Northwest Minnesota Foundation
RESOURCE
SUMMER 2015
The Northwest Minnesota Foundation invests resources, facilitates collaboration and promotes philanthropy to make the region a better place to live and work.
Number 69
CHESTER CHARLES - CIRCLE OF GIVING
Board of Directors Pete Haddeland, Chair Tom Anderson, Vice Chair Faye Auchenpaugh, Secretary Leah Pigatti, Treasurer Judy Roy Jody Horntvedt Jon Quistgaard Jon Linnell Tom Anderson Cathy Forgit
The Northwest Minnesota Foundation (NMF) Board of Directors and staff hosted a summer celebration aboard the Chester Charles on Lake Itasca, on August 21, 2015. NMF program and development staff were updating guests about the work NMF is doing in our region. As many of our friends know, NMF’s unrestricted endowment is the financial backbone that supports the many ways we invest resources in our communities to enhance the region’s quality of place. We have been generously funded by The McKnight Foundation since our inception in 1986. They believe so firmly in our shared success that they provide a dollar-for-dollar match to each NMF General Endowment donation.
There is no guarantee the match opportunity will last indefinitely, so that is part of the critical reason we are acting now for greater philanthropic investment throughout the region. We are inviting all of our friends, donors and partners to join us in our efforts. NMF’s Circle of Giving is an opportunity for individuals and businesses that care deeply about Northwest Minnesota to foster the well-being of our region. Thanks to your current or past support Continued on page 5
Kristin Eggerling Edie Ramstad Steven Anderson
Developing Community Assets Serving 12 Counties
“We’re very lucky to have a committed staff that is willing to work hard in the region. We have many important programs, but we actually need money to run the foundation – so we’re asking for your support.” – Pete Haddeland NMF chair
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Hello! What an enjoyable summer we had in Northwest Minnesota. While it was certainly busy around the Foundation, we still took the time to celebrate the work being done in our region. In July, NMF staff did our annual “rolling retreat” – visiting Red Lake Falls, Thief River Falls and Clearbrook.
I invite you to consider a gift to the general endowment today. You can visit nwmf.org or return the remittance envelope enclosed in this issue. The Foundation is doing great work in our region, and it is vital we have the operating dollars to do so. Thank you for joining me, the board and staff in this effort.
Former and current board members were able to assist in being our tour guides for the day! Thanks to Gary Purath, Faye Auchenpaugh and Tom Anderson. It was such a delight to visit and acknowledge the true community champions making a difference in our region, who truly care about their home towns and love bringing them well-deserved attention.
Nancy Vyskocil
In August, we held our board meeting in Park Rapids at the now renovated Armory in the heart of downtown. Following the meeting and a little main street shopping, we hosted a small gathering aboard the Chester Charles on Lake Itasca. In this edition of the Resource you’ll read about our goal to fundraise for NMF’s General Endowment – a serious need!
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We’d like to thank
Peggy Crandall, Grants Services Associate for 13 years of service to the Foundation! Peggy will be missed, and we wish her well.
ASSET BUILDING GRANTS Grants totaling $750,030 were awarded from June 2015 - August 2015 COMPONENT FUNDS TOTAL: $627,152 90 GRANTS AWARDED
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS NATURAL RESOURCES
TOTAL: $2,000
TOTAL: $50,000
COMMUNITY PLANNING TOTAL: $21,085
Regional Council of Mayors – City of Bemidji
BWSR Clean Water Fund Projects – Red Lake County SWCD
Mississippi River Pedestrian Bridge Planning and Design – Beltrami County
West Polk Soil and Water Conservation District – One Watershed One Plan
Kelliher Housing Planning Process – City of Kelliher
CARING COMMUNITIES TOTAL: $49,793 Increasing Community Support for Elders and Veterans – Northwoods Interfaith Implementation of the Communities that Care Process in Bemidji – Peacemaker Resources
Component Fund Grants are now found online at
NWMF.ORG under the Donor menu.
“ This new Natural Resources planning project is led by BWSR and a highly-skilled, collaborative, multi-agency team. It fits closely with other watershed planning projects and more than one NMF priority - natural resources, coalition building, and community planning.” – Nate Dorr NMF Program Officer - Grants. 3
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM BUSINESS LOANS MICROLOANS Three loans were recently made from the revolving loan fund totaling: $218,650 Black Swan Cooperage LLC, Park Rapids Funds for inventory Caribou Grill, LLC, Hallock Purchase of the Caribou Grill Meyer Management LLC, Grygla Purchase of the Motel 89 in Grygla
Business counseling and loans are available to help entrepreneurs develop small business and selfemployment opportunities. Four loans were made totaling: $36,900 The Skin Company & Spa, LLC, Bemidji William Weaver, Bemidji Bemidji Downtown Meats, Bemidji Eric Niskanen, Bemidji
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Eight businesses from Hallock, Bemidji, Park Rapids and Baudette received a total of $8,028.
Northwest Minnesota Foundation is pleased to announce that Robert Maher of Bemidji has been selected as the new NMF business development specialist. Maher is a graduate of Marquette University where he studied accounting and economics. Following his graduation Maher worked at Deerwood Bank for five years in the bank’s commercial lending department. In his free time Maher likes to fish and hunt.
The Business Development Programs of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation receive funding and support from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development as well as the Small Business Administration and Fannie Mae.
AG-LAND LEGACY Northwest Minnesota Foundation has a wide range of giving options for donors, including the ability to accept gifts of land to help fulfill philanthropic goals. We now offer an additional opportunity for the region’s farmers who are looking for a way to leave a legacy through their farmland while assuring it will remain agricultural property. Landowners may gift their farmland through the Ag-Land Legacy Program to Northwest Minnesota Foundation. The Foundation retains ownership of the farmland, renting it to a local farmer. The rental income is designated for local charities the donor has specified. To learn more about the Ag-Land Legacy program and if it is right for you, please contact one of our Senior Development Officers, Caryl Turnow, carylt@nwmf.org or Lisa Peterson, lisap@nwmf.org. Call 218-759-2057 or in Minnesota 800-659-7859 4
CHESTER CHARLES - CIRCLE OF GIVING continued from cover you’re helping to sustain much of the foundation’s development and work. Members of our Circle of Giving pledge to give an annual contribution of $500 or more to the NMF General Endowment. With the match from The McKnight Foundation your gift is double the value! NMF is well positioned to help local people make a difference by retaining assets in Northwest Minnesota, in ways that will make the region a more attractive place to live, work and play.
PLANNED GIVING - TRANSFERRING ASSETS THE EASY WAY Northwest Minnesota Foundation receives questions from potential donors wondering how they can avoid costs of probate and reduce taxes when doing their estate planning. One effective way to do this is to make a transfer on death gift. These transfers can be made to family as well as to your favorite charities. Transfer on death (TOD) can be used for a variety of gifts, such as stocks, bonds or mutual funds. Your financial institution or brokerage firm most likely has a form that can be filled out, making it an easy process to transition your asset to the beneficiary without going through probate. A TOD deed has the same effect for real property.
One of the benefits of a TOD is retaining full ownership of the asset until your death. The asset is not transferred to the beneficiary until you and your spouse, if the asset is jointly held, are no longer living. You may continue to use the asset as you desire and are able to modify or revoke your gift at any time during your life. We have more information about TOD gifts as well as other planned gifts on our website at nwmf.org, or give us a call at 218-759-2057 to learn more. As always, we recommend that you work with your financial advisors to determine what is best for your situation.
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NMF SNAPSHOTS
The Bemidji Community Food Shelf Farm Project. Chris Tower is the new farm manager, a position funded through NMF’s natural resources grant program. The grant will also help to expand the farm this year, and next.
COMPETITION Calling all innovators! IDEA is a Northwest Minnesota competition that turns great ideas into great businesses. The annual competition provides training, business coaching, and capital to participating entrepreneurs who want to turn an idea into a fast-growth business. If you have a promising business idea, consider entering the IDEA Competition. Visit ideacompetition.org for more information. 6
Each year the STAR advisors come together for team-building and sharing best practices. This year we were pleased to provide them with new information gleaned from the Greater Good Science Center Educator Symposium from UC Berkley. The information they learned and shared today will be brought back to their respective schools for sharing and implementation. We are fortunate to have such a dedicated group of STAR advisors who are so invested in the success of their students.
NORTHERN ADVANTEDGE CAREER EXPO OCTOBER 28, 2015 • 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM JOHN S. GLAS FIELDHOUSE • BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY Exhibitor registrations are open for the 2nd Annual Northern AdvantEdge Career Expo. Companies in Northwest Minnesota are invited to use the event as an opportunity to attract their future workforce by showcasing career opportunities they can offer. The Expo is designed to educate high school students who are beginning to explore career paths about opportunities available with Northwest Minnesota employers. In addition to career specific breakout sessions, regional businesses will have hands-on exhibits on a showcase floor that will allow students to experience the type of work they could be performing for their companies. The Expo will also address the skills and education necessary to become a future employee in specific careers.
Visit northernadvantedge.org to hear what business like Marvin Windows and Doors are saying about the Expo!
$150 PER BOOTH
• Includes 10 x 10 space with one table, internet and electricity • Sponsorship opportunities range from $500 - $2,000
For more information contact: Ashley Johnson Northwest Minnesota Foundation 218-759-2057 • ashleyj@nwmf.org
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NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Mailed From Zip Code 56601 Permit No.36
201 3rd St. NW • Bemidji, MN 56601
TRAINING AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
To register for any of the training and leadership development workshops, please visit our website www.nwmf.org. For any questions please contact Dawn Ganje at dawng@nwmf.org or call 218-759-2057.