Houston Area Community Foundation

10/05/2026

If you have kiddos, be sure to check out the Halloween costume swap at the Houston MN Public Library on Thursday!

Happy October! Today is the first day you can drop off your used costumes for our Halloween Costume Swap. You'll get your first chance to pick up new-to-you items one week from today from 4 pm to 6 pm. Any remaining items can be picked up next Friday or Saturday. Anything remaining after Saturday, October 10 will be donated.

09/22/2026

SMIF has some great grant opportunities available!

Apply by Oct. 6! SMIF is currently accepting applications for three grants:

✨Early Care and Education Grant: Services that enhance the quality of early learning environments for children birth to age five.
✨Taylor Rural Childcare Grant: Childcare capital improvement projects for providers caring for children birth to age five in communities with populations under 30,000.
✨Taylor Rural Improvements Grant: Capital projects that support the creation or enhancement of community gathering spaces in communities with populations under 10,000.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, public institutions and units or agencies of local, state, federal and Tribal government are encouraged to apply.

✨Apply today! https://smifoundation.org/grants/for-grant-seekers/

09/21/2026

Reminder: happening this weekend!

09/16/2026

🎉WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND TOWN? 📅✨

We've got lots of fun events coming up! 👇Check out what's happening in our community and mark your calendars! 🗓️

Oct. 18 - HAPI Houston Area Preservation Initiative/Forsyth House history presentation 2pm at Houston Area Museum

Oct. 19 - ECFE
Oct. 19 - Tales for a Dark Night 6:30pm at Houston MN Public Library

Oct. 20 - Builders Club at Houston MN Public Library

Oct. 24 - Harvestfest 12-3pm at Looney Valley Lutheran Church

Oct. 26 - ECFE

Oct. 27 - Harvest Soup Supper

Oct. 28 - Community Chili Cookout at Summit Learning Center 11am-1pm

Oct. 30 - Business Trick or Treating & Pumpkin Contest: https://www.facebook.com/events/739188362623092
https://www.facebook.com/events/1428779975874373
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Nov. 3 - Builders Club at Houston MN Public Library

Nov. 9 - ECFE

Nov. 16 - ECFE

Nov. 17 - Builders Club at Houston MN Public Library

Nov. 23 - ECFE

Nov. 30 - ECFE
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Dec. 1 - Builders Club at Houston MN Public Library

Dec. 5 - Holidazzle Vendor Market

Dec. 11 - Christmas Home Tour: https://www.facebook.com/events/1061180273506170

Dec. 15 - Builders Club at Houston MN Public Library
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School District Calendar of Events: https://www.houston.k12.mn.us/events

School Activities and Athletics: https://www.gobound.com/mn/schools/houston

08/20/2026

Reminder!

08/13/2026

Mark your calendars! 📅

Join us (virtually) on Wednesday, September 9th at 6:30pm as we meet with Alissa from the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation.

If you're interested in learning more about our area's community foundation, this is your chance!

We will plan to meet via Zoom and anyone is welcome! If interested, please send a message to our page and I can provide you with the instructions to join the Zoom meeting.

08/05/2026

Deadline approaching fast! Small Town Grant applications are due August 19! Towns, or Native nations, with populations of 10,000 or less in SMIF’s 20-county region are eligible.

This program seeks to invest in collaborative initiatives which improve the way your community works together, solves challenges, creates a welcoming community and sense of belonging for all. SMIF seeks proposals which focus on collaboration throughout the project and will impact the culture, education, economy and/or social aspects of your community.

✨Apply today! https://smifoundation.org/grants/for-grant-seekers/small-town-grants/

07/29/2026

Mark your calendars! 🗓️

07/22/2026

SMIF's Small Town Grant is open! Towns, or Native nations, with populations of 10,000 or less in SMIF’s 20-county region are eligible.

This program seeks to invest in collaborative initiatives which improve the way your community works together, solves challenges, creates a welcoming community and sense of belonging for all. SMIF seeks proposals which focus on collaboration throughout the project and will impact the culture, education, economy and/or social aspects of your community.

✨Apply by August 19! https://smifoundation.org/blog/2026/07/smif-seeking-applications-for-small-town-grants-5/

06/30/2026

We are still looking for new members! Please reach out with ANY questions!

We are looking for new members to join our advisory board! The board is responsible for providing overall direction for the foundation – advancing the fund’s purpose, developing annual goals, promoting the fund in order to secure resources, and recommending distributions in ways that benefit our community.

Commitment ask is to attend a monthly meeting via Zoom (generally 1 hour or less) with additional time commitments throughout the year for fundraising opportunities as they arise.

Any questions or interest, please send us a message on here or send an email to [email protected].