Willmar, Minn. – The Willmar Area Community Foundation (WACF) announced today that Alice Cox, who died on December 29, 2011, designated the Willmar Area Community Foundation as recipient of her entire estate, which is valued at over $6 million.  This gift will double the assets of WACF to over $12 million. Read More...

St. Cloud, Minn. – The Central Minnesota Community Foundation announced today that it received its largest gift since its inception in 1985. Alice Cox, who died on December 29, 2011, names the CMCF affiliate, the Willmar Area Community Foundation, as recipient of her entire estate, which is valued at over $6 million.
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Alexandria, Minn. – The Alexandria Area Community Foundation (AACF) announced today that it will receive $360,000 from the Otto Bremer Foundation over the next two years to increase its capacity to enhance philanthropy in the Alexandria area and strengthen the community.  Read More...

St. Cloud, MN-The Central Minnesota Community Foundation in partnership with St. Cloud State University is offering a grant writing workshop, “Taking the Mystery out of Grant Writing!” on Thursday March 15th from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the  St. Cloud State University “WELCOME CENTER”  located at 355 5th Ave. S., St. Cloud.  Well-known presenter, Karl Samp, will share his grant writing knowledge from his many years of experience in fundraising, strategic planning, group facilitation, and grants management. He is a consultant for nonprofit groups and funding organizations throughout the State of Minnesota. Read More...

St. Cloud, Minn. – The Bernick Family Foundation announced today that it awarded more than $221,000 in grants to the community through the Central Minnesota Community Foundation. One of the grants will launch a new child literacy and parent involvement program in the St. Cloud School District.  Read More...

Brainerd, Minn.- The Brainerd Lakes Area Women’s Fund will recognize an inspiring local woman who is leading the way both professionally and personally in the local community. Nomination for the Women Making Waves Award are due April 9. Download the Nomination Form.

Brainerd, Minn. - The Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation names businessman Bill Brekken director. Brekken has been a longtime member of the BLACF Board of Directors and resident of the Brainerd Lakes Area. He brings great business expertise and a true heart to give back. He recently served as president of Lakewood Bank in the Brainerd Lakes Area and as a realtor with Close Converse Commercial Real Estate.

St. Cloud, Minn. – The Central Minnesota Community Foundation and its affiliates received confirmation of compliance with the esteemed National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations. The 5-year accreditation is awarded to Community Foundations that demonstrate excellence in gift stewardship, grant-making, transparency and accountability.  Read More...

St. Cloud, Minn. – The Norman C. Skalicky Foundation and the Central Minnesota Community Foundation announced today that they raised nearly $110,000 to meet a critical need at area food shelves. The dollars will benefit Salvation Army, Catholic Charities and St. Joseph food shelves.  The total includes a $50,000 match from the Norman C. Skalicky Foundation.  Read More...

Willmar, Minn. – The Willmar Area Community Foundation announced today that Terry Tone has been elected to its Board of Directors to serve Kandiyohi County.

Tone has served as administrator of Affiliated Community Medical Centers (ACMC) since 2000. He joined ACMC in 1994 as director of operations. Tone has served as the secretary and treasurer of Affiliated Community Health Foundation since 2001 and a board member of ACHN since 1999. ACMC, based in Willmar, is an 11-clinic system with more than 170 providers and 35 specialty departments serving six local hospitals and about 103,000 patients throughout the region.  Read More...

St. Cloud, Minn. – Charitable giving in Central Minnesota began to rebound to pre-recession levels, according to a report released today by the Central Minnesota Community Foundation (CMCF). The Community Foundation received $8.8 million in gifts in the fiscal year ending June 30, according to the 2011 Annual Report. That’s up 76 percent from the same period a year ago and nearing the pre-recession giving peak of $11 million.  Read More...

St. Cloud, Minn. – The local community is responding to the Charity Challenge issued by the Norman C. Skalicky Foundation and the Central Minnesota Community Foundation. Since Thanksgiving, about $25,000 has been donated toward the Charity Challenge. The Norman Skalicky Foundation will match every dollar up to $50,000 donated by Dec. 31, 2011.

