Brainerd, Minn. – The Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation (BLACF) recently announced that Tyler Glynn and
Quinn Swanson have joined the Board of Directors. The current Board of twelve members governs BLACF, conducts
development activities, approves grant recommendations, and works to engage people, connect resources, and build
community. All members are volunteers and serve up to three, three-year terms.
Tyler Glynn is the Executive Director for Brainerd Lakes Area Economic Development Corporation (BLAEDC), he began
that roll in 2020. He was hired in 2017 to lead BLAEDC’s new initiative, the BLAEDC Unified Fund, as the Economic
Development Officer. He took the lead with daily economic development activities and BLAEDC’s Business Retention and
Expansion Program, which brought him face to face with the business leaders in Crow Wing County. Before moving to
the Brainerd area in 2015, Tyler spent 20 plus years working in marketing, sales, and commercial banking. Tyler has a
bachelor’s degree from Hamline University where he majored in Economics and participated in both football and
baseball. Along with his new role as a board member of the Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation, Tyler also
serves on the Board of Directors for the Lakes Area United Way and as President of the West Pines Homeowners
Association at Grand View Lodge. Tyler and his wife Michelle have three daughters.
Quinn Swanson classifies herself as a hometown gal having grown up and returned post college to live in the area.
Swanson is Executive Director for Happy Dancing Turtle, a nonprofit dedicated to growing good stewards of the planet,
home-based in Pine River. She has worked with the nonprofit for nearly two decades. Over the years, Swanson has
served on 10 area service and nonprofit boards. She is invested in being a force for good and looks forward to continuing
that work through her service to the BLACF. She and her husband, Roy Hamilton, live outside Backus where she enjoys
time spent creating, being outdoors (especially in the summer months) and with loved ones.
Terri Foster, BLACF Executive Director stated, “both these new members are passionate about their communities and
bring an immense amount of expertise and offer a unique perspective on community needs while having demonstrated
experience in championing community projects. We are excited to welcome them to the board to aid us in continuing
the good work that we do in the Brainerd Lakes Area.”
BLACF attracts and administers charitable funds for the benefit of supporting your favorite charities and causes. BLACF
was founded in 1998 and celebrating their 25th anniversary and is excited for not only the growth in fund assets that the
foundation hosts – over $19.26 million, but even more proud of the $9 million in grant funding provided to nonprofit
organizations from BLACF and in-partnership with its fundholders and donors. Those dollars are truly transforming lives
and changing our communities! The BLACF is governed by a local board of directors and is a partner of
CommunityGiving, which is a collaborative of community foundations creating efficiencies that maximize donor impact.
Collectively, CommunityGiving administers over 1,000 funds, totaling nearly $210 million. Learn more at
CommunityGiving.org/blacf.
