SOUTHWEST INITIATIVE FOUNDATION

COMMUNITY IMPACT: THE SOUTHWEST INITIATIVE FOUNDATION (SWIF) PROVIDES GRANTS AND PROGRAMS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL PEOPLE TO THRIVE IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. OUR GRANTMAKING, PROACTIVE PROGRAMMING AND COMMUNITY LED BELONGING ACTIVITIES HELP CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL PEOPLE TO THRIVE IN THE COMMUNITIES THEY CALL HOME. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, WE CAN LEAD INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES TO THRIVE.SWIF CONTINUES WORK IN GROWING LOCAL: AN EIGHT-MONTH TRAINING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO HELP UP-AND-COMING LEADERS DISCOVER AND BUILD UPON THEIR UNIQUE STRENGTHS SO THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THIS PROGRAM HELPS CULTIVATE A VITAL LEADERSHIP PIPELINE IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA BY SUPPORTING BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES WITH LEADERS WHO REFLECT THE MAKEUP OF THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE INITIAL COHORT GRADUATED 14 PARTICIPANTS, AND THE SECOND COHORT GRADUATED 13.SWIF SUPPORTS WELCOMING WEEK EFFORTS ACROSS SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA, RANGING FROM 6 TO 16 COMMUNITIES. THROUGH THIS, ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES BRING TOGETHER NEIGHBORS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS TO BUILD STRONG CONNECTIONS AND AFFIRM THE IMPORTANCE OF WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE PLACES IN ACHIEVING COLLECTIVE PROSPERITY. SWIF PROVIDES FUNDING AND SUPPORT FOR WELCOMING WEEK CELEBRATIONS IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR REGION AS A PART OF OUR MEMBERSHIP IN WELCOMING AMERICA, THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION LEADING WELCOMING WEEK.SWIF EXPANDED THE WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES PROJECT TO LAC QUI PARLE COUNTY. THIS PROGRAM HELPS COMMUNITY MEMBERS BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND LEARN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY PRACTICES WHILE GROWING THEIR LOCAL NETWORK OF "WELCOMERS" WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT INCLUDING EVERYONE. COMMUNITIES APPLY TO BE PART OF THE PROJECT AND THEN PARTICIPATE IN MONTHLY COHORT MEETINGS TO SHARE TOOLS, SKILLS, AND STRATEGIES FOR WELCOMING AND INCLUSION.THE TEAM ALSO WORKS TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY WELL-BEING BY SUPPORTING YOUTH AND FAMILIES AND IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND AWARENESS. THIS INCLUDES BEING A PARTNER IN THE SUICIDE AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS, AND CRISIS SUPPORT AND RESPONSE. SWIF ALSO SERVES THE REGIONAL NONPROFITS BY PROVIDING NONPROFIT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING TO BUILD CAPACITY AND SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATIONS' DEVELOPMENT.GRANTMAKING IS AT THE HEART OF OUR ROLE AS A COMMUNITY FOUNDATION. WE ACCEPT GRANT APPLICATIONS ON AN ONGOING BASIS AS WELL AS PROVIDING DEFINED GRANT ROUNDS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE ALSO SERVE AS A PHILANTHROPIC INTERMEDIARY TO BRING ADDITIONAL GRANT DOLLARS INTO OUR REGION THROUGH PARTNER FOUNDATIONS.SWIF IS 1 OF 23 COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS ACROSS A 10-STATE NETWORK PARTICIPATING IN A PHILANTHROPIC PREPAREDNESS, RESILIENCY, AND EMERGENCY PARTNERSHIP. WE CONTINUE TO USE THE BEST PRACTICES LEARNED THROUGH THIS NETWORK IN DISASTER RESPONSE RECOVERY WORK WITHIN OUR REGION AS NEEDS ARISE.SWIF'S PAUL AND ALMA SCHWAN AGING TRUST ENDOWMENT FUND PROMOTES PRODUCTIVE AGING IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA. ESTABLISHED IN 1991, THIS IS A KEY EXAMPLE OF LEGACY AND IMPACT DONORS CAN MAKE THROUGH SWIF. IT CONTINUES TO FUND AGE-FRIENDLY COMMUNITY WORK LAUNCHED IN 2016 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MINNESOTA RIVER AREA AGENCY ON AGING AND THE PRAIRIE FIVE COMMUNITY ACTION. THIS FUND ALSO SUPPORTS A RESPONSIVE GRANT FUND FOR COMMUNITY PROJECTS THAT REDUCE SOCIAL ISOLATION AND LONELINESS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA BY FOSTERING SOCIAL CONNECTIONS.

