Braham Area Education Foundation

A Partner Fund of the Initiative Foundation

About the Fund

Expanding opportunities for Braham’s students: The foundation aims to provide educational grants and learning experiences that broaden horizons for local students, from the earliest learners to Bombers transitioning to life after high school.

Strengthening ties between Braham’s schools and community: The foundation works to enhance opportunities for local families to take ownership in the success of the schools, and to include stakeholders throughout the area in the shared mission of educating children.

The Braham Area Education Foundation is a Partner Fund of the Initiative Foundation. As a program of the Initiative Foundation, all Braham Area Education Foundation contributions are professionally managed and stewarded for the benefit of the community now and long into the future.

Engage With the Fund

Donate Online: When you give to the Braham Area Education Foundation, your gift establishes an enduring legacy that will benefit the students of the Braham area for years to come. Donate now! If your employer makes matching donations for their employees, be sure to inquire on the process before making your gift. Gifts of all sizes are appreciated!

Mail a Check: To make donations and payments more secure and to streamline processes, the Initiative Foundation partners with Bremer Bank. Please write the check to Initiative Foundation-BAEF, note the purpose of your contribution on the memo line, and mail to this address:

Initiative Foundation – 446122
Attn: BAEF
P.O. Box 64182
St. Paul, MN 55164-0182

While the mailing address may be in St. Paul, the Initiative Foundation continues to maintain its headquarters in the heart of Central Minnesota at 405 First St. SE, Little Falls, MN 56345.

Give a Planned Gift: If you would like to contribute another type of gift, please contact a member of the Braham Area Education Foundation advisory team or call the Initiative Foundation at (320) 632-9255. An Initiative Foundation staff member will be happy to answer your questions and guide you through the process.

Making a charitable bequest in your will is often the easiest way to make a significant gift and leave a lasting legacy. Gifts large and small are important. It is simpler than you might think to make a meaningful difference to future generations of Braham-area students!

If you would like to leave Braham Area Education Foundation in your will, make another type of planned gift, or contribute an appreciated asset, please call the Initiative Foundation at (320) 632-9255 and a staff member will be happy to answer your questions and guide you through the process.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. In partnership with the Braham Area Education Foundation, the Initiative Foundation owns and manages financial contributions for the Braham Area Education Foundation.

Contact us learn more about joining the advisory team or volunteering.

Engage With the Braham Area Education Foundation

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Apply for a Grant

The Braham Area Education Foundation grant window is open all year. Applications are reviewed quarterly in February, May, August and November. Apply through the Initiative Foundation’s grant portal.

Past Grants

2023

  • The Power of Three: $530
  • Lake Mason Partnership: $1,390
  • Early Childhood Home Backpacks: $500
  • Braham Area Schools—ECFE Carnival Kickoff: $250
  • Braham Area Schools—Food Preservation: $1,547
  • Long Lake Conservation Camp: $2,000
  • Hydroponics and Sustainable Agriculture: $4,095
  • S.M.A.R.T. Training: $2,240
  • Braham High School Student Support: $750

Have a question about the Braham Area Education Foundation?

PTOs and PTAs enrich the educational experience with a single-school focus by supporting students, teachers, and the school community through a variety of collaborative efforts. They do this by fostering communication; organizing and fundraising for near-term events and activities; and by supporting teachers and staff through teacher-appreciation activities. Education foundations have a longer-term and district-wide focus. Led by local volunteers, education foundations engage community volunteers to raise larger donations that are then permanently invested. Earnings from these investments are used to award classroom grants and support the school district for generations. While a PTO or PTA typically consist of parents and teachers, an education foundation can be supported by any community member interested in fulfilling the foundation’s mission.

The education foundation operates separately from the school district. It is a Partner Fund of the Initiative Foundation, a regional community foundation headquartered in Little Falls. The Initiative Foundation is a tax-exempt public charity that serves all of Central Minnesota. The education foundation is guided by an agreement and championed by an advisory team made up of community volunteers. Education foundation members can be parents, grandparents, school staff members, teachers, and anyone connected to the community.

This fund is one of several education funds held and managed by the Initiative Foundation to benefit local public school initiatives. This fund is part of a family of funds endowed to the Initiative Foundation through an originating document (agreement) and includes donor-advised funds, community funds, scholarship funds, and more. The fund serves local students now and into the future, and is rooted in an agreement that allows local volunteer advisors to make classroom-enriching granting decisions while the Initiative Foundation carries out the fiduciary responsibilities of managing a charitable endowment. As part of the Initiative Foundation’s family of funds, the education foundation and its advisory team benefit from a professional fundraising team that can help with larger and more complex gifts. Financial specialists at the Initiative Foundation ensure compliance with all rules, laws and regulations, and oversee the completion of an annual independent audit to elevate community trust and transparency. The Initiative Foundation’s investment and audit committee works with an experienced third-party professional to invest the endowment for long-term growth.

An endowment is an investment in tomorrow. Once established, only the earned interest and growth is used to award grants. The core investment and any subsequent donations are not spent but rather invested for growth. Advisory team members work diligently to raise funds to increase the endowment’s value and work with potential donors to help them understand how those funds will be used. Advisory team members believe an endowment is an excellent way to offer ever-increasing support to the school district for generations to come.

Questions?

Do you want to know how to apply for a grant or how you might leave a lasting legacy to support this fund? Contact a member of the fund’s advisory team (above) or reach out to Community Philanthropy Manager Amy Gray or Carl Newbanks, vice president of philanthropy. We’re here to help Central Minnesotans build a thriving economy, vibrant communities, and a lasting culture of generosity.

Community Philanthropy Manager

Amy Gray

Community Philanthropy Manager (320) 631-2062
Vice President of Philanthropy

Carl Newbanks

Vice President of Philanthropy (320) 631-2062

Start a Fund

Looking to leave a legacy in Central Minnesota? Start a Partner Fund with the Initiative Foundation and maximize your tax benefits while supporting important causes and organizations.