![a couple holding their young child and a children's book at an outdoor event](https://swifoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Welcoming-Week-Tracy__GD_2192_web-scaled.jpg)
Community Impact
We provide grants and programs to create opportunities for all people to thrive in our local communities.
At Southwest Initiative Foundation, our grantmaking, proactive programming and community-led belonging activities help create opportunities for all people to thrive in the communities they call home.
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Solve Local Challenges
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Build True Belonging
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Draw in New Leaders
and Ideas
![school resource officer and child wearing a helmet in Windom](https://swifoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/CommImpact-Windom-02-scaled.jpg)
Being an active community member has its challenges…
- You love your community and want to make sure its future is bright, but you don’t know where to start.
- You have a project in mind to do good but not enough funding to make it happen.
- You want to connect with other community members who want to work on projects, but you don’t know who they are.
- Barriers like language or finances keep you from participating the way you want to, and you’re not sure how to get around them.
![group of young teens and children smiling](https://swifoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Worthington-WW-IMG_1750-scaled.jpg)
You’re a powerful force for good in your town, and we’re here to support you!
A full team of Southwest Initiative Foundation staff focus on rural equity, youth and family and civic and community engagement in our rural region.
Our work includes:
- Nonprofit capacity building
- Support of children and youth programing
- Resources to celebrate Welcoming Week and engage in Welcoming Communities Project
- Support for emerging community leaders
- Support for Age Friendly Communities
- Building resiliency after emergencies and natural disasters
- And more!
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Grants
Grantmaking is at the heart of our role as a community foundation. We accept grant concept ideas on an ongoing basis and provide defined grant rounds throughout the year.
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Community Engagement
We’re a partner in deepening and building trusting relationships across differences. We listen, learn, and support communities that have been excluded.
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Events
We make connections through local events that support a vibrant and welcoming region here in southwest Minnesota.