Willmar, Minn. – The Willmar Area Community Foundation (WACF) announced today the opening of their annual Community Impact Grant Round. The WACF seeks to fund programs that focus on four different areas: increasing community connections and welcoming diverse populations, supporting productive aging, community innovations and capital needs. Eligible organizations must be a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, school, or government entity who serve residents of Kandiyohi County. The WACF Community Impact Grant Round will be open for applications from November 15th, 2024 to January 15th, 2025. For additional information and the online application, visit www.communitygiving.org/grants and select “WACF Community Impact Grant Round”.
“Local nonprofits serve as our community’s safety net, supporting vulnerable neighbors, enhancing quality of life, and strengthening social bonds. Through Community Impact grants, your community foundation proudly supports their work and encourages innovation, helping to sustain community vitality and foster deeper connections in the place we call home. We’re excited to see the creative solutions our nonprofit partners bring to address pressing community issues with the new Community Innovations focus area,” notes Sara Carlson, WACF Executive Director.
Last year, WACF invested just under $200,000 back into our community through the Community Impact Grant Round. These investments supported the initial furnishing of temporary housing with United Community Action Partnership, leadership capacity development with LEAD of Kandiyohi County & Vision 2040, and bridging divides through food and shelter with Family Promise of Kandiyohi County. Additional grants funded renovations at Raymond’s Event Center, immigrant support programs with Arrive Ministries, inclusive efforts with Advocacy and Inclusion Matter (AIM), restoration projects and multimedia equipment at Barn Theatre, and daily meal delivery for high-risk seniors through Lutheran Social Services.
The Willmar Area Community Foundation (WACF) attracts and administers charitable funds for the benefit of the local Willmar area. Since 1998, WACF has grown to nearly $29.5 million in assets and awarded $15.5 million in grants to nonprofits. The WACF is governed by a local board of directors and is a partner of CommunityGiving, which is a network of community foundations united under a single framework to create efficiencies that maximize the impact of our donors. Collectively, CommunityGiving administers over 1,200 funds totaling nearly $240 million in assets. Learn more at CommunityGiving.org/Willmar.