The strength of our communities is based upon the commitment of our volunteers. As volunteers you already know that being involved in the life of your community can be its own reward. Beyond knowing you are making a difference there is the Continue Reading
March 9, 2016
There’s No Place Like Home!
I had the wonderful opportunity to spend the last few weeks of February traveling in Vietnam as part of an educational study tour with the Minnesota Agricultural and Rural Leadership program (MARL). Although most Americans still associate Continue Reading
March 8, 2016
Lend a Hand!
Spring is in the air and it is a busy time at SWIF! Many of our fund partners use this time of year for grantmaking. SWIF staffers work hard to get your paperwork processed and checks out the door as quickly as possible. With over 120 Continue Reading
March 7, 2016
Smoothing out the Highs and Lows
Lately we’ve been asked, “Why does SWIF use 12 quarters of investment activity to calculate the “spendable” portion of endowment funds?” As we all know, the markets can go on some pretty wild rides at any given time. While it might be nice Continue Reading
March 7, 2016
Understanding Fiscal Sponsorship
Have you ever wondered what it really means to be a fiscal sponsor? The term gets used a lot in the granting world but let’s take a closer look! Due to IRS regulations, SWIF requires that grantees are either a non-profit entity Continue Reading
February 18, 2016
MARL Class VIII Visits Vietnam
Community Philanthropy Office Jeff Vetsch will be in Vietnam from February 19th to March 3rd as a member of Minnesota Agricultural and Rural Leadership (MARL) Class VIII. The class will be learning about Vietnamese culture, economy and Continue Reading
January 4, 2016
Matching Grant Update
Several SWIF affiliate partners were recently notified that their challenge grant applications were successful! We had a pool of $50,000 in matching funds, but over $100,000 in funding requests. This made for a highly competitive Continue Reading
January 4, 2016
Thanks for Leading the Way!
For just over a year now, I have been participating in the Minnesota Agricultural and Rural Leadership Program (MARL). As part of a class of 30 individuals with diverse perspectives and unique backgrounds, I’ve had the chance to visit all Continue Reading
January 4, 2016
Building Community Wealth
When we think of wealth, the first thing that usually comes to mind is dollar signs. For Community Foundations, this definition of wealth is often top of mind when we are setting goals or conducting fundraising campaigns. But there is a Continue Reading
January 4, 2016
Increase Your Impact
Whether you are conducting a fundraising campaign or trying to share the news of your last grant making efforts, there are more ways than ever for Community Foundations to get the word out. Using social media is a cheap and effective way Continue Reading
