News

Three people stand and smile while talking in a room with wooden doors. The woman on the left has long blonde hair and a red top, facing two people, one man and one woman, who both have name tags and are standing near a table.

September 1, 2026

Marcella and John are leading the way in Southwest Minnesota

Resilient communities need people willing to step forward, test new ideas, and bring others together. That’s a perfect way to describe Marcella Prokop

Several people spread dirt along a playground fence with rakes while a small loader vehicle pours more dirt nearby. Playground equipment and benches are visible under a partly cloudy sky.

August 19, 2026

Project updates from our most recent Age Friendly Communities

From Community Input to Community Impact Six communities participated in the latest Age Friendly Communities Program through the Minnesota River

Text on a maroon background reads National Make-A-Will Month. Icons at the bottom show a will document, a family, and a house. Colorful triangles fill the top right corner.

August 16, 2026

National Make-A-Will Month: Create Peace of Mind and Leave a Lasting Legacy

Every August, National Make-A-Will Month serves as an important reminder to plan for the future and protect the people and causes we care about most.

A small town main street with parked cars, storefronts, hanging flower baskets, trees, and American flags on a sunny day.

July 24, 2026

Southwest Initiative Foundation receives 2026 CoBank Rural Prosperity Grant

Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF) is receiving a second round of funding through CoBank's Rural Prosperity Grant Program, reinforcing a shared

Seven people stand in a row, some smiling, as two of them hold a large ceremonial check in front of a banner that reads Giving Back To Our Community in an office setting.

June 30, 2026

Dan Greve retires from Southwest Initiative Foundation board

We’re celebrating Dan Greve’s seven years of volunteer service as his term ends on our board of directors. Dan joined our board in 2019 and

The Growing Local: Emerging Leaders cohort gathers for a group photo, smiling in front of a bright yellow building with white doors. They are posed outdoors on a gray pavement.

June 1, 2026

Meet the 2026 Growing Local: Emerging Leaders

Growing Local: Emerging Leaders exists to cultivate the next generation of community-minded changemakers, people who are ready to step into