Happy holidays! We are grateful for our partners, supporters and community members today and throughout the year. Together, we’re building a stronger southwest Minnesota where all kids, families, businesses and communities can thrive. Southwest Minnesota artist Deb Meyer of Madison created this beautiful watercolor portrait of her front porch after a fresh coat of snow on a chilly winter day.
As we get ready to turn the calendar to January, we have a few important notes to share. Our building will be closed the following days:
- Monday, December 25
- Monday, January 1
For the fastest response, it’s best to contact individual staff members directly during this time of year. Email and phone numbers for all our staff are available online.
If you have an urgent year-end matter related to a gift, call Jeff Vetsch, Community Giving Officer, at (320) 583-6342 or email him at [email protected].
Tax-deductible gifts can be made online to support our mission, a community foundation partner or another fund. Make your gift online now. To qualify for a 2023 charitable tax deduction, mailed gifts must be postmarked by Dec. 31, and online gifts must be submitted before midnight on Dec. 31.
Gifts via a Qualified Charitable Distribution from an IRA must have the check clear prior to December 31 of the year of the gift. Please plan ahead accordingly to ensure your goals are possible.
If you are seeking information or support for the Minnesota Main Street Economic Revitalization Program, child care projects or one of our loan programs, please contact Scott Marquardt at 320-583-4629.
About the artist
Deb Meyer has called Madison home for more than 40 years, where she proudly raised her three children with her husband Maynard. Deb has always had an interest in crafting and painting; she pursued her passion of painting with watercolors four years ago after retiring from a career in nursing. She was first inspired to paint traditional portraits, but she has since developed her own style and paints what she finds captivating about daily life, both in rural Minnesota and beyond. The cover art, “Front Porch,” was inspired by Deb’s home after a fresh coat of snow on a chilly winter day.
Deb’s paintings have been displayed at local galleries and as part of the award-winning Meander Art Crawl, a self-guided free tour of artist studios featuring 40 artists from the Upper Minnesota River Valley. Southwest Initiative Foundation is a sponsor of the Meander, which highlights our vibrant region and the talented people of southwest Minnesota.
