Annual Report

Ensuring our next generation succeeds

This issue of Looking Forward, Giving Back celebrates Phase I of Grow Our Own, a 10-year commitment by our Board of Directors to create prosperity for all southwest Minnesota kids and the communities they call home. For the past three years, we’ve worked to raise awareness about the growing opportunity gap facing American kids today and the 1 in 6 southwest Minnesota kids living in poverty.

Socioeconomic status, community wealth, familial situations, race, ethnicity, English proficiency and other factors impact children’s ability to reach their full potential. These kids are our future employees, entrepreneurs, community leaders, volunteers, homeowners, taxpayers and parents. We believe ensuring our next generation can succeed is the most important thing we can do for the future of southwest Minnesota.

In fiscal year 2019…

Southwest Initiative Foundation received $2.1 million to all our funds from the people, businesses and organizations that care about southwest Minnesota. Thank you to each of the 2,361 donors who supported our mission and make our work possible.
We awarded 548 totaling $1.6 million from all our funds to help nonprofits and communities in our region.
Our loan programs leveraged $13.8 million in outside funding. We closed 30 loans totaling $2.1 million and supported seven new businesses solely owned by women.
We secured $1.8 million for Grow Our Own programming and 460 people attended the Grow Our Own Summit.
We welcomed two new affiliate partners: Cottonwood Area Community Foundation and Glencoe Area Community Foundation.

Donors and friends make this work possible with their support. Thanks to each of you!

See 2019 Highlights