipfli Foundation board members
Durward Ferland – President
Durward Ferland, Jr., leads Wipfli’s risk advisory services practice. In this role, he guides the strategic direction of the practice and enhances Wipfli’s service offerings. With more than 20 years of experience in the field of information technology (IT) governance, risk and control, Durward has extensive knowledge of System and Organization Controls (SOC) auditing and the Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology (COBIT). He provides consulting services to financial institutions, insurance companies, service bureaus and data centers in the areas of developing and auditing effective IT-related controls.
Jessica Schwantes – Vice President
Jessica Schwantes is the Madison market leader and tax partner. As the leader of the Madison market, she is responsible for the overall financial results of the region, new client development, client retention, partner and associate development and community engagement.
Stephanie Cavadeas – Secretary and Treasurer
Stephanie J. Cavadeas is a partner in Wipfli’s nonprofit and government practice who oversees audit, tax and management consulting opportunities and works with clients to maintain compliance with laws and regulations. With over 20 years of experience, she enjoys helping her clients achieve their mission by navigating the complex regulatory environment. She feels passionate about working with nonprofit organizations where she can see firsthand the impact her clients have on their communities.
MaryPat Davitz
MaryPat focuses on employee benefits/ERISA and system and organization controls (SOC) specialty services and is responsible for signing reports for audit, attest and consulting engagements. Her experience includes risk assessment services, compliance and regulatory reporting services, internal control reporting and assessments, and Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance.
Jessica Macklin
Jessica Macklin is a partner in Wipfli LLP’s tax department with nearly 15 years of experience providing tax planning and preparation services for corporations, partnerships, farmers and individuals. She specializes in state and local taxation and helps clients navigate the tax laws of the state and local jurisdictions in which they operate. Jessica’s clients appreciate her vast state and local tax knowledge as well as her timeliness and responsiveness to their questions and issues.
Audra Moncur
Audra Moncur leads Wipfli’s valuation services group in Illinois and works with clients and attorneys to provide business appraisal services for the purposes of litigation support, buying or selling businesses, divorce, and estate planning or gifting. In addition, she performs due diligence analysis for mergers and acquisitions. Audra has extensive experience in preparing tax returns for individuals, trusts, and businesses. She also assists individuals with estate tax planning and filing of appropriate trust and estate tax returns.