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION PROGRAM: SEE SCHEDULE O.SOUTHWEST INITIATIVE FOUNDATION'S COMMUNITY FOUNDATION PROGRAM SETS UP GEOGRAPHICALLY FOCUSED FUNDS CALLED AFFILIATE FOUNDATIONS. THESE FUNDS HELP KEEP CHARITABLE DONATIONS IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA AND DIRECT THEM TO LOCAL NEEDS. SINCE 1999, THE PROGRAM HAS GRANTED APPROXIMATELY $10 MILLION TO SUPPORT COMMUNITIES IN THE REGION.THE PROGRAM INCLUDES 31 AFFILIATE FOUNDATIONS. EACH IS LED BY A VOLUNTEER ADVISORY BOARD OF LOCAL RESIDENTS. THESE VOLUNTEERS DECIDE WHICH PROJECTS TO SUPPORT AND HELP CONNECT DONATIONS WITH COMMUNITY NEEDS. EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS INCLUDE IMPROVING PARKS, FIXING SWIMMING POOLS, PROVIDING FOOD FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, SUPPORTING STUDENT LEARNING ACTIVITIES, AND OTHER LOCAL PROGRAMS. BY COMBINING LOCAL LEADERSHIP WITH PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT, THE PROGRAM MAKES CHARITABLE DOLLARS GO FURTHER.SWIF HELPS AFFILIATES WITH ADMINISTRATION, FINANCES, AND INVESTMENTS. IT ALSO PROVIDES THE LEGAL AND TAX STRUCTURE NEEDED FOR COMPLIANCE AND DONOR CONFIDENCE. NEW AFFILIATES TAKE PART IN LAUNCH MEETINGS TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES. ALL AFFILIATES RECEIVE ONGOING GUIDANCE IN PLANNING, FUNDRAISING, MARKETING, GOVERNANCE, AND MAKING GRANTS.THE PROGRAM MANAGES MORE THAN 120 TYPES OF FUNDS THESE INCLUDE DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS, EMPLOYEE HARDSHIP FUNDS, EDUCATION FOUNDATIONS, AGENCY ENDOWMENTS, FIELD-OF -INTEREST FUNDS, AND SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS. DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS CAN BE ENDOWED OR NON- ENDOWED. THEY LET DONORS GIVE INPUT ON HOW THESE GRANTS ARE DISBURSED WHILE SWIF HANDLES THE ADMINISTRATIVE WORK.ALL SWIF FUNDS CAN RECEIVE DONATIONS IN MANY FORMS, INCLUDING CASH, STOCKS, REAL ESTATE, FARMLAND, AND PLANNED GIFTS SUCH AS CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITIES AND BEQUESTS. FARMLAND CAN REMAIN IN FARMING THROUGH SWIF'S "KEEP IT GROWING" PROGRAM GIVING DONORS A WAY TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY WHILE KEEPING LAND PRODUCTIVE.THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, SWIF CONNECTS PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GIVE WITH THE RESOURCES COMMUNITIES NEED. THE AFFILIATE STRUCTURE KEEPS CHARITABLE DOLLARS LOCAL, SUPPORTING SCHOOLS, NONPROFITS, PARKS, AND OTHER PROGRAMS. THESE EFFORTS HELP COMMUNITIES ACROSS SWIF'S 18-COUNTY SERVICE AREA GROW STRONGER AND THRIVE OVER TIME.