Balaton Area Community Foundation Grants
Our affiliate partner the Balaton Area Community Foundation (BACF) has passed the $200,000 mark in total grants made, a remarkable milestone! This local community foundation is dedicated to making Balaton a growing and healthy community by providing opportunities for everyone to impact the present and invest in the future.
BACF made its first grant in 2010 for playground equipment at Legion Lion Park. Recent grants include upgrades to the park at the lake, the fire department and ambulance and a major renovation at the community center, featuring new flooring, new interior paint and new tables. With all those projects and many more, BACF has granted $200,120.
Our network of 31 community foundations supports passionate people with the resources to make positive change. A team of local advisory board members guides each community foundation by fundraising, recommending grants, telling stories of good work happening locally and promoting their town.
Balaton community member Theresa Zaske helped found the Balaton Area Community Foundation and currently serves as its board chair. She shared the local community foundation’s achievements at the 2024 Balaton Area Chamber of Commerce annual banquet, hosted in the renovated community center.
“The impact of our $200,000 is so much more than ‘just’ the money. It’s the money entrusted to us working with the funds others have to create a much larger impact. None of us could do this without the generosity of our donors,” Theresa said.
She noted that the community center transformation in particular was a group effort involving the city, BACF, the chamber, American Legion and others. Local volunteers came out on a Saturday to rip out the old flooring, and someone donated a machine to help make the process go quicker. When a local garbage hauler found out, the business donated a big dumpster for demo materials.
“I love so much how organizations in Balaton work together to get things done. The community center happened because several organizations worked together to make it happen. We’re able to get so much done together that wouldn’t be possible if we worked apart,” Theresa said.
The full Balaton Area Community Foundation Advisory Board includes Julie Benson, Jayme Chandler, Denise Crumrine, Ann Gifford, Jared Hively, Tara Onken, Carmen Rosen, Mary Timmerman, Michael Wall, Marcia Wee and Theresa Zaske. Theresa also serves on the Southwest Initiative Foundation Board of Directors.
In addition to our local community foundation partners, we also hold more than 100 designated funds that support specific causes in communities across southwest Minnesota.