2013 Resource Special Giving Edition

NMF Board of Directors ................................................... 3

Message from the Chair .................................................. 4

Message from the President ............................................ 5

Community Foundation Growth and Development .............. 6

Revocable Trusts............................................................. 7

ECI Celebrates 10 Years .................................................. 8 -13

Charitable Giving Through IRA .......................................... 14

Year End Secrets ............................................................ 15

Way to Give .................................................................... 16-17

Family of Funds ............................................................... 18-19

Component and Community Funds ................................... 20-24

Online Giving and Gift Planning ......................................... 25

Table of Contents

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation has been confirmed in compliance with the National Standards for U. S. Community Foundations™. The Community Foundations National Standards Board is a supporting organization of the Council on Foundations

that administers and advances these standards by ensuring the integrity of the accreditation process and building the value of compliance. Visit www.cfstandards.org for more information about the program and organization.

Our Mission

Our Vision

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation invests resources, facilitates collaboration and promotes philanthropy to make the region a better place to live and work.

Northwest Minnesota will be a place where communities and people work together to foster opportunity, promote philanthropy, and enrich the lives of all residents.

Layout by: Design Angler, Inc. Photography by: Leigh Collyer

Natural Assets Drawn in Stone

When entering the lobby of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation – the floor quickly commands attention. Twenty-three hundred pieces of slate are intricately placed in a mosaic that displays the Mississippi River flowing to each part of our region. The flow of the river reaches to seven vignettes that draw a clear picture of what our Northwest territory has to offer.

The remarkable artwork is featured in photographs within these pages, taken by Leigh Collyer, which help to serve the theme of our Special Giving Edition Resource: Philanthropy – Giving Completes the Picture.

The arts in northwest Minnesota are vast and rapidly growing! Therefore, a conscious decision to include local art into the new headquarters was unanimous. Bagley, MN artist Darci Thabes of Drawn in Stone did an extraordinary job of capturing our region’s natural places into a permanent work of art.

To say all the pieces fell together for this project would be quite literal. The Baer Family Fund, which was set up in the 1990’s to be funded by a charitable gift annuity by Bill and Jessie Baer, could not make a payout until after Jessie’s passing in 2009. The Baer fund’s purpose includes grants to Northwest Minnesota Foundation for community or economic development.

As such, the annual distribution designated to NMF in 2011 helped support Darci’s work in the renovated lobby, with the blessing of Bill and Jessie’s son John and grandchildren. This public, community space, available at no cost to nonprofits, NMF partners and agencies, will be enjoyed for many years to come. It will also serve as a lasting testament to the Baer’s love of art and their generosity to the Bemidji community.

2 RESOURCE: Special Giving

Once again we present you with our special giving edition newsletter that focuses on community and component funds. For over 27 years, they have been entrusted to the foundation for administration and investment.

The topics covered include the value of philanthropy in the region. Donors, foundations and charitable organizations have essential roles in our economy and the region’s quality of place.

Community FoundationAs a community foundation, NMF helps to maintain prosperity in successful communities, supports the work of effective citizens, cultivates economic options and develops sufficient charitable resources to respond to issues of concern. Instead of relying on resources outside of our region, we can retain and put to work the assets from within the region for the benefit of its citizens. Your support matters and has an impact.

Donors and NonprofitsWorking with both donors and nonprofits, NMF helps to identify opportunities for philanthropic acts. As a 501(c)3 charitable nonprofit, we can be the means through which philanthropy can be put to work.

SupportWe urge you to support the endowments of the charities listed within these pages with your tax-deductible donations. You can use the enclosed donation form or you are welcome to make a gift online securely at www.nwmf.org, using either your credit card or e-check.

Make a DifferenceRealizing goals, maximizing resources and retaining assets within the region allows people, organizations, and businesses of Northwest Minnesota to make a difference.

2013 Giving Edition RESOURCE

Service Area

Beltrami

Hub

bard

Cle

arw

ater

Mahnomen

Polk

Red Lake

Pennington

Marshall

RoseauKittson

Norman

Lake of the Woods

RESOURCE: Special Giving 3

NMF Board of Directors

NMF StaffConnie Aguillo, Administrative AssistantPeggy Crandall, Grants Services AssociateNate Dorr, Program Officer - GrantsDawn Ganje, Program Officer - TrainingVicky Grove, Program Specialist - Early ChildhoodSamantha Hedin, Accounting AssociateAshley Hull, Communications SpecialistPhil Knutson, Business Development SpecialistBarb Lien, Administrative AssistantLinde Linde, Administrative Assistant

La Rae Maddox, Office/Systems ManagerDiane Morey, Senior Program Officer - Business FinanceLisa Peterson, Development OfficerDawn Richardson, Administrative AssistantMarty Sieve, Vice President for ProgramsAmy Tobkin, Program Officer - Business DevelopmentCaryl Turnow, Development OfficerNancy Vyskocil, PresidentTim Wang, Finance Director

Bob HagerRoseau County

Laurie WilsonPolk County

Tom AndersonClearwater County

Pete HaddelandMahnomen County

Jon LinnellMarshall County

Jon QuistgaardBeltrami County

Kristin EggerlingKittson County

Leah PigattiHubbard County

Jody HorntvedtLake of the Woods County

Cathy ForgitPolk County

Judy RoyBeltrami County

Faye AuchenpaughPennington County

Chair Vice Chair Secretary Treasurer


“When you build bridges, you can keep crossing them.” This quote by Rick Pitino in “Lead to Succeed” fits our Northwest Minnesota Foundation well.

During my tenure on the Board and in the last year as Chairman, the Mission Statement of the foundation continues to perform through our values. The bridges built with the many families of funds – component and community funds – has been rewarding to witness. The new strategic five year plan has a focus on collaboration and regional partners for more bridges in the future.

I am excited when I hear how active our staff is and how the multiple changes led by our president are taking root for larger goal achievement! The improving national economy is also positively affecting the 12-county region we serve. This will continue to grow the financial base of the foundation and afford greater opportunity.

