Winter-Spring 2013 Resource

Northwest Minnesota Foundation ~ Developing Community Assets ~ Serving 12 Counties

Rising Activity In Grant Programs Helps To Meet Regional Needs care event scheduled for this summer in Bemidji.

All these grants are targeted for at-risk youth and families.

Nate Dorr, Program Officer for Grants Northwest Minnesota Foundation grants are flexible and responsive to community needs across the region. Over the last three months, the foundation made nearly $80,000 in discretionary grant awards to seven organizations. Although the size and scope of the grants vary, these awards stay true to NMF’s mission and goals.

Our Caring Communities Grant Program remains very popular. The program supported a donation to the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians to help fund travel for survivors of the school shootings at Red Lake, who were traveling to Newtown, CT to show support for residents following the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary. The program also supported two efforts to assist the homeless in the Bemidji area. One grant will allow Evergreen Community Services to develop a housing specialist position, which will provide at-risk youth and young adults with housing options and develop skills to maintain safe housing. The other grant will provide trauma-related services to homeless families and children at the Village of Hope.

The program also funded planning for the Minnesota Dental Foundation’s Mission of Mercy dental

Other grant programs were used to build and even rebuild communities. The Disaster Assistance Grant Program helped Northwest Community Action provide emergency food, shelter, and vouchers to those affected by the wildfire in Karlstad last summer. Our Community Connections Grant Program was leveraged by the Blackduck Development Corporation to hire a community facilitator, responsible for coordinating healthy lifestyle activities in the area. This grant program is meant to support collaborative efforts where a common goal is shared by multiple agencies. And lastly, our Technical Assistance Grant Program helped fund coordination for a variety of Crookston projects (Continued on page 2)

Winter/Spring 2013 ~ Number 59 ~

This is a quarterly publication of Northwest Minnesota Foundation

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation invests resources, creates opportunities and promotes philanthropy to make the region a better place to live and work.

NORTHWEST MINNESOTA FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Robert J. Hager, Chair Faye Auchenpaugh, Vice Chair Laurie Wilson, Secretary Judy Roy, Treasurer Jody Horntvedt Jon Quistgaard Leah Pigatti Jon Linnell Tom Anderson Pete Haddeland Cathy Forgit Kristin Eggerling

Amanda Golden and Sandy Hennum, Village of Hope, Bemidji

Grant Programs (Continued from page 1)

led by Crookston InMotion, the Crookston Area Community Fund, and partnering organizations. This grant program is designed for NMF initiated efforts moving toward self-sufficiency.

Many great projects come across our desks at Northwest Minnesota Foundation. We get involved in projects from the idea phase, through planning, and on to implementation. What we find most successful are projects involving multiple partners, strong leadership, and a focus on the broader community.

Good goal setting and outcome measures also help keep the project on track.

But it’s more than a checklist or formula with complicated numbers. The foundation continues to develop and nurture our relationships, knowing our success lies in our ability to work together. We are in the business of building community assets after all!

Evergreen is helping youth with employment and life skills management.

City of Crookston – Crookston Community Fund Coordination ($2,000) Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians – Red Lake Survivors Travel Fund to Newton, CT ($500) Blackduck Development Corporation – Blackduck Community Coordinator ($25,000) Evergreen Youth and Family Services – Housing Specialist ($25,000) Village of Hope – Trauma Services Coordinator ($15,000) Minnesota Dental Foundation – Mission of Mercy Event Planning ($2,000)

Evergreen’s Street Outreach program provides a safe environment for youth.

Northwest Community Action – Karlstad Disaster Assistance ($10,000)

Kristin Eggerling Joins NMF Board cently worked in the public health field as the administrator for Quin Community Health Services, which serves the counties of Kittson, Marshall, Pennington, Red Lake and Roseau.

Kristin Eggerling of Hallock was recently elected to the Northwest Minnesota Foundation Board of Directors.

Eggerling is a freelance writer; her focus is creative and business writing and she also blogs for Conservation Minnesota.