The Foundations partnered to raise critical dollars for area food shelves as local agencies face record need. Catholic Charities experienced its busiest day on record on Nov. 2. The food shelf provided more than 25,000 pounds of food to 348 families on that day alone, said Kathryn Stolpman, emergency services program manager. The St. Cloud-area agency expects to serve 2,400 local families in November.  Read More...

Kandiyohi County, Minn. – During the week of November 12-18, 2011, Willmar Area Community Foundation (WACF) will join more than 700 community foundations across America for Community Foundation Week.

Community foundations are independent, public entities that help improve the lives of people in a specific geographic area. They bring together the financial resources of individuals, families, and businesses to foster local collaboration and innovation that address a community’s social and civic challenges.  The foundations vary widely in size, from less than $100,000 to more than $1.7 billion. Read More...

Willmar, Minn. – The Willmar Area Community Foundation (WACF) announced today it awarded grants to ten local nonprofit organizations in its fall grant round to support key community programs. The Foundation, an affiliate of the Central Minnesota Community Foundation, awarded a total of $48,500.  Read More...

St. Cloud, Minn. - The Women's Fund awarded $50,000 from the Women on Stage event. The grants included $20,000 to United Way for Imagination Library, $10,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota, $5,000 to Central Minnesota Legal Services, $5,000 to St. Cloud Area Legal Services, and $10,000 to Faith in Action.The Broadway-themed event was held in July at the College of St. Benedict. Read More...

Willmar, Minn. – The Willmar Area Community Foundation Board of Directors elects three new business leaders as members. Joel Gratz, Lourdez Schwab and Paula Bredberg also serve on the Foundation’s Development Committee. Read More...

Brainerd, Minn. – The Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation (BLACF) announced today that it awarded grants to support key community programs at eight local nonprofit organizations. The Foundation, an affiliate of the Central Minnesota Community Foundation, awarded a total of $42,000 in this latest grant round, bringing the year-to-date total to nearly $90,000.  Read More...

Willmar, Minn. – The Willmar Area Community Foundation announced today that it’s Women’s Fund awarded grants to launch two new community programs. Kandiyohi Family Services and will use it’s nearly $2,000 grant for a new mentor program for teenage girls. Faith Lutheran Church received more than $2,200 for a new photo project aimed at documenting poverty in the community. Read More...

Brainerd, Minn. - Brainerd Lakes Area native Sue Hadland has been named the recipient of the 2011 Women Making Waves Award for her tireless efforts on behalf of women and children.

The award is presented on behalf of the Brainerd Women’s Fund, a committee within the Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation committed to creating and supporting programs that empower and enrich the lives of women and girls. Only in its first year, the Women Making Waves Award was spun off from the long-standing Athena Award, given by the Brainerd Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with Imgrund Motors, years ago to recognize women making outstanding contributions in the Lakes Area.  Read More...

Alexandria, Minn. – The Alexandria Area Community Foundation (AACF) announced today it awarded grants to 18 local nonprofit organizations in its annual grant round to support key community programs. The Foundation, an affiliate of the Central Minnesota Community Foundation, awarded a total of $28,150.  Read More...

St. Cloud, Minn. - The Women on Stage event raised $97,000 for local programs that support women and girls. Proceeds will support Imagination Library, a program of the United Way of Central Minnesota that was started by Dolly Parton, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Faith in Action, St. Cloud Legal Service and Central Minnesota Legal Services.  Read More...

St. Cloud, MN – The Central Minnesota Community Foundation (CMCF) has awarded $143,150 in academic scholarships for the coming school year to 104 students from around the region.

“These scholarships are providing students the financial resources and community support they need to attend college and pursue their dreams,” said Susan Lorenz, CMCF program officer. “By awarding these scholarships, our donors are saying ‘We’re behind you. We’re rooting for you.’”  Read More...

St. Cloud, Minn. – The Central Minnesota Community Foundation (CMCF) announced today the recipients of its 2011 Awards in Philanthropy. The recipients will be honored for their passion, leadership and generosity at the Foundation’s Annual Dinner on Sept. 12 at the Holiday Inn & Suites in St. Cloud.  Read More...