We ask that as citizens of the region, you look at the many benefits made possible by living here and consider the Foundation in your gifting. As always we remain thankful for those with past and ongoing support. Building quality of place through philanthropy is the engine that makes this possible. We will continue working through grants to serve the region and not lose sight of the less advantaged in our communities. And we hope to inspire the dreams and efforts of the entrepreneurs in Northwest Minnesota through our business development programs.

With focus on outcome and less emphasis on process, the Foundation will become more effective in building bridges, seeing results and working with regional partners for the good of the whole.

Bob Hager, Chair

Bob Hager

Message from the Chair


Nothing makes you think about your legacy quite as much as the birth of a child. My husband Rick and I celebrated the birth of our seventh grandchild, Wyatt Nolan on September 4th. This is an exciting, but also humbling experience. As we hold his tiny hand and snuggle him we think of what the future may bring.

Message from the President

One of the ways we hope to make the future brighter for Wyatt and our other grandchildren is by making strategic investments with our philanthropy dollars. Like many of you, we support a number of worthy causes, including our church, the universities that helped us secure a great education that made our careers possible, Habitat for Humanity, the Humane Society and United Way, to name a few.

We also support the general endowment at the Northwest Minnesota Foundation. Many people do not know that the foundation is not supported by tax dollars. We receive no funding from local, state or federal governments. Our endowment has been built solely from donor support. While we offer many great options to align your giving with your values, we hope that you will also consider supporting the endowment of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation.

The reasons to support the foundation endowment are many. The endowment provides the grants that we give to various organizations, the work we do in economic development and business finance, early childhood, for nonprofits

and businesses, grants to protect natural resources, and for the operations of the foundation, including staff costs. Your gift to the endowment literally helps keep the lights on.

We have been blessed to receive significant support from the McKnight Foundation in building our endowment to its level today. I ask that you join in the support of the region through a gift to the Northwest Minnesota Foundation Endowment. Visit our website to make a gift today.

Nancy Vyskocil, President

Nancy & Wyatt

Nancy & Addison

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation is anchored by a belief that the people who live and work in rural Minnesota are best positioned to decide how to charitably support their communities and interests. NMF’s board believed that we had the expertise to help the region build permanent resources to meet future needs.

To keep local resources working for local programs and projects, in 1989 the first component funds were added to the slate of services we offered. Our staff began to actively seek out people and organizations interested in developing endowed funds to benefit a particular nonprofit, community or special area of interest. The foundation’s board invested the contributions from restricted donations received and our staff worked with local advisory committees to determine appropriate projects to receive support from the funds.

In 1997, our name change reflected the increased need for an organization that could assist donors. The Northwest Minnesota Initiative Fund became the Northwest Minnesota Foundation, signifying our resolve to serve as a regional community foundation.

We administered just over 13 component funds in 1997 with assets totaling $600,000. Today, NMF endowments total more than $41 million. Sixteen million of that amount represents the endowed dollars of more than 410 component funds housed at NMF.

Since then we have committed resources to promote philanthropy in our region by encouraging the establishment of more funds, the continued charitable support for these funds, and perhaps most significant, the use of these funds, through grant awards, to make Northwest Minnesota a better place to live and work.

Community Foundation Growth and Development


It is amazing how one gift can change an entire community while leaving one family’s legacy.

In Northwest Minnesota farm country, the land is a valuable commodity, providing not just an income, but a special lifestyle and sense of community. The farmers who make a life here feel a special connection and great affection for the region.

Jess and Wanda Dishman wanted to honor the memory of Wanda’s parents, Orlo and Millie Melby, who had a farm and raised their family in the community of Oklee. They decided to do this by setting up an endowed scholarship fund to benefit students from Oklee and surrounding communities who attend Red Lake County

Central School. The endowment, valued at more than $286,000, will provide generous awards for years to come.

The Dishmans put their plan in motion by setting up a Joint Revocable Trust. The trust specified that a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the family farm would establish the scholarship at the Northwest Minnesota Foundation. The remainder benefited the Pennington County Humane Society. Both the Melbys and the Dishmans were passionate about supporting children and pets in the region.

Orlo lived in Oklee most of his life. He and Millie moved to Oregon and lived with Jess and Wanda the last couple years of their lives. Jess said, “Millie often stated, in those years, how much she loved Minnesota.”

Wanda passed away two years ago. Jess decided to sell the assets in the trust when he learned that the brothers who managed the farm for years were interested in buying the property. He was then able to fulfill the directives of the trust and see firsthand the benefits that he and Wanda had put in motion years earlier. He also knew the Melbys would have appreciated the farm being in trusted hands.

Revocable trusts are attractive to many because you retain the ability to change or amend it throughout your lifetime. Revocable trusts also plan for management of the assets if you were to become incapacitated. Another reason people set up a trust is to avoid probate, which can delay the distribution of assets and incur additional expenses.

Revocable Trusts Ease the Way for Family Philanthropy

If you would like to learn more about a revocable trust and how you can make a gift that can make a difference in your community contact Caryl or Lisa or visit our website at www.nwmf.org. We would be happy to discuss with you and your professional advisors the best vehicle to meet your philanthropic goals.

Wanda Dishman with her parents, Orlo and Millie Melby


The Future of the Early Childhood InitiativeLike any program delivered by nonprofits, operating dollars are seldom 100% guaranteed, as priorities and goals change for the host organization. To assure a successful future for early childhood programming in the region, NMF has offered a match opportunity to encourage our ECI Component Funds to begin building endowments that will provide ongoing support and sustain their work for years to come.

Two of the coalitions, Bagley and Fertile – Beltrami, are well on their way with their endowment growth. Making an endowment gift is a new concept for many people. A donation to the endowment is not spent, but remains invested with only the earnings used each year to support grants for the mission and goals of the nonprofit, or in this case, the ECI program. As the fund grows, so does its grant making capacity. The endowment gift will

ECI Celebrates 10 Years

Northwest Minnesota Foundation’s Early Childhood Initiative (ECI) program celebrated its 10th anniversary. Governor Mark Dayton, along with 12 community coalitions in the Northwest region, marked the occasion by proclaiming October 24th as Minnesota Early Childhood Initiative Day. NMF partners worked with local leaders to ensure that the quality care and education of our youngest children is a top priority.