She and her husband Paul Blomquist own C and M Ford in Hallock and Roseau County Ford. Eggerling most re-

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Eggerling is very active in her community, serving as Chair on the Hallock Public Library Board and Vice Chair of the State Coordinating Committee of the Regional Sustainable Development Partnership.

NMF President Nancy Vyskocil said, “Kristin is a great addition to the NMF Board of Directors. She brings a wealth of knowledge regarding economic and environmental sustainability.” Vyskocil added, “She is very in tune with our mission.”

Northwest Minnesota Foundation

Eggerling also serves on the Conservation Minnesota Voter Center Board, Northwest Regional Sustainable Development Partnership Board, the Hallock Lion’s Club, and is the current Kittson County DFL Chair.

“My vision for Northwest Minnesota is to build a sustainable future by honoring our natural resources, economic development and education,” said Eggerling.

“And although we face adverse challenges in Northwest Minnesota, I am eager to tackle the issues at hand. NMF is aligned to do great work in our region and as an acting board member; I will strive to uphold the mission.”

Message from the President

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation rang in the New Year of 2013 in our new headquarters. We barely had a moment to catch our breath before we were bustling with activity! The excitement and anticipation of our new Conference Center has been the main attraction.

We have already hosted several events including nonprofit training, the IDEA competition, board meetings and Early Childhood workshops. While the space was designed and built for NMF training and meeting needs, our goal is to offer its use to NMF partners, fund advisory committees and the region’s nonprofits. We will soon be able to open it up for others who need a convenient location for meetings, receptions, training, etc.

We are committed to continuing our practice of holding events in Thief River Falls, Crookston, East Grand Forks, Roseau and other places in our region to better serve the residents in all of Northwest Minnesota. For the eastern side of our region, we are now able to accommodate educational conferences and training sessions. And we have ample room for staff to meet all together or with board members, clients and donors.

This project was true to our values. We restored an historic building without government assistance and it was cost

Nancy Vyskocil

NMF Conference Center meeting all of our training needs.

Non Profit Board Basics Workshop, one of first groups to use NMF Conference Center.

effective. We believe it will be great asset for Northwest Minnesota.

Now that the exterior brick work is nearly complete, we are working on policies and procedures for best use of the Conference Center. Beginning in

March, we will have a fill-able form available on our website for outside parties to make reservations. We look forward to partnering with you and bringing a space that can be used in a multitude of ways to serve the residents of our region.

Developing Community Assets - Serving 12 Counties

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Grants Grants totaling $295,404 were awarded from November 2012 – January 2013 Caring Communities................. $67,500

Children, Family & Elderly Minnesota Dental Foundation.............................$2,000 For Minnesota Mission of Mercy

Northern Dental Access Center......................... $25,000 For Development of a housing Specialist Position

Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Newtown, CT......................................................... $500 For travel donation

Village of Hope................................................. $15,000 For Trauma Services

Community Planning Total:........ $25,000 Community Connections City of Blackduck..............................................$25,000 For Community Coordinator

Component Funds are established with the Northwest Minnesota Foundation for a specific purpose. A local fund advisory committee recommends distributions based on specific purposes and criteria. The NMF board, for purposes of IRS regulations, approves the advisory recommendations for grants, but the component funds are the source of the grant dollars.

Component Fund Total:........... $215,904 Argyle Area Community Foundation Fund.............$1,000 Badger Area Community Fund.............................$33,720 Badger Veteran’s Memorial Fund...................................$818 Bemidji Area Community Fund Rosselet-Hickey Charitable Fund..................................$150 Bemidji Lumberjack Foundation Fund First National Bank Bonspiel Fund.............................. $15,218

