A Look Back

Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation

1998

Foundation Established

Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation is established.

1998

1999

Otto Bremer Trust Grant

Otto Bremer Trust grant to support the new Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation.

1999

1999

First Fund

In Christ's Love (ICL) Fund established in December.

1999

1999

First Grants Distributed

Confidence Learning Center - $1,000
Kinship Partners of Brainerd - $2,500
Lakes Area Senior Activity Center - $2,500
Lutheran Social Services - $1,000

1999

2000

BLACF Funds

23 Funds | $212,390 Grants | $988,075 Assets

2000

2003

First BLACF Staff Person

Bonnie Cumberland contracted

2003

2005

BLACF Funds

42 Funds | $222,764 Grants | $1,872,210 Assets

2005

2005

Minnesota Real Estate Foundation Began

Mike Burton worked part-time with MREF and CMCF
*MN Real Estate Giving was formed to accept real estate gifts/assets (Today RealEstateGiving (REG), a supporting organization of CommunityGiving, supports the gifting of real estate for charitable purposes).

2005

2007

First Part-Time BLACF Director

Mike Burton worked as part-time Director of BLAC while continuing working part-time for MREF.

2007

2010

BLACF Funds

42 Funds | $222,764 Grants | $1,872,210 Assets

2010

2012

New Part-Time Director

Bill Brekken hired as new part-time director

2012

2015

CommunityGiving Founded

CommunityGiving supports BLACF and other partner foundations

2015

2015

BLACF Funds

80 Funds | $489,078 Grants | $8,134,812 Assets

2015

2016

New Executive Director

Karl Samp hired as new full-time executive director 

2016

2020

BLACF Funds

104 Funds | $934,377 Grants | $14,254,939 Assets

2020

2022

New Executive Director

Terri Foster started working as BLACF Donor Relations in 2017

2022

2022

BLACF Funds

133 Funds | $1,127,585 Grants | $18,600,135 Assets

2022

2023

Donor Relations & Communications Coordinator Hired

Kim Rollins  hired as first full-time Donor Relations & Communications Coordinator

2023