Once a year SWIF hosts a training event for our affiliate and designated fund partners, most of which use volunteers to achieve local impact. This year’s training was held Wed., Nov. 4 at the Prairie’s Edge Conference Center near Granite Falls, with 75 fund partner representatives attending.
“This event is an opportunity to get people together, in one space, so volunteers can experience learning together and connect with each other. It builds knowledge and relationships across the region,” said Liz Cheney our Community Philanthropy Director. “This is also a way we can deliver key messages and training in an efficient platform.”
The afternoon featured a variety of breakout session options for the attendees, who were able to choose among fundraising, storytelling, an investing update, or becoming more oriented to the SWIF partnership.
“There were many new faces in the room this year,” Liz said of this latest training. “It was a great opportunity to connect with SWIF and others across the southwest Minnesota region.”
Brad Chapulis was one of the new faces. He’s on the advisory board of the Worthington Area Foundation (WAF) and attended the training to get a sense of the relationship between WAF and SWIF.
“It gave me a greater sense of appreciation for that partnership,” Brad said.
SWIF fund partners use our infrastructure to obtain 501 (c)(3) tax status, Liz explained. SWIF then processes donations and grants for its fund partners, professionally invests and manages the assets, and provides other support to ensure local success.
Volunteers for these fund partners know and understand their communities, build relationships in those communities and then fundraise to support their local goals. Our role at SWIF is to provide back-office support while the fund partner focuses on the people and the community need, Liz said. Altogether we support 120 fund partners.
An example of this in action is the BIO Legacy Foundation, an affiliate serving the Bird Island and Olivia community. Volunteers there have worked hard to build an endowment fund to support local needs and opportunities in the Bird Island and Olivia communities. The foundation’s local advisory board annually facilitates grant awards in the spring and fall for nonprofit organizations, focusing dollars on four priority areas: health, education, recreation and amenities. SWIF offers behind-the-scenes support for the foundation.
We began this work in 1999 in response to missed opportunities. “We know that southwest Minnesota residents care deeply for their communities. And, if provided the option, many will consider keeping their charitable giving local. Our fund partners serve as a vehicle to capture charitable dollars that may otherwise leave our communities,” Liz said.
Check out the fund partnerships in your area.