St. Cloud, Minn. – The Central Minnesota Community Foundation (CMCF) announced today the appointment of business leaders Mike Noonan and Fred Bursch to the board of directors.

Mike Noonan is a founding shareholder of Rinke Noonan law firm, based in St. Cloud. He focuses on serving businesses and specializes in corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions and real estate development. Read More...

Willmar, MN – The Willmar Area Community Foundation, in conjunction with the Central Minnesota Community Foundation, is pleased to announce that 24 students from Willmar and the surrounding area received $28,500 in academic scholarships for the upcoming 2011-2012 school year. 

The Central Minnesota Community Foundation administers 80 separate scholarship funds, several which serve Willmar and surrounding area schools.  These scholarships were established by individuals, families, and businesses to support area students in their educational pursuits. Read More...

St. Cloud, Minn. – The Bernick Family Foundation and the Central Minnesota Community Foundation (CMCF) announce that $150,000 will be available in the fourth annual round of Bernick Family Foundation community grants.  Letters of inquiry will be accepted through Sept. 1. 

“We received 120 applications just last year alone, so we know there are plenty of worthy causes that could use support,” said Jason Bernick, Bernick’s Director of Corporate Affairs. “We are very pleased that we’ll be able to fund another group of great projects again this year.”  Read More...

Willmar, Minn. – The Willmar Area Community Foundation (WACF), along with the Southwest Initiative Foundation and Bremer Bank, will conduct a one-day workshop entitled “Finding Funding--An Overview of the Grant Seeking and Grantwriting Process.” This workshop will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, August 11 at the Conference Center on the Ridgewater College Campus in Willmar.   Read More...
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Willmar, Minn. – The Willmar Area Community Foundation (WACF) announces plans to invest an additional $55,000 this year in community programs that help meet key needs in Kandiyohi County. Applications for two separate grant opportunities are due Aug. 15.  Read More...

Brainerd, Minn. – The Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation (BLACF) announces plans today to award $50,000 to programs that serve residents in Crow Ring and Southern Cass counties. The Foundation will accept grant applications until Aug. 1.  Read More...

Brainerd, Minn. – For their foresight and vision, in addition to their dedication to philanthropy in the Lakes Area, business partners Kevin Close and Rod Converse have been selected as recipients of the 2011 Award in Philanthropy.  Read More...

Alexandria, Minn.  - The Alexandria Area Community Foundation (AACF) announces that it plans to award $28,000 in grants to organizations that serve the residents of the Alexandria area and improve the quality of life in the Alexandria region.  The deadline to submit grant applications is July 31.  Read More...

Willmar, Minn. – The Willmar Area Community Foundation announces that the Willmar Women’s Fund will award $4,300 in grants early this fall.  The Women’s Fund was established in 2008 as a component fund of the Willmar Area Community Foundation with the mission to support programs that provide access to lives of economic and social strength for women and girls.  Read More...

Brainerd, Minn - The Women’s Fund of the Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation will host presenters from the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota June 23^rd for an educational luncheon addressing the increased incidence of trafficking of young girls and what can be done to address the startling trend. Read More...

Willmar, Minn. – The Willmar Area Community Foundation (WACF) announced today it awarded grant to eight local nonprofit organizations in its spring grant round to support key community programs. The Foundation, an affiliate of the Central Minnesota Community Foundation, awarded a total of $44,500.   Read More...

Brainerd, Minn. – The Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation (BLACF) announced this week that  it has awarded $45,000 in grants to help 5 local nonprofits meet the growing needs of the local community.

The Foundation has provided over $1 million in grants since it started in 1998. It is a public charity that attracts and administers charitable funds for the benefit of the residents of Crow Wing and Southern Cass counties.  Read More...

St. Cloud & Little Falls, Minnesota—In a joint effort between the Central Minnesota Community Foundation and the Initiative Foundation, $12,000 is available in grant dollars from the Central Minnesota Rural Poverty Fund.  The next deadline for grant applications is Wednesday, June 30, 2011.   Read More...