The purpose of Minnesota Early Childhood Initiative is to promote high-quality early care and education for children from birth to age five, while supporting parents in their important work. Since 2003, the Initiative has grown to include 86 local early childhood coalitions covering over 200 greater Minnesota communities.

Investing in early childhood care and learning pays big dividends for communities and businesses. Scientific research confirms that a child’s earliest experiences

dramatically affect their ability to succeed. Unfortunately, every year about half of Minnesota’s children enter kindergarten not fully prepared to succeed, according to studies by the Minnesota Department of Education.


multiply the value of the initial gift and still keep giving. For a complete list of all NMF ECI Coalitions, please visit www.nwmf.org. All Coalitions are fulfilling the same mission, yet each has its own unique impact on their community in Northwest Minnesota.

Norman County – Julie SatherThe Norman County East Early Childhood Initiative (NCE ECI) began in 2008. The NCE ECI coalition has been very active fulfilling our vision: “All young children and their families thrive and a have a healthy life of learning and succeeding with the support of their community.” The projects that we have completed include funding an extra day of preschool for four -year-old children who attend the NCE Eagle’s Nest Preschool Program. This program was funded for four years.

The coalition also raised funds to put up a new playground structure at the city park in Twin Valley for young children. Fun, family events have been a focus of the coalition as well. The NCE Family Fair, Party at Heiberg Park, Santa’s Secret Sale and Family Dance have all been well attended annual events. The coalition has located two book shelves within the community, where children’s books are stored for families to borrow. The coalition has also worked closely with Norman-Mahnomen Public Health. Books and Blankets for Babies, provided by our ECI, are given out during Public Health’s new baby visits. The NCE ECI is grateful for active coalition members, which includes parents as well as community members. We are very appreciative of the community businesses, the cities of Twin Valley and Gary, the NCE school and families who have donated time and funds toward our goals.


NMF President Nancy Vyskocil said, “With great thanks to the McKnight Foundation, each of our coalitions has received generous funding over the past ten years. Our foundation made the decision to establish component funds for all twelve of them. Having their own component funds allows for easy tracking and improves accountability for their projects.” She added, “As you read through their stories, it is apparent that they have very successfully raised local dollars and gained support through their own tremendous efforts to improve the well-being of our region’s youngest children.”


Bagley – Marianne Trcka & Andrea OlsonThe Bagley ECI was formed in 2003 and has had a positive impact in the community. Over the past ten years we’ve had the opportunity to install two playgrounds at the school and the city park, plan and run an annual healthy community fair, and started and maintain an indoor gym with play equipment over the winter

months.

A key accomplishment was helping to conceive, plan and implement a large grant through the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Foundation, intended to introduce and teach families about healthy food and how to prepare fresh foods. We have hosted and helped underwrite trainings in the early childhood field and we continue to collaborate with community partners. The Bagley ECI is committed to building a legacy for future generations by starting to build an endowment fund with the hopes of raising $150,000 so we can be self-sustaining.

Fertile-Beltrami – Cathy Forgit & Carol Osmondson The Fertile Beltrami Early Childhood Initiative is a coalition of people committed to enriching the lives of children ages birth to five in our community. Our ECI is helping to create a vision of a bright future for every child and then developing an action plan to achieve that vision.

The Fertile Beltrami ECI funded an early childhood playground with equipment for the community to use to promote physical, social and emotional development. We also assisted with the Nature Play Space. Ongoing projects include supporting child care providers, hosting intergenerational activities, providing literacy events and holding a health fair. The support of our entire community helps families enrich the lives of young children.

Park Rapids – Dawn LeesebergThe Park Rapids ECI is one of the original pilot community coalitions of NMF. Our ECI has been involved in many projects over the past 10 years. Our committee is comprised of community members who care about our youngest children from birth to age five and their families. Some of our past projects include the video baby books, the Toddler Playground



at Heartland Park, and the Reading Literacy Project, which distributed books to young children. We have hosted events including the United for Children’s Conference and Fabulous Friday Gym Days. Donations to the Crisis Care Project have also been achieved. Current ECI Projects include Gather & Grow Trainings for Childcare Providers and ECI Prep Packs for children to complete their Preschool Screening in collaboration with Essentia Health.

Bemidji – Ginny Kurtzweg & Vicki WangbergThe Bemidji Area ECI began in 2006. We have supported many projects, including the Tiny Tots Expo/Family Resource and Activity Fair, which more than 900 people attended in 2011. Gather and Grow is quarterly training for more than 75 center-based and family child care providers. Project Learning Tree provides outdoor education workshops for 25 participants. FRED (Fathers Reading Every Day) is an evening event that

promotes reading between dads and kids and is now offered at the Bemidji Public Library. Ready Set Grow is two, three-part series for teachers and caregivers, focused on the transition to kindergarten. Child Care Connection brings art, literacy, music, science and math education to child care settings. We have also held children’s concerts for an educational musical experience for the entire family.

Marshall County – Sheree SetterholmThe Marshall County ECI was initiated in 2004. The Tiny Tot Expo parent/children’s fair was our first project, which we now hold bi-annually, informing young families of the opportunities in our local area. Our visioning from our five communities created several literacy based projects including: Summer Programming to day cares; themed boxes used for Story time on Wheels; The Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which delivers books monthly to the homes of children from birth - age 5; Getting your Child Ready to Read training for day cares, parents and ECFE staff; Fathers Reading Every Day program presented in five school districts; and, literacy training for day care providers, parents and early childhood staff. We also sponsored day care appreciation events and family entertainment.