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LifeCare Health Care Fund (4 grants).....................$7,500 LifeCare Hospice Fund ............................................$4,250 LifeCare Roseau Manor Fund ...................................$3,250 Maggie Adams Medical Equipment Fund (3 grants) .....$9,750 LOW County Humane Society.............................$10,000 Ole and Ruth Tweet Family Fund (2 grants)...........$3,000 Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Community Fund...................................................$2,695 Red Lake Youth Initiative Fund...............................$33,000 Red Lake Falls Science or Engineering Scholarship and School Support Fund.....................................$10,233 Tonia Johannsen Memorial Fund...............................$417 Roseau Area Community Fund...............................$9,639 Tonia Johannsen Memorial Fund...............................$122 Warroad Area Community Fund Warroad Memorial Arena Fund...............................$33,000 Wetlands Pines & Prairie Audubon Sanctuary Endowment and Project Fund ..............................$11,200

Scholarship Fund Total:............. $48,400 Bagley Education Endowment and Project Fund Bagley General Scholarship Fund (2 ).........................$1,500 Bemidji Jaycees Education and Scholarship Fund (1).........................$500 Bemidji Lumberjack Foundation Fund General Scholarship Fund (7)....................................$4,500 Heidi Bitzer McClure Memorial Scholarship...............$1,000 K.E. “Red” and Ruth Shannon Wilson..........................$500 George Pelawa-Calgary Flames Education Fund...........$1,000 Jacquelyn M. Schaffer Scholarship for Music Fund..........$500 John F. Breen Scholarship Fund (2) ...........................$3,500 Ray F. Breen Scholarship (2)......................................$3,500 Troy Nelson Memorial “Character” Scholarship Fund......$200

Security Bank USA Lumberjack Scramble................... $30,344

Blackduck Area Community Fund Academic and Character Scholarship Fund (2)...............$500

Crookston Early Childhood Initiative Fund...........$1,000

Clearbrook-Gonvick Education Fund

Evergreen Youth & Family Services Fund................$1,480

Mary Jo Klinger Scholarship Fund.............................$1,000

Fertile-Beltrami Early Childhood Initiative Fund (2).......................$1,050

Olga Peterson Scholarship Fund................................$1,500

Fosston Area Community Fund (2 grants)..............$1,500

East Polk County Fair Scholarship Fund ..................$750 Fosston Area Community Fund

Kelliher Area Health Care Fund.................................$280

Dean and Joyce McNelly

Northwest Minnesota Foundation

Family Vocational Scholarship Fund..............................$750

Dean Clemenston Scholarship Fund .............................$150

Roseau Area Community Fund

Fosston Education Foundation Endowment and Project Fund.....................................................$1,500

Malung PTO Scholarship Fund(3)................................$750 Marian Foley Memorial Fund (3)...............................$3,000

Terry Stout Memorial Scholarship Fund......................$1,000

Roseau Lions Club Scholarship Fund............................$300

Greenbush Area Community Fund Keith and Ellen Kapphahn Family Scholarship Fund.......................................................$800

Julie Holmquist Memorial Scholarship Fund ...........$250 Laporte Education Endowment and Project Fund (2) ..............................................$1,250 Laural Capistran Murphy Scholarship Fund.............$500

Wannaska PTO Scholarship Fund.................................$250

Stephen Area Endowment Fund Francine Kuznia Memorial Scholarship Fund..................$300

Tonia Nelson Memorial Fund ...................................$500 Warren-Alvarado-Oslo Education Foundation Fund Lyle H. Engelstad Scholarship Fund (2) .....................$2,000

Leonard J. Kucera Memorial Scholarship Fund.........$500

Myron and Margaret Carlson Education Scholarship Fund........................................$400

Luther Younggren Memorial Scholarship Fund.........$500 Mahnomen Education Endowment and Project Fund (2)..................................................$750

Warroad Area Community Fund

General Ike Isaacson and Major Bruce Isaacson Scholarship Fund...................$300

Bruce and Ellen Atwater Education Fund (2)..................$500

Leslie Hanson Scholarship Fund...................................$250

Gaylord A. Gunderson Education and Scholarship Fund (2)..........................$2,000

