Chili Cookoff Funds United Way in Eau Claire
Local businesses see how a public, ticketed event can sustain a long-term charity partnership with United Way.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Xcel Energy hosted its annual chili cookoff benefit in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, with all proceeds going to United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley. Admission to sample the recipes was $5, and twelve teams competed for the People's Choice Award.
Why it matters
For local businesses, the event shows how a utility is using a community-facing fundraiser to build ties with a regional charity. Corporate giving of this kind tends to rely on employee participation and visible local partnerships rather than large single gifts.
The event charged $5 for admission to sample recipes and featured twelve competing teams for the People's Choice Award. In recent years the cookoff has raised over $2,500 for United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley, though the figure for this year's event was not reported.
The players
Xcel Energy
A regulated electric and natural gas utility serving customers across several Midwestern states, which hosts employee and community giving programs.
United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley
A local nonprofit affiliate of United Way that directs donated funds to human service programs in the Eau Claire region.
The details
Attendees paid $5 to sample the chili recipes submitted by competing teams, who were also judged and voted on for the People's Choice Award. All money raised went to United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley. Xcel Energy has partnered with the charity through annual giving campaigns and employee events, and the cookoff is one part of that ongoing relationship.
Timeline
Wednesday, November 4, 2026: Xcel Energy hosted its annual chili cookoff benefit event in Eau Claire.
In recent years: the event has raised over $2,500 for United Way.
Market Landscape
Utilities in the Midwest commonly run employee-driven giving through United Way campaigns, which this event extends into a public fundraiser. The approach ties a regulated company's community presence to a single local charity rather than spreading gifts across many causes.
Local businesses considering community partnerships can use this model of a public fundraiser tied to an existing charity relationship as a reference point. Owners should weigh the staff time and ticket costs against the visibility and donation totals before committing to a similar event.
The takeaway
Company-hosted fundraisers pair a visible public event with an established charity relationship, which is a model smaller operators can adapt. Track the net proceeds and staff hours of any similar event to judge whether it is worth repeating.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Philanthropy and how local giving programs are structured in the Eau Claire area.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Weau.
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