We have helped develop two playgrounds in our communities that are developmentally appropriate for birth – age 5 children. We were busy with several fund development activities which have raised funds for children through other companies and organizations such as the Lions International Reading Action Program, Farm Futures for Children, The Monsanto “America’s Farmers Grow Communities fund, and yearly motorcycle




runs. Grants have also been awarded to our Initiative from the Bremer Foundation for Creating a Culture of Literacy, and we were selected as one of two sites to host “Storyland,” a Minnesota traveling Children’s Museum exhibit. We have been very fortunate to provide these and more opportunities for the youngest citizens in our county.

Crookston – Gina GundersonThe Crookston Early Childhood Initiative has met our mission to help young children and their families to love, learn, and thrive by valuing diversity, promoting developmentally appropriate care and education. We are supporting the social and emotional needs of young children, coordinating services and resources, and encouraging active quality participation by community members, groups, and businesses.

We created five play spaces in five years that encourage play activity to stimulate healthy brain development, gain necessary social skills, reduce obesity in children and support academic success.

Each year, we support Crookston’s Month of the Young Child’s collaboration to provide fun, age appropriate activities that educate parents on a specific topic. We also provide resources annually to parents to support optimum growth and development of their child birth through age five. An Early Childhood Resource Directory is printed annually and then distributed to the community. We also update our website to keep parents informed.



This past year, we partnered with RiverView Health to join their efforts in the Reach Out and Read program to get books in the hands of children after they have been to a well child check-up. To reach our local providers and teachers, we help support our Crookston Early Childhood Summit to provide education and collaboration to support kindergarten readiness. We also planned and funded TACSEI training for our providers and teachers.

THRIVE - Renae DeVolder & Jean ChristiansenThe Thrive Initiative is a group of area leaders and community members focused on strengthening early childhood mental health services and social-emotional health for young children and families in the Bemidji area. Early childhood mental health is the developing capacity of a child to experience, regulate, and express emotions; form close and secure interpersonal relationships; and explore the environment and learn. A young child’s healthy social and emotional development forms a strong foundation for all other development, including cognitive - the ability to learn and thrive in school.

Starting in 2007, Thrive has moved from a pilot project to fully functioning collaborative, developing connections with medical providers, supporting the increase in the number of local mental health providers, and sponsoring regular educational conferences. In addition, we are developing PSAs for television to discourage alcohol and drug use by women of child bearing age. Using the power of collaboration, Thrive is working toward an integrated/holistic network of services for families; recognizing the importance of the family; teaching best practices; and, spreading awareness about supporting healthy social and emotional development.

“Grant dollars are never a sure thing for our Early Childhood programming. If you want to see the important work continue, please consider making a gift to one of our ECI component funds. Each dollar spent on quality early childhood programs, saves seven dollars on negative outcomes. The wonderful gains we have made in making the region the best place it can be for our littlest children can be sustained with your help.”

-Vicky Grove, Program Specialist – Early Childhood


If you are over age 70½, the Federal government permits you to rollover up to $100,000 from your IRA to charity without increasing your taxable income or paying any additional tax. These tax-free rollover gifts could be $1,000, $10,000 or any amount up to $100,000 this year. The gift satisfies your RMD (required minimum distribution) for this year.

Charitable Giving Through IRA

IRA RolloverYour IRA may have increased in value over the years and you have more income than you need. The IRA rollover gift is a simple and easy way to provide for your favorite charity while not increasing your taxable income. Simply contact your custodian and request that an amount be transferred to charity. The nonprofit receives a nice gift and you avoid any additional tax and satisfy your RMD for the year.

Major GiftPerhaps you are considering your tax planning goals and would like to make a major gift to charity. Like many individuals, your IRA may be the largest asset in your estate. Your CPA may be looking for ways to save taxes. By making an IRA charitable rollover gift of up to $100,000, you can reach your goal of helping charity in a significant way and reducing taxable income. Future IRA Gift OptionsWhile you have the opportunity to give through your IRA now, there are other options available for making future gifts from your individual retirement account to charity.

Bequest of IRAOne option is to designate charity as the beneficiary of your IRA. This permits you to continue to take withdrawals from your IRA during life and then leave the remaining value of your IRA to charity.

Testamentary IRA Gift AnnuityAnother option is to make a future gift of your IRA to charity while providing life income to your heirs. Your family members will receive fixed payments based on their ages.

Testamentary IRA UnitrustAn IRA could also be transferred to a special “Give It Twice” trust that usually provides income to children for a period of up to 20 years. After that time, the trust may pass to charity, creating a wonderful way for you to make a charitable gift.

To learn more about making an IRA gift to NMF’s endowment or to one of our component funds, contact Development Officers Lisa Peterson, or Caryl Turnow at 218 759-2057 or visit our website at www.nwmf.org.

A Year End Secret Too Good To KeepSuccessful people are often asked how they thrive. What did they do differently than others? One of the secrets they share is the importance of giving wisely and doing so in a way that brings benefits back to them. When many people think of charitable giving, especially at year’s end, they think of making a cash gift. However, there is another way. It’s called a planned gift.

Year End Secrets

There are many ways a planned gift can bring benefits back to you: » A charitable gift annuity that pays you fixed income for life at a rate based on your age.

» A charitable remainder trust that provides you with income for life or a term of years.

» A gift of real estate that offers tax and income advantages.

» A gift of stock that helps you avoid capital gains tax.

Many of these benefits can be achieved with a surprisingly modest gift. There are variations on

each of these gift options. To learn more about ways to make a planned gift, please visit our website

or contact us today. As the year comes to a close, open yourself up to new possibilities and success

achieved through giving and receiving.

We Believe In GivingBy giving to charitable and philanthropic organizations, we exercise support for the goals, the people and the purposes we believe in. It is our individual response to human needs; an opportunity to give is an opportunity to be involved. It is caring and serving. Philanthropy gives our wealth meaning, and engages us as stewards in the betterment of society.

