While it seems like it's always busy around the SWIF office, there are a couple of times during the year that are extra-busy: fiscal year end and calendar year end. Both of these mark important transitions. When the fiscal year ends on Continue Reading
January 16, 2018
Giving can begin at any age
My daughter, Hazel, is seven and loves animals. When we asked her before Christmas if there were any organizations she would like to donate money to, she didn’t struggle to come up with an answer: “Something to help dogs!” If you’re Continue Reading
January 16, 2018
Partner Communities debut on Salesforce
Many of you have expressed concerns about recent gifts to your funds not appearing on your financial statements. You’ve heard us talking about technology changes at Southwest Initiative Foundation over the past year and are probably eager Continue Reading
September 14, 2017
Fall for Fundraising
Fall is in the air, the kids are back in school and it’s fundraising time! While fundraising never really stops, the end of the year is an especially important time to reach out to donors. Between 25 and 35 percent of giving takes place Continue Reading
July 18, 2017
All Rights Reserved!
“Wow! That’s a great photo. Where did you get it?” If the answer is: “I cut and pasted it from a website,” you’d better think twice about how you are using it. Photos and images on the internet are protected under copyright law, Continue Reading
July 18, 2017
Financial Statement Changes
We know that we’ve been coming up short in our commitment to get financial statements to you in a timely manner. Your patience has been much appreciated as we continue to work through our technology transition and prepare for a retirement Continue Reading
May 30, 2017
Circling Around the Sun
I sometimes joke that I’m SWIF’s staff driver. Most months I put on a ton of miles meeting with affiliate foundations and other groups across the region. This past year I’ve also spent a fair amount of time both personally and Continue Reading
May 24, 2017
Digging In
I recently had the amazing opportunity to join Heron Lake-Okabena Community Foundation advisory board members Collette Diemers and Jackie Baumgard in reading to kindergarten and first grade students. My own daughter, Hazel, is just Continue Reading
May 24, 2017
Fund Partner Training: Save the Date!
In November of 2015 I had just started working for Southwest Initiative Foundation. One of my first tasks was to participate in a fund partner training event at Prairies Edge Casino in Granite Falls. It was my second day of work and my Continue Reading
March 22, 2017
Community Foundation Opportunity Grants Awarded
Grants totaling up to $60,000 were recently awarded to 12 local affiliates as part of our new Grow Our Own efforts. Each of these affiliates will receive $2,500 for a local organization they have chosen to partner with. The grants are the Continue Reading
