Initiative Foundation

06/01/2026

Thank you to our $2,000+ Community Builders Circle members for your generous support. These contributions help the Initiative Foundation fuel economic growth and opportunity across Central Minnesota.

Through this support, the Initiative Foundation is able to invest in business expansions, new construction and entrepreneurial growth that strengthen the region’s economy. The expansion of
WhiteBox Marketing into Brainerd, supported in part by an Initiative Foundation loan, is one example of how these investments help businesses grow, create jobs and serve more communities.

Together, we’re working toward a strong, inclusive economy that boosts economic mobility and ensures Central Minnesota remains a place where businesses—and the people behind them—can thrive.

View the full list of Community Builders Circle members—and find out how you can become a Community Builder—at ifound.org/ways-to-give/become-a-community-builder.

06/01/2026

Central Minnesota has faced hard seasons before—and each time, neighbors have stepped up for one another.

When the COVID-19 pandemic brought uncertainty, closures and economic strain, communities across the region responded with the same resilience that shaped our origins during the farm crisis of the 1980s. Through collaboration with public and private partners, nearly $26 million in relief funding reached more than 780 small businesses and nonprofits across Central Minnesota—helping sustain jobs, services and local economies during more than two years of disruption.

The Initiative Foundation was proud to help move those resources where they were needed most—but the real story is one of regional resolve, partnership and people supporting people.

As we celebrate 40 years, we’re celebrating together the strength of communities that continue to rise to the moment and shape what comes next.

40 years of investing in your good ideas.

Don't miss our 40th-anniversary gatherings in Braham, Big Lake and Nisswa. If you're a current or former loan client, grantee, donor, partner fund advisor, program participant, elected or community leader, or anyone we've worked with or engaged with over the years, we'd love to see you - and the friends and family you bring along! Learn more and RSVP for an event near you: ifound.org/about/40th-year

05/28/2026

Sixteen nonprofit executive directors recently gathered at Linden Hill for a one-day Leadership Reset Retreat hosted by our Nonprofit Development Team, sponsored by Sourcewell, and led by Paula Chapulis of Aiyana Coaching. The retreat offered space to step away from the day-to-day, reconnect with their leadership and build meaningful connections with one another.

Together, participants explored what it means to lead through complexity and each left with a personalized 90-day roadmap to guide their next steps. The day also included good food, laughter, reflection and intentional planning in a beautiful setting.

We’re grateful to all who joined us and for the important work they continue to do in our communities. 💙

Thank you to our participating organizations: Cass County Historical Society, Parenting With Grace, Pine River Group Home, Inc., Fe y Justicia MN, Tusen Tack Thrift Store, Anna Marie's Alliance, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota, Bri’s Lodge, Habitat for Humanity of Morrison County, Friends of
Linden Hill, Northland Arboretum. Oasis Central Minnesota, Happy Dancing Turtle, ConnectAbility of MN, Relationship Safety Alliance

Special thanks to Sourcewell for sponsoring this opportunity to invest in nonprofit leadership across our region.

Register for upcoming training opportunities: ifound.org/trainings/

05/28/2026

Meet the newest Initiators Fellows—nine emerging leaders from across rural Minnesota working to strengthen their communities through bold ideas, collaboration and local leadership—in the spring edition of IQ Magazine.

From a conflict resolution social enterprise to a podcast sharing environmental issues, you’ll love learning about this new group of Fellows.

Read the story: ifound.org/iq-magazine/issues/room-to-rise/next-level-initiators/

05/27/2026

Are you signed up for our Braham 40th anniversary gathering yet? If not … why not?

Join us on June 10 at the Braham Event Center as we celebrate 40 years of your good ideas and the people who are helping shape stronger communities across Central Minnesota.

We’ll honor the volunteers of Tusen Tack, including the Braham Event Center, Tusen Tack Thrift Store, Braham Area Food Shelf, Alice Studt Library and Kathy's Kitchen, with our Good Neighbor Honor, enjoy great food, meaningful conversation and time to connect with others from across the region.

We had nearly 200 people join us in Foley—we’d love to see that momentum continue in Braham! You won't want to miss this!

Register here: ifound.org/about/40th-year/

05/26/2026

Proud to be part of the Minnesota Initiative Foundations network as we celebrate 40 years of your good ideas.

In a new Star Tribune op-ed, McKnight Foundation President Tonya Allen reflects on how the MIFs became a national model for place-based philanthropy—and why local leadership still matters today.

Initiative Foundation President Brian Voerding also shares how relationships and social capital continue to strengthen Central Minnesota communities.

Read more below!

McKnight Foundation president Tonya Allen has a great piece in Star Tribune: “How Minnesota became a national model for investing in rural communities” all about the Minnesota Initiative Foundations, what they have built in greater Minnesota, and why they still matter.

You might be asking, what are the Minnesota Initiative Foundations? That's a great reason to read her op-ed.