There are many motivations for giving money and other resources for charitable and philanthropic purposes, but the following seem to be widely affirmed by those who practice it:

• Helping people gives us a feeling of value and satisfaction

• We wish to leave a lasting imprint on society while making a significant difference

• We want to perpetuate a viewpoint or philosophy

• Giving as a family unites everyone around a purposeful mission

• Giving can memorialize a loved one

• We wish to return something to the communities we grew up in or where we earned a living

• We feel a responsibility or a desire to be leaders in our communities

• We want to get involved and connect with others who share our interests

• The tax advantages can be beneficial

Ways to Give

Why give through a community foundation?You will enjoy some distinct advantages and options. NMF is a local charitable foundation that administers endowed funds established by donors who reside in the region. They are established mostly for local purposes, resolving community or regional issues, and adding quality to the places we live, work and play. NMF is the only community foundation serving the twelve county region of Northwest Minnesota.

Tips for Year-End GivingIf you’re like most people, you do your major giving toward the end of the year. This probably occurs for several reasons. The closing of the tax season encourages those who itemize to obtain income tax deductions; a bar-rage of earnest appeals by nonprofits increases awareness of financial need; and many are simply motivated by the holiday season to make a charitable gift.

Here are some tips to help you make the most of your year-end giving:

Calculate your income. Try to get a handle on your tax liability for the year. Did your unearned income increase? Did you sell any appreciated assets? Will you owe more taxes? This alone may motivate you to increase your giving before December 31. In fact, you may even want to move some of your giving forward from next year to create a larger income tax deduction for yourself this year. Non-itemizers may especially find this “grouping of gifts” useful in order to take advantage of an itemized tax return every other year. In any case, by the time you fill out your income tax return, it will be too late to make charitable gifts for the previous year. Take the time to do some planning while you still have the opportunity to make a year-end gift.

Consider a life-income gift. NMF offers a variety of life-income plans to fit your needs. You can make a gift now, obtain tax benefits and receive income for the rest of your life. Sound too good to be true? A few minutes of your time will convince you otherwise. Our development officers can provide personalized illustrations and printed material to assist you and your advisor(s).

Do your giving early. This is especially true if you want to make a gift of noncash assets (stock, real estate, etc.). It also applies to life-income gifts (gift annuities, pooled income fund contributions, trust arrangements, etc.). Your professional advisor(s) are busy beyond belief as the year winds down. The sooner you can get your gift activity going, the better it will be for everyone concerned.

Talk to your advisor. Before making any significant gift to NMF, or to any other nonprofit for that matter, you should have your CPA, attorney or other advisor help you understand the impact of your gift on your income tax return and estate. We want your giving to be prudent, as well as generous and joyful.

For more information about the year-end giving opportunities at NMF, contact Lisa Peterson or Caryl Turnow at 800-659-7859 or visit the Planned Giving Ideas section at www.nwmf.org.

Ways to Give


Northwest Minnesota Foundation funds help individual donors, groups and families act on deeply held values

and community commitments. They are established to benefit a specific nonprofit community organization, interest

area or the broad personal charitable goals of individuals and families. As part of NMF, these funds are governed by

NMF’s national standard compliant administrative and investment policies. These policies provide sound fiscal, legal

and ethical management while allowing local input and advice to shape how they are best put to use.

As a community foundation, the NMF funds are established as a particular type of fund according to recognized national standards. NMF fund types include:

Agency FundsAgency funds are established by non-profit agencies to provide direct or indirect funding in support of their mission. These funds typically represent an endowment for that agency or a special project effort, like a major capital or building project. Agency funds benefit from NMF’s investment expertise, major and planned giving support, reduced administrative costs for the agency maintaining these programs on their own, and a committed donor-centered philosophy that encourages continued financial support.

Donor Advised FundsThis type of fund provides great flexibility to the donor while avoiding the costs and demands of a private foun-dation. Donor advised funds also provide a great oppor-tunity to involve children and even grandchildren in both gifting and grantmaking.

Field Of Interest FundsA field of interest fund enables a donor to support a cause they care about, such as health services, the arts, or early childhood. NMF will make grants to organizations capable of having the greatest impact within the donor’s chosen field of interest.

Community FundsThe NMF Community Funds Program assists communities in organizing and building resources for the benefit of the community. Working with community leaders, NMF facilitates the establishment of these broad area-of-interest funds with a general purpose and operation which provides a simple, understandable and economical means for helping the needs of the community and the charitable objectives of donors. It’s just one more way that NMF works to develop community assets.

Designated FundsA designated fund allows many donors to support one or more specified charitable organizations. It differs from an agency fund because donors rather than the agency itself have created the fund.

Scholarship FundsIndividual donors may establish a scholarship fund in their individual or family name and organizations may establish a scholarship on behalf of their organization benefiting students from a particular school or those wishing to attend a particular school. NMF maintains policies that ensure donations and scholarship selection meet legal and ethical standards.

Family of Funds


Family of Funds

Community FundsMaintain a local focus and work to address the same needs as the foundation itself, or at a minimum, complement NMF’s Quality of Place initiatives, and are tailored to benefit the individual communities in which they have been set up. This method of “helping communities help themselves” increases donor involvement, encourages local participation, and builds on hometown pride.

Environmental FundsEstablished to support organizations and groups that promote and preserve the environment, watersheds, lake associations, outdoor recreation, and community beautification or vitality.

Healthcare FundsEstablished to support organizations and programs that provide services promoting health and wellness; that adds strength to the health care systems in the region, and; support medical education.

Community Service FundsEstablished to support agencies, organizations, and groups that serve to enhance the quality of life in communities throughout the region.

Cultural FundsEstablished to support organizations or groups that promote and preserve all aspects of the arts and other cultural pursuits in Northwest Minnesota.

Economic Development FundsEstablished to support organizations that promote business development and expansion in Northwest Minnesota.

Education And Scholarship FundsEstablished to support school systems, extracurricular activities, post-secondary education scholarships and specific educational programs.

Donor Advised FundsEstablished to enable a donor to be actively involved in choosing which organizations receive grants from the fund.

Regional FundsEstablished to support a variety of programs or organizations serving the twelve-county region or an area larger than a county or single community.

