Guided by a five-year strategic plan (FY2007-FY2011), the Southwest Initiative Foundation continues to provide leadership and resources around key priority areas.  The Foundation targeted its grant and loan resources, and staff time and expertise around several initiatives believed to be the most critical and to have the most potential for widespread growth and opportunity for southwest Minnesota. 

Examples of the Foundation’s work in FY07 include educating people about the opportunities and challenges related to renewable energy, providing streamlined support to entrepreneurs and business owners, developing community leaders through the new Connected Communities Initiative and promoting healthy social and emotional development in young children through the new Minnesota Thrive Initiative.  The Early Childhood Initiative, Parish Nurse Program and Community and Designated Fund programs also continued to help meet the needs of local communities throughout the region.

The Southwest Initiative Foundation continued to support needed services, enrichment opportunities and business ventures to help make southwest Minnesota an even better place to live and work through our grant and loan programs, and donor services. In Fiscal Year 2007, the Foundation provided 205 grants (including designated fund grants)

Please take time to look through our grants and loans listings to see specific examples of how the Foundation makes a difference in southwest Minnesota.

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