The MIFs, as we like to call them, emerged from a period of crisis for rural Minnesota. By the mid-1980s, farms were foreclosing, mining and manufacturing jobs were disappearing, and young people were leaving in droves.

Our response at McKnight was to listen first. Then-Board chair Virginia McKnight Binger and then-CEO Russ Ewald spent a year traveling the state. The result? Six independent regional foundations, each with a mission shaped by the communities they serve.

Forty years later, the MIFs have become a national model for investing in local communities and have helped strengthen every region of our state. The lessons we can learn feel particularly urgent today as Greater Minnesota and rural communities across the country face similar and new, emerging challenges.

Alongside Tonya’s perspective, the presidents of each of the six MIFs highlight place-based solutions they’re finding to issues facing people in their regions:

💬 Brian Voerding with Initiative Foundation on building trust and relationships with social capital in Central Minnesota

👩‍🍼 Tony Sertich with Northland Foundation on solving for Northeast Minnesota’s deep shortage of child care providers

🏘️ Karen White with Northwest Minnesota Foundation on finding safe, stable housing for struggling families

📍 Benya Kraus with Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation on how they’re addressing rural resource gaps for small town vitality

💸 Scott Marquardt with Southwest Initiative Foundation on how they’re partnering to expanding business loans for local entrepreneurs

☀️ Anna Wasescha with West Central Initiative on their efforts to bring cities together to reduce their energy costs through solar

🔗 Read more from Tonya about how this 40th anniversary can be equal parts retrospective and roadmap: https://www.startribune.com/rural-minnesota-duluth-economics-charitable-giving/601846098

🔗 Read the six Minnesota Initiative Foundations presidents’ reflections on important local issues and their solutions: https://www.startribune.com/rural-mn-economics-housing-child-care-agriculture/601846167

05/26/2026

For 40 years, local leaders across Central Minnesota have partnered with the Initiative Foundation to strengthen their communities—from supporting small businesses and housing to responding during times of crisis.

Read The Power of Local Leadership in the spring edition of IQ Magazine and explore how community-driven ideas continue to shape the region’s future: ifound.org/iq-magazine/issues/room-to-rise/the-power-of-local-leadership/

05/22/2026

From lifting ceiling tiles for practice to building a brand-new facility, Erin Reyes has created far more than a gymnastics program in Cass Lake.

Read how Northern Dreams Gymnastics is helping young athletes build confidence, discipline and community in the spring edition of IQ Magazine—out now!

Get inspired! Read Room to Rise and more in the spring edition of IQ Magazine:
ifound.org/iq-magazine/issues/room-to-rise/

05/20/2026

We’re excited to announce that the volunteers of Tusen Tack, including Tusen Tack Thrift Store and Braham Event Center, will be recognized with a 2026 Good Neighbor Honor during Your Good Ideas—A 40th Anniversary Gathering on June 10 at the Braham Event Center.

For years, Tusen Tack volunteers have worked quietly and tirelessly to support their community—an incredible example of what’s possible when people invest in one another. Tusen Tack's community programs also include the volunteer-staffed Braham Area Food Shelf, Alice Studt Library and Kathy's Kitchen.

Join us in Braham as we celebrate the people and good ideas shaping Central Minnesota. Enjoy heavy appetizers, meaningful connections and a short program recognizing community impact and looking ahead to the future we’re building together.

Can’t make it to Braham? We’d love to see you at future events:
• Sept. 22 – Big Lake
• Oct. 1 – Nisswa

Register and learn more: ifound.org/about/40th-year

Read more about the Tusen Tack recognition:
ifound.org/news/brahams-tusen-tack-volunteers-named-2026-good-neighbor-honorees

Braham Area Food Shelf

05/14/2026

What a night in Foley!

Thank you to the more than 150 people who joined us May 13 at Northern Hollow Winery, an Initiative Foundation loan client, for the first of four 40th anniversary events where we're celebrating your good ideas. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make the evening so meaningful.

Congratulations to Good Neighbor Honoree Ma Elena Gutierrez, Fe y Justicia MN! Watch her tribute video here: https://vimeo.com/1191585430. Thanks to the generosity of Granite Partners, Fe y Justicia will receive a $5,000 grant.

Thank you to Rick Bauerly, Granite Partners, and Rory Bidinger, Stearns Bank N.A., for sharing your community-building insights. We’re also deeply grateful to Granite Partners—our main event sponsor—and all of our generous sponsors and partners The Bank of Elk River, BankVista, Bell Bank, CTC, Falcon National Bank, Frandsen Bank & Trust, McKnight Foundation, Schlenner Wenner & Co. CPAs, Sentry Bank, Sourcewell, Stearns Bank N.A. and Target.

Special thanks to Mohamed Jama, Xidig Media, for the video work and for capturing the evening through photos.

We can’t wait to keep the momentum going:
• June 10 – Braham
• Sept. 22 – Big Lake
• Oct. 1 – Nisswa

Register here: ifound.org/about/40th-year/