We now have two development officers working to support philanthropic services. Lisa Peterson works with donors to establish new component and community funds and directly assists fund advisory committees in the region south of Highway 1. Caryl Turnow serves the region north of Highway 1 in the same capacity and is responsible for planned gifts in the region. Contact Lisa or Caryl at 218-759-2057 or 800-659-7859.

This newsletter’s list of funds is organized by county, and then sorted alphabetically by a fund “purpose” category rather than the legal type of fund as described on page 18. By listing funds according to their purpose, we feel you will better understand how assets from the fund will be used.

Staff is available to work with community groups, individuals and families interested in establishing these funds. Your fund might support a wide range of charitable activities within a defined area and purpose, or it could be designated to a specific charitable beneficiary.

We hope that you will identify

one or more funds that meet

your charitable goals, or you will

support the NMF endowment with

your gift, using the remittance

envelope included in this Resource.

You have the opportunity to support

the funds listed in the Resource!


Component and Community Funds

Beltrami CountyClearwater CountyHubbard CountyKittson CountyLake of the Woods CountyMahnomen CountyMarshall CountyNorman CountyPennington CountyPolk CountyRed Lake CountyRoseau County

Service Area

Beltrami CountyCommunity Funds

Bemidji Area Community FundBemidji Community Food Shelf FundBemidji Jaycees Education and Scholarship FundEarle and Mariann Dickinson Family Education FundRosselet-Hickey Charitable Fund

Blackduck Area Community FundBlackduck Academic and Character Scholarship FundBlackduck Area History & Art FundBlackduck Drakes Athletic FundBlackduck Education Fund

Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Community FundRed Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Education FundRed Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Recovery and Renewal FundRed Lake Tribal Information Center, Archives, & Library FundYouth Initiative Fund

Community Service FundsBeltrami Humane Society Fund

Ralph and Ruth Shoemate FundBemidji Area Early Childhood Initiative Fund

Evergreen Youth & Family Services FundHeadwaters Regional Development Commission Leadership Fund

HRDC Successful Communities Challenge FundHeadwaters Unitarian Universalist Fellowship FundKelliher Area Seniors FundSeniors Trust Fund of Beltrami CountySupport Our Troops FundThrive Initiative Fund

Cultural FundsArcheology and Historic Preservation FundBeltrami County Historical Society Fund

Bemidji Area Arts Endowment FundBemidji Chorale FundBemidji Community Arts Center FundBemidji Community Theater FundBemidji Symphony Orchestra FundChief Bemidji FundErnie Rall Children’s Performing Arts FundEugene Dalzotto Fund for the ArtsEvan and Elaine Hazard Orchestra FundEverett Wilimek Endowment for Orchestral String StudiesFrederick Marshall Fund for the Headwaters School of Music and the ArtsH.B. and Ina T. Roholt Family Fund for the ArtsLake Bemidji Summer Opera Festival FundNorth Star Arts FundPaul Bunyan Playhouse FundRichard and Pam Nelson Family Fund for the Visual ArtsSandy Kaul Fund for the Arts

Bemidji Area Public Library Foundation FundDorothy Breen Fund for the Visually Impaired Hazel I Shimmin FundRuth Stenerson Project Support Fund

Donor Advised FundsBackstrom Family Charitable FundBaer Family FundFourth & Robbins FundJohn and Eloise Ostrem Charitable FundMeade Family FundOja Family Fund

Economic Development FundsBemidji DDA Loan Fund

Education FundsBemidji Lumberjack Foundation Fund

Amy Anderson English FundBemidji All School Reunion Fund

Beltrami

Hub

bard

Cle

arw

ater

Mahnomen

Polk

Red Lake

Pennington

Marshall

RoseauKittson

Norman

Lake of the Woods


Buck Robbins Scholarship FundBun and Alvera Fortier Scholarship FundDes Sagedahl Scholarship FundFirst National Bank Bonspiel FundFood Service FundGeneral Scholarship FundGeorge Pelawa-Calgary Flames Education FundHeidi Bitzer McClure Memorial Scholarship FundJacquelyn M. Schaffer Scholarship for MusicJoe Plummer Music FundJohn F. Breen Scholarship FundK.E. “Red” and Ruth Shannon Wilson Scholarship FundPat Campbell String FundRay F. Breen Scholarship FundRick Lee Memorial FundSecurity BankUSA Lumberjack Scramble FundTom Gardner Memorial FundTroy Nelson Memorial “Character” Scholarship Fund

Arthur I. and Jane B. Snustad Education Fund Larry Diffley Memorial Aviation Scholarship FundGraupman Family Scholarship FundHeartland Christian Academy FundJames and Sylvia Sande Scholarship FundMerle and Mildred Rundell Education Fund St Mary’s Mission School FundWells Academy Fund

Environment & Recreation FundsBemidji Area Parks and Trails Fund & Inclusive Playground

Bemidji City Parks and Trails Operation and Maintenance FundBemidji Community Biomes Outdoor Classroom FundBemidji First City of Lights FundBemidji in Bloom FundBemidji Sculpture Walk FundBemidji Waterfront-Paul and Babe Maintenance FundFreedom Defenders Veterans’ Memorial FundFriends of Lake Bemidji FundLake Bemidji Waterfront FundNorth Country Park FundNymore Dog Park Fund

Bemidji Curling FundBig Bog State Recreation Area FundGrace Lake Charitable FundGreater Bemidji Outdoor Foundation FundNorthland Regional Shooting Sports Fund

Healthcare FundsKelliher Area Health Care Fund

Clearwater CountyCommunity Funds

Bagley Area Community FundBagley Area Scholarship FundBagley Beautification FundBagley Community Playground FundBagley Education Fund

Bagley Technology Advancement FundNola Ellis Memorial FundThorbeck Field Fund

Community Service FundsBagley Early Childhood Initiative FundClearbrook-Gonvick Early Childhood Initiative FundClearwater County Humane Society Fund

Cultural FundsClearbrook-Gonvick Performing Arts Fund

Donor Advised FundsIsackson Family Charitable Fund

Education FundsClearbrook-Gonvick Education Fund

Clearbrook-Gonvick Playground FundMary Jo Klinger Scholarship FundOlga Peterson Scholarship FundRichard Anderson Memorial Scholarship Fund

Swanson Family Fund

Healthcare FundsClearwater Area Health Care Fund

Clearwater County Emergency Services FundClearwater Health Services Hospice Family Room FundClearwater Health Services Cancer Screening FundClearwater Hospice FundClearwater Senior Care Fund

Hubbard CountyCommunity Funds

Akeley Area Community FundPark Rapids Area Community Fund Fireworks Fund Heartland Homes Fund Hewitt Family Charitable Fund Kinship of Park Rapids Fund Matthew Spangler Hockey Fund Park Rapids Area Drug-Alcohol Awareness Fund Park Rapids Area Youth and Families Activities Fund Park Rapids Early Childhood Initiative Fund Park Rapids Education & Activities Fund Park Rapids M State Fund Park Rapids Memorial Scholarship Fund Park Rapids Rotary Charitable Fund Positively Park Rapids Fund

Community Service FundsFriends of the Headwaters Animal Shelter Fund

Cultural FundsNorthern Light Opera Company FundUpper Mississippi Center for the Arts Fund



Donor Advised FundsKarvakko Family Charitable Fund

Economic Development FundsPark Rapids Revolving Loan Fund

Education FundsLaporte Education Fund

Community Playground FundLaporte-Benedict VFW Scholarship FundTonia Johannsen Memorial Fund

Environment & Recreation FundsBig Sand Lake Charitable FundHubbard County COLA Charitable Fund

Hubbard COLA AIS Prevention Project Fund Lake Plantagenet Charitable FundPotato Lake Charitable FundUpper Mississippi Watershed Fund

Kittson CountyCommunity Service Funds

New Life Bible Camp Fund

Education FundsJulie Holmquist Memorial Scholarship FundLuther Younggren Memorial Scholarship Fund

Healthcare FundsKittson Memorial Healthcare Center Foundation Fund

Lake of the Woods County Community Service Funds

Lake Of The Woods County Humane Society FundLake of the Woods Early Childhood Initiative Fund

Cultural FundsLake of the Woods County Historical Society Fund

Economic Development FundsLake Of The Woods Industrial Park Development FundLake of the Woods Area Industrial Development Fund

Education FundsLake of the Woods Area Industrial Development Education Fund

Mahnomen County Community Funds

Mahnomen Area Community FundFirst National Bank Mahnomen Fund Mahnomen Health Care Fund

White Earth Reservation Area Community FundWhite Earth Education FundWhite Earth Oshki Manidoo (New Spirit) FundBoys and Girls Clubs of White Earth Reservation Fund

Community Service FundsNaytahwaush Area Early Childhood Initiative Fund

Education FundsMahnomen Education Fund

Gen. Ike and Maj. Bruce Isaacson Scholarship FundLeslie Hanson Scholarship FundMilton Hockel Scholarship FundNight Riders Sno-Club Scholarship FundPaul and Pat Bisek Scholarship Fund

Marshall CountyCommunity Funds

Argyle Area Community Foundation FundArgyle Beautification and Improvement Project FundArgyle H.O.P.E. Project Fund

Stephen Area Endowment FundStephen Area Arts FundStephen Area EMS FundStephen Area Golf FundStephen Curling FundSinclair Scholastic Achievement Award FundFrancine Kuznia Memorial Scholarship Fund

Warren Area Community FundWarren Assisted Living Project FundWarren Senior Center Endowment Fund

Community Service FundsMarshall County Early Childhood Initiative Fund

Donor Advised FundsRobert C. and Mona Rae Johnson Family Charitable Fund

Education FundsWarren-Alvarado-Oslo Education Foundation Fund

Lyle H Engelstad Scholarship FundMusic Advancement FundMyron and Margaret Carlson Scholarship Fund

Environment & Recreation FundsOmdahl Environment and Conservation FundWetlands Pines & Prairie Audubon Sanctuary Fund



Healthcare FundsNorth Valley Health Center Fund

Norman CountyCommunity Funds

Twin Valley Area Community FundFirst National Bank Twin Valley Fund Joseph Urdahl Memorial Fund

Community Service FundsNorman County East Early Childhood Initiative Fund

Cultural FundsSand Hill Settlement Historical Society Fund

Education FundsLaural Capistran Murphy Scholarship Fund

Healthcare FundsBridges Medical Services Foundation Fund

Pennington CountyCommunity Service Funds

Strong Youth FundThief River Falls Early Childhood Initiative Fund

Donor Advised FundsOle and Ruth Tweet Family FundOrin J. and Marjorie F. Green Charitable FundRobert J. Johnson and Mary L. Johnson Charitable Fund

Education FundsGrove Family Scholarship Fund

Polk County Community Funds

Crookston Area Community FundCrookston Arena FundCrookston Park and Recreation Fund & Splash ParkDistrict #593 (Crookston) Education Foundation Fund

Frances Drivold Special Education FundDragseth Family Charitable Fund

Fertile-Beltrami Area Community Fund Fertile-Beltrami School Sign Fund

Fisher Area Community FundFosston Area Community Fund

Arvid Clementson Veterans’ Memorial FundEast Polk Heritage Center FundFirst Care Fosston Area FundFosston 21st Century FundFosston Education Foundation Fund

Cameron Badurek Peace Award Fund

Dean and Joyce McNelly Vocational Scholarship FundDean Clementson Scholarship FundFosston Livestock Shipping Association Animal Science Scholarship FundJim Miller Memorial Math Scholarship FundLuVerne Trogstad Education and Scholarship FundTerry Stout Memorial Scholarship FundVikan Scholarship Fund

Fosston High School Music Boosters FundFosston Inspiration Trail Fund

Community Service FundsCrookston Early Childhood Initiative FundFertile Armed Forces Veterans FundFertile-Beltrami Early Childhood Initiative FundMcIntosh Immanuel Cemetery FundOPTIONS FundUnion Lake Free Lutheran Cemetery Charitable Fund

Donor Advised FundsRongen Family Fund

Education FundsEast Polk County Fair Scholarship FundLarsen Family Achievement Award Fund

Environment & Recreation FundsRydell Refuge Fund

Healthcare FundsFirst Care Medical Services Fund

First Care Hospice Fund

Red Lake CountyCommunity Funds

Red Lake Falls Area Community FundKim Knaack Music FundRed Lake Falls Scholarship and School Support Fund

Cultural FundsTwo Rivers Area Theatre Fund

Education FundsOrlo and Millie Melby Memorial Scholarship FundRed Lake Falls Education Fund

Kyle A. Myhre Memorial FundKris Fontaine Scholarship FundLester Norris Dale, MD Scholarship FundRichard Bresnahan “Leadership in the Arts” Fund

Two Rivers Area Theatre Scholarship Fund

Roseau CountyCommunity Funds

Badger Area Community FundBadger Education Fund



Badger Veteran’s Memorial Fund Greenbush Area Community Fund

Greenbush Education FundGreenbush Park & Recreation Keith and Ellen Kapphahn Family Scholarship Fund

Roseau Area Community & Education FundA.J. and Eleanor Kramer Scholarship FundMarian Foley Memorial FundMarvin LaRue Memorial FundCharles “Nick” Peterson Memorial FundFour Season Senior Center FundJoseph Schneider Scholarship FundRoseau Adult Education FundRoseau Area Friends of the Library FundRoseau Lions Club Scholarship FundRoseau Parks & Recreation FundRoseau Youth Hockey Association Fund Wannaska PTO Scholarship FundMalung PTO Scholarship FundEarl Gehrke Scholarship FundKarlsson Family Scholarship FundSara Douglas LePard Memorial Scholarship Fund

Warroad Area Community FundMargaret Ann and Paul Samuel Johnson Family Charitable FundNick Moyer Memorial FundRainbow Park Restoration FundWarroad Early Childhood Initiative FundWarroad Heritage Center FundWarroad Lost River Sportsmen Complex FundWarroad Memorial Arena FundWarroad Point Area Restoration and Community Recovery FundWarroad Senior Living Center FundWarroad Swim Program FundWarroad Women of Today Community Project FundWarroad Education Fund

Ann and Les Henderson Memorial FundBetty Bahnmiller Memorial FundBruce and Ellen Atwater Education FundDorrance H. Johnston Scholarship for Engineering FundEdward and Agnes Brandli Scholarship FundFarmer’s Union Oil Co. Scholarship FundGaylord A. Gunderson Memorial FundJennifer Grove Memorial Scholarship FundJustin Knebel Memorial FundKatie Jo Olafson Memorial Scholarship FundLee Hafdahl Memorial Scholarship FundNAPA Ride to Reading FundNick Moyer Memorial and Scholarship FundPatrick O’Donnell Memorial Scholarship Fund

Cultural FundsRoseau County Historical Society Fund

Healthcare FundsLifeCare Health Fund

Eagles Auxiliary Diabetes & Dialysis FundLifeCare Hospice FundLifeCare Manor Greenbush FundLifeCare Manor Roseau FundMaggie Adams Medical Equipment FundParish Nursing FundThink Pink Breast Cancer Fund

Regional/Multi-County FundsCommunity Service Funds

Full Stride FundHopes, Dreams and Smiles Fund

Cultural FundsNorthwest Regional Library Fund

Donor Advised FundsMajor Robert Olson Memorial FundRuth Edevold Awards for Excellence

Ruth Edevold Endowment for Excellence

Economic Development FundsIngenuity Frontier Fund

Education FundsBronko Nagurski Education FundLeonard J. and Rosemound Kucera Memorial Scholarship FundMike Staples Memorial Scholarship Fund

Environment & Recreation FundsGiziibii Resource Conservation & Development Fund

Healthcare FundsCourage North Fund

Regional ProgramsNorthwest Minnesota Women’s Fund

Northwest Minnesota Women’s Scholarship FundUniversity of Minnesota Crookston Women’s Scholarship FundDelta Kappa Gamma – Mu Chapter Myrtie Hunt Scholarship Fund

Red River Valley Emerging Leadership Fund


Gift Planning Ideas

With just a few clicks of your mouse, you can explore your charitable options and even make an immediate gift to support our mission. Online access provides a powerful tool that makes charitable giving fast, secure and easy on our site.

Donate Now

In an effort to keep you up-to-date on current issues involving estate planning and planned giving, Northwest Minnesota Foundation has a great resource on our website www.nwmf.org.

Our Planned Giving section is a comprehensive resource for all of your gift planning questions. • Discover the tax and income benefits of the various kinds of planned gifts

• Read in-depth about trusts and annuities that pay you an income for life

• Learn how you can make gifts from life insurance policies, retirement plan assets or appreciated property

• Find out how to set up your will so that the government does not benefit more than your heirs

To access the planned giving section: Click on “Planned Giving”

We Also Providea glossary of planned giving terms, so you don’t get confused by unfamiliar words and phrases. If you are wondering how a gift will work for you, calculate your income tax deduction for a specific plan with our gift calculator. Discover a virtual encyclopedia of information on how and what to give.

Access hundreds of up-to-date articles on making the most of your charitable giving.

Online Giving and Gift Planning

Click this button found on every page at www.nwmf.org to make a donation to any of the funds in the NMF family of funds.

RESOURCE: Special Giving

Layout by: Design Angler, Inc. Photography by: Leigh Collyer

201 3rd St. NW Bemidji, MN 56601

NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDBEMIDJI, MN

56601PERMIT NO. 36

Service Area

Beltrami

Hub

bard

Cle

arw

ater

Mahnomen

Polk

Red Lake

Pennington

Marshall

RoseauKittson

Norman

Lake of the Woods

Northwest Minnesota FoundationPhone: (218) 759-2057 or (800) 659-7859 Fax: (218) 759-2328 Email: [email protected]

2013 Resource Special Giving Edition

Documents

Transcript of 2013 Resource Special Giving Edition