Delano Area Community Foundation
A Partner Fund of the Initiative Foundation
About the Fund
The Delano Area Community Foundation is led by an advisory team of local volunteers who have made a commitment to strengthen the local communities. Revitalized in 2014, the goal is to build a source of capital to meet the needs and interests of the Delano area far into the future. Funding priorities include improving the quality and scope of area educational programming; promoting community development and appearance; enriching the artistic and cultural climate; and increasing and diversifying recreational activities.
The Delano Area Community Foundation is a Partner Fund of the Initiative Foundation. As a program of the Initiative Foundation, all Delano Area Community Foundation contributions are professionally managed and stewarded for the benefit of the community now and long into the future.
Engage With the Fund
Give Online: When you give to the Delano Area Community Foundation, your gift establishes an enduring legacy that will benefit the Delano community for years to come. Donate now! We accept credit card donations online. 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-DACF, note the purpose of your contribution on the memo line, