Since 2001 all six of the Minnesota Initiative Foundations have ranked in the Top 25 Minnesota Community and Public Foundations.
And 2008 was no different!
The Minnesota Council on Foundations just released their results for last year and all of the MIFs were listed again. Ranked by the total amount of grants awarded, here's where we all ended up: - 9: West Central Initiative ($3.6M)
- 13: Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation ($2M)
- 16: Northland Foundation ($1.6M)
- 17: Northwest Minnesota Foundation ($1.4M)
- 18: Initiative Foundation ($1.2M)
- 21: Southwest Initiative Foundation ($1M)
That's almost $11 million in grants to nonprofits and organizations that are dedicated to improving communities in greater Minnesota. Yowza! And none of it would have been possible without generous donations from hundreds of individuals and businesses!
> Learn more about the MIFs at www.greaterminnesota.net.
Leah Posterick has been working at the Foundation since 1998. As a Development Assistant and Program Assistant she has helped thousands of people in their quest to make their communities better places to live, work and play.
My first contact with Leah was when I was on the other side of the phone as a community leader in Pequot Lakes and we were going through the Healthy Communities Partnership program. She was always gracious and patient with me as a community volunteer. I now have the privilege of working at the Foundation and have been a team member with Leah for over eight years!
Now she and her husband, Dennis, are embarking on an amazing adventure. Next week Leah will be leaving the Foundation. They have sold their home of 20+ years and will be moving in with their eldest son in Pittsburg, Kansas. Their plan is to serve as missionaries, most likely in Burkina Faso.
Where's Burkina Faso you say? Oh only about 5,700 miles southeast of central Minnesota! It's a country in West Africa, about the size of Nevada and is one of the poorest in the world. Leah & Dennis will be coming back to the states every so often to visit their family, which includes four children and three grandchildren.
A couple of weeks ago we gave her some send-off gifts - a solar powered oven and a supply of "Life Straw" water purifiers. (Special thanks to John Sumption at Cass County for donating the oven!)
Leah has done some amazing work over the past eleven years. I will miss her hard work and dedication to small communities all over Central Minnesota, but I am thrilled that she will be able to follow her heart into a great new adventure!
Back on September 28th our economic development staff attending the grand opening of an amazingly cutting edge business...
Ever Cat Fuels in Isanti produces biodiesel. But they don't use any ordinary way of making the renewable fuel... they patented a revolutionary way of producing it, calling it the "Mcgyan Process".
Through this technology the fuel is made in seconds, costs about half the price, produces basically no waste and can use almost any animal fat or vegetable oil as a feedstock. That means anything from french fry oil to algae can be used it make the biodiesel! Pretty cool, eh? The Foundation financed a portion of their start up last fall - learn more by reading the news release or visiting Ever Cat's website.
And next week look for more photos of the grand opening on Facebook!
Right at this moment, there's a VISTA - not too far from you - working to fight poverty.
The VISTAs that we help place with central Minnesota nonprofits are doing some really amazing work. Just ask Chris Fastner, our VISTA coordinator - here are some stats he recently shared with us.
Last year VISTA members:
- assisted 43,544 households
- recruited 1,172 new volunteers
- logged 28,630 volunteer service hours
- secured more than $345,000 in resources to alleviate poverty
And it's not only the numbers that are amazing, it's the stories and projects these people are a part of that's the really cool part. From installing solar panels for low-income families to setting up a thrift store and creating special activities for at-risk youth... the projects vary just as much as the needs of the people they're helping.
For more information about what our 23 VISTA members are currently working on, download last Friday's news release or visit our website.
Thanks VISTAs, for your great work!
A friend of the foundation recently passed away.
Sam Nelson, a Delano native, was key to the town's involvement in our community and youth programs. He was instrumental in the original creation of both Delano Dream teams and 'day-to-day' efforts of the projects developed by the teams - working on youth issues, downtown revitalization, river clean up and local libraries. His most recent contribution was working to create nearly 300 new industrial jobs in the city.
I had a chance to email his son, Jeff, a couple days ago and I shared with him that his dad was a great local leader and will be missed. The last time I saw Sam was at a September 30th training in Delano where we were organizing task forces to address downtown development and industrial job development. He deserves a lot of the credit for many good things in his community where he was a positive influence who always gave freely of his time and energy.
We would all do well to emulate Sam as we live and work in our communities. There is no doubt in my mind that Delano and our whole region are better places because Sam did more than his share.
Sam, you will be missed!
Read the Herald Journal's article about Sam.
My coworker and "office neighbor", Chris Fastner, just shared a great resource with me - the Northwest Area Foundation just released the findings of their 2009 National Poll: Struggling to Make Ends Meet. I ordered the report that summarizes Minnesota's results (it's free through their website) and here are the things I found most surprising:
- 63% say they've cut back on spending,
- 44% have lent money to family or friend,
- 74% say they're worried that their local economy may get worse in the upcoming year,
- 80% say they're willing to volunteer for an organization that helps people who are struggling,
- 94% say local elected officials have big responsibility to attract businesses with good paying jobs.
If you'd like to learn more or get your own copy visit the NWAF website and you'll find a lot - highlights from the nation, other states, toolkits for action, the full database, etc.
It's an amazing piece of work that I think could really help decision makers, leaders and everyone in our communities understand how this tough economy is affecting people. Please share!!
If so, you're in luck! The Holy Myrrhbearers Orthodox Church in St. Cloud is hosting a Tibetan Dinner this Sunday, October 11th from 6-8p.m. Not only will you be able to enjoy organically raised roast yak but they'll also be serving chura (goat cheese), gong tuk (egg soup), tangtse (cabbage salad), snap peas and potato curry.
Feeling extra adventurous? On the menu for dessert is shortbread, de-sil (rice pudding) and pa (roasted barley flour) in po cha (butter tea).
To learn more or reserve your spot ($20 required by Wed. Oct 7th!) visit their website: www.holymyrrhbearers.org or email them at tibetandinner@holymyrrhbearers.org.
Holy Myrrhbearers is located in one of St. Cloud's core neighborhood areas. The area's citizens have participated in the foundation's HCP program and Presbytera Heidi Kroll has been actively involved in the HCP activities for this group.
Enjoy the roast!
As their website describes, Paul's Fireplace Wood is a far cry from a couple of local guys with a pickup truck. The thriving business has nine full time employees and commercial restaurant clients like Famous Dave's Barbeque & Red Stone American Grill and the best part... they're ready to grow.
A loan from the foundation and Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union has helped the Little Falls-based business with a recent expansion that should increase sales and potentially create six new jobs. Now Paul's is better poised to serve commercial and residential customers with their ever-growing selection of fireplace, fragrant, cooking and kindling woods.
Want more info? Check out Paul's Fireplace Wood website or read the list of the foundation's other recent grant and loan recipients.
Since 2001 all six of the Minnesota Initiative Foundations have ranked in the Top 25 Minnesota Community and Public Foundations. 
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