Brainerd, Minn. - Do you know a woman in the lakes area that continues to make a difference in her community? Now is her time to shine! The Brainerd Lakes Area Women’s Fund is pleased to announce the Women Making Waves Award, honoring female leaders in the community who have excelled in a variety of environments; and, in doing so, have improved conditions for themselves and others in the area. Read More...     Nomination Form

ALEXANDRIA, MN – The Central Minnesota Community Foundation (CMCF) announced today that is expanding with a new affiliate in Alexandria. The Alexandria Area Community Foundation will gain additional resources to grow to meet rising local needs.  Read More...

ST. CLOUD, MN – The Central Minnesota Community Foundation is seeking nominations for its annual awards in philanthropy, which will be presented at the Foundation’s annual dinner on September 12, 2011.  Read More...     Nomination Forms and Information        

St. Cloud, Minn. - The Central Minnesota Community Foundation (CMCF) announced today that the Women's Fund and the Julianne Williams Fund are currently accepting grant applications to support programs that empower girls and women in the region.  Read More...

St. Cloud, MN - Central Minnesota Community Foundation announced plans to provide $29,500 in funding to support arts organizations and arts activities to make the arts more accessible to area residents.  The Foundation is now accepting on-line grant applications for the “Fund for the Arts” Grant Round. The deadline is April 1^st.  Read More...

St. Cloud, Minn. – The Bernick Family Foundation, based in St. Cloud, announced today it has awarded more than $200,000 to community causes through the Central Minnesota Community Foundation.  A desire to fund more projects during a time of need in the community led the Bernick Family Foundation to double the amount awarded through its latest round of competitive grants. Read More...

Brainerd, Minn. (Feb. 17, 2011) – The first group of women recently completed a new career skills program designed by the Women’s Fund at the Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation. Eighteen women attending Central Lakes College in Brainerd participated in the “Presenting Yourself” workshop series focused on helping them rise of poverty. Read More...

Many organizations and institutions across Central Minnesota continue to work on their own key priorities as they have identified them.  On a recent trip to Dubuque, Iowa by 42 community leaders from the greater St. Cloud area, we witnessed how this dynamic and growing community aligned its priorities so all the major organizations and institutions were supporting one another to achieve a common set of outcomes.  Dubuque’s process was called Dubuque Envision 2010. Read More...

ST. CLOUD, MN - Donations received at the Central Minnesota Community Foundation (CMCF) at the end of 2010 provide an indicator that charitable giving is beginning to return to pre-recession levels in the local community. The Foundation received $6.7 million in gifts from July 1 to Dec. 31, 2010, according to a report released this week. That’s more than double the $3 million received during the same period in 2009 and reaches levels not seen since 2007. Read More...

St. Cloud, MN -- The Norman C. Skalicky Foundation and the Central Minnesota Community Foundation are pleased to announce that the 10^th annual Community Charity Challenge raised a grand total of $109,971 for the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities and St. Joseph food shelves.  The total includes a $50,000 match from the Norman C. Skalicky Foundation.  Read More...

Willmar, MN - The Willmar Area Community Foundation (WACF) announces the next deadline for receiving grant applications is February 15, 2011. The Foundation, which focuses its grant funding primarily on programs, projects and capital-related grant proposals, has more than $36,000 available in grant funds to be awarded this grant round. The Foundation offers two grant rounds each year to organizations that serve Kandiyohi residents.   Read More...

St. Cloud, MN-The Central Minnesota Community Foundation in partnership with St. Cloud State University is offering a grant writing workshop, “Taking the Mystery out of Grant Writing!” on Thursday March 17^th from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the NEW St Cloud State University “WELCOME CENTER”  located at 355 5th Ave. S., St. Cloud.  Well-known presenter, Karl Samp, will share his grant writing knowledge from his many years of experience in fundraising, strategic planning, group facilitation, and grants management. He is a consultant for nonprofit groups and funding organizations throughout the State of Minnesota.  Read More...

Brainerd, Minn. – The Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation (BLACF) is currently seeking nominations for its seventh annual Award in Philanthropy. The award recognizes the efforts of an individual, couple or family that has significantly contributed to philanthropy in the region through their personal giving, volunteerism or work as a professional advising their clients about philanthropy. 
Read More...     To nominate someone download the Nomination Form.