Message from the Chair Message from the Chair, Eric Bergeson
Hello, all! In 2008 much to the surprise of many, the people of Minnesota supported a three-eighths percent increase in the sales tax by a 56-44% margin to support nature and the arts. That’s right: At a time when it was virtually mandatory for politicians to adhere to the “no new tax” mantra, the citizens of Minnesota voted to raise their own taxes by an average of $60 per year per household to support parks, nature trails, clean water initiatives and efforts to preserve our cultural heritage. It will take time to find out how this new fund shakes out. Our staff at the Northwest Minnesota Foundation is already working to understand how the money will be distributed. But the larger lesson is clear: Even during difficult economic times, people are willing to pony up cash for community projects as long as they know where the money will be spent. People are generous, but they want a measure of control over how their hard-earned dollars are used. Enter the Northwest Minnesota Foundation. At NMF, we specialize in helping donors achieve their personal goals as they support their favorite causes. On the following pages, you will read the stories of three donors who left legacies that are still bearing fruit, even after the donors passed on. Two of the donors had very specific goals that NMF helped them meet. Gaylord Gunderson of Warroad wanted to help average high school students––those who earned C’s–– further their education as tradesmen so they could make a good living in their hometown. After Mr. Anderson passed away, the final $395,000 of his estate was given to NMF to create a fund to do just that. In her later years, Esther Instebo of Bagley gave money to the Clearwater County Humane Society in a way which 1) earned her a big up-front tax deduction 2) gave her a payment of $5000 per year until she passed away last summer at age 99 and 3) left a large chunk of money to one of her favorite charities. On the other end of the spectrum, the Warren-Alvarado-Oslo school received a gift of $100,000 from a little-known man named Lyle Engelstad. He left a simple instruction - scholarships. But with NMF’s help, the WAO Education Foundation has turned the gift into 90 scholarships totaling $90,000 over the past twelve years. Whether you have specific goals you wish to achieve through giving or whether you simply want to make sure your charitable dollars are spent wisely, NMF is here to help. Our staff is expert at making sure your donations of any size are leveraged to the hilt to have the largest impact on the cause of your choice. Industrialist Andrew Carnegie once said that earning a fortune is easier than giving it away wisely. These days, you don’t need a fortune to make a difference. And you don’t need to worry that your charitable dollar will be squandered. NMF has the tools to help people of all incomes make a difference in the areas of their choosing. 5
Northwest Minnesota Foundation