The Stanley Area Historical Society Endowment Fund is an Agency Fund that was established to support the long-term mission-driven goals and operations of the Stanley Area Historical Society. In December 1982, the Stanley Area Historical Society purchased the former Southside School that became the organization's first museum building. Organized as a historical society in 1976, the first historical displays were located in one small room in the basement of the D. R. Moon Library. In December 1983, the organization sent its first newsletter to 308 people. Since then, semi-annual newsletters are seen primarily as a means of keeping the membership, that is scattered across the country, informed of what is occurring to preserve Stanley area history. Secondarily, the newsletter is a fundraiser as it always makes the membership aware of the organization's needs.

With forward thinking members, at its quarterly meeting in October 1984, the organization took final steps in establishing a fund with the Community Foundation Chippewa County and is known as the Stanley Area Historical Society Endowment Fund. In the December 1984 newsletter, the establishment of this Fund was introduced as follows: Why establish an endowment fund? An endowment fund is seen as a means of covering operating/maintenance expenses of the museum in the future. What makes an endowment fund different? An endowment fund sets aside money donated to it and only spends the income/interest earned on its investments. Thus, a contribution to the fund is like giving a gift each year. In a sense, it is a living memorial as each year your donation assists in the continued operation of the museum. Should I contribute to the fund? This of course is an individual decision. Contributions are welcome anytime. If you can't contribute now, it is encouraged that you consider provisions for a donation in your will. The main thing is that any dollar amount is a secure way to give a gift that keeps on giving year after year and provides the Stanley Area Historical Society with a strong financial base.

In a subsequent year, it was decided that unless otherwise stipulated, all memorial donations given to the society would be placed in its endowment fund and any donations received from an estate plan would have at least half of the amount placed in the fund. In recent years, the Stanley Area Historical Society has begun applying the amount available to grant per year from this endowment fund, to be applied towards its annual budget to help cover the museum's annual expenditures.In light of the fact that the museum receives no operational funding from any state, county or city sources, the annual income that is derived from an endowment fund is of major importance, and necessary, to maintain what has been established as a means of preserving the area's history. The museum complex, as it now exists, includes the original school building, the addition of a Logging and Farming Building in 1987, a major addition of a library, meeting room, computer work areas, a large storage space and a handicap lift added in 2002 and in 2012, the addition of a major exhibit hall with storage area above. The Community Foundation of Chippewa County serves as a way for small non-profit organizations to have its' investments handled professionally, and overseen by a Board of Directors, made up of volunteer community servants, devoted to the organizations who have placed their trust in them.