Edward and Agnes Brandli Scholarship Fund.....................$150

Northwest Minnesota Women’s Fund:........................$500

Jennifer Grove Memorial Scholarship Fund (2)............$2,000

Red Lake Falls Education Endowment and Project Fund

Justin Knebel Memorial Fund......................................$500

Kris Fontaine Memorial Scholarship Fund (5)..............$2,500

Lee Hafdahl Memorial Scholarship Fund.......................$100

Kyle A. Myhre Memorial Fund (2).............................$1,000

Patrick O’Donnell Memorial Scholarship Fund.............. $500

Lester Norris Dale, MD Scholarship Fund......................$400

Warroad Education Endowment and Project Fund (2)................................................$1,000

Business Development Program Business Loans

Three loans were recently made from the revolving loan fund totaling $478,000 L&S Systems LLC, Thief River Falls Funds provided to purchase Sanitation Company.

Techniques, Inc. For working capital.

LaValley Industries, LLC Product development loan to develop new generation of products.

Microloans

Business counseling and loans are available to help entrepreneurs develop small business and self-employment opportunities. Three loans were recently made totaling $45,000 William P. Stephani, Puposky Start up for a slot rail fence business.

Westrum, Inc., Leonard Start up for a car wash in Clearbrook.

Jeff Sullivan, Bemidji Financing for business start up.

Developing Community Assets - Serving 12 Counties

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5th year of the IDEA Competition is heating up!

The IDEA competition in Northwest Minnesota is an annual event that showcases entrepreneurs with innovative ideas to solve unique challenges that are not already being served in the marketplace. This year is no different with exciting solutions in products like fishing tackle, hunting gear and advanced energy-efficient building materials.

Overarching themes of the judging criteria are: Innovation, Commercial Viability, Financial Attractiveness, and Entrepreneur Team. The judging panel consists of bankers, educators, business owners, engineers, entrepreneurs and economic development leaders from the region who access the business plans and score them online. The judging panel also generously devotes more time in group meetings to discuss which competitors will advance and provides them with feedback.

Throughout the competition, six hours of online courses are offered. Two onsite IDEA Labs are held for applicants, where they learn to write a business plan, conduct market research, understand intellectual property, presentation skills, and financial statements.

The Northwest Small Business Development Center and the Center for Rural Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Minnesota Crookston are both critical resources for the entrepreneur during the business plan writing and development stages. These help prepare them for advancement in the competition.

The winners and finalists will be announced April 24, 2013 at the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Thief River Falls.

More information on the banquet and registration for this wonderful evening

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of celebration in our region can be found at www. nwmf.org.

The IDEA Competition is a project of Ingenuity Frontier, a collaboration of partners joined by a common purpose — to grow the economy of Northwest Minnesota by outfitting the next generation of homegrown innovators for success in the global marketplace.

IDEA sponsors are:

Competitors met at NMF to participate in an IDEA lab to learn how to make their products become marketable.

• Bremer Banks of Crookston and Warren • Northwest Minnesota Foundation • University of Minnesota, Crookston • Northwest Regional Development Council • Northwest Small Business Development Center • Arvig • 360 Manufacturing and Applied Engineering Center of Excellence IDEA was made possible through a generous grant from the Blandin Foundation.

For more information, visit the official website which hosts all the latest news and information. www.ideacompetition.org

Northwest Minnesota Foundation

NMF Component Fund Services Continue to Grow Northwest Minnesota Foundation component funds help individual donors, groups and families act on deeply held values and community commitments. They are established for a purpose that benefits a specific nonprofit community organization or interest area. NMF also assists community nonprofits with the important work of building their asset bases and helps organizations further their missions in order to operate with continued success.

Since the start of our current fiscal year on July 1, 2012, NMF has helped donors establish 12 new funds, which we categorize as cultural, community service, health care, education and scholarships, recreation and environment, or donor advised.

NMF has committed resources to promote philanthropy in our region by encouraging the establishment of more funds,

the continued charitable support for these funds, and the use of these funds, through grant awards, to make Northwest Minnesota a better place to live and work.

Argyle Beautification and Improvement Project Fund

Elaine J. Hazard Bemidji Symphony Orchestra Fund

Provides support for programs, projects and activities, supporting aesthetic enhancements in the Argyle area with preference given to the city of Argyle

Argyle H.O.P.E. Project Fund

Provides financial support for the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra and its mission to bring classical music to new audiences through the purchase or rental of music, instruments, equipment, or materials

Provides support for programs, services, and activities benefiting the Argyle’s H.O.P.E. Program which assists senior citizens in maintaining an independent lifestyle

Karvakko Family Charitable Fund

John and Iva Lee Graupman Family Scholarship Fund

Northern Light Opera Company Endowment and Project Fund

Provides financial support for qualifying charitable and educational programs, and activities of interest to the Karvakko family

Provides funding for scholarships to Bemidji High School seniors who are pursuing post-secondary education through a college, university, or other accredited technical or vocational institution

Provides support for the Northern Light Opera Company and its programs and activities

Greenbush Park & Recreation Fund

Provides funding for annual scholarships to qualified high school graduates from Roseau who are pursuing a post-secondary education through a college or university with a major in Education, in the field of math or science, or a major in music

Provides financial support for park, trail, and recreational amenities of the Greenbush area

Archeology and Historic Preservation Fund

Earl Gehrke Scholarship Fund

Provides financial support for charitable, educational and public purposes by providing funding for programs, projects and activities that preserve, restore and stabilize historic and archeological properties in the State of Minnesota

Fosston High School Music Boosters Fund

Red Lake Falls Science or Engineering Scholarship and School Support Fund

Northland Regional Shooting Sports Fund

Provides scholarships to students who have graduated from Red Lake Falls High School who are pursuing education at the University of North Dakota, with a preference for those students who are majoring in science or engineering; and, provides financial support for activities, projects, equipment or services designed to benefit any of the Red Lake Falls schools’ students, staff, educational programs and institutions

Provides financial support for programs, projects and activities that help encourage, support, and enhance the music education of the students at Fosston High School Provides financial support for firearms training, marksmanship programs, and public shooting range development in the Greater Bemidji Area For information about how to donate, visit www.nwmf.org. Please call Caryl Turnow at 218-463-0440 or Lisa Peterson at 218-759-2057, tollfree at 800-659-7859 if you have questions about establishing a fund or gift options.

Developing Community Assets - Serving 12 Counties

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NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. Postage PAID Bemidji, MN 56601 Permit No. 36

201 3rd St. NW Bemidji, MN 56601 Change Service Requested

Upcoming Events Procurement Technical Assistance Center Workshop Presentation by Pat Dotter, ACAS PTAC Southwestern MN Area Manager 2 Free sessions – NMF Conference Center, 201 3rd St. NW, downtown Bemidji April 3, 2013 9:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m.

System For Award Management (SAM) Let us walk you through the process for creating an account in SAM and migrating your “legacy” CCR account.

1:00 p.m.– 4:00 p.m.

Develop Winning Government Marketing Materials Attendees should bring current business cards, letterhead, brochures and other marketing material to be updated so that it is appropriate for the government market.

Please visit our website www.nwmf.org to register

Training April 19, 2013- “Empowering Communication” 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Presenter: Peacemaker Resources Sue Liedl and Brooke Wichmann Crookston, MN – location to be determined April 26, 2013- “Empowering Communication” 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Presenter: Peacemaker Resources Sue Liedl and Brooke Wichmann Bemidji, MN – NMF Conference Center, 201 3rd St. NW downtown Bemidji May 7, 2013 – Fundamentals of Budgeting & Fundamentals of Non Profit Management 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Lunch 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Location to be determined May 8, 2013 – Fundamentals of Budgeting & Fundamentals of Non Profit Management 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Lunch 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Bemidji, MN – NMF Conference Center, 201 3rd St. NW, downtown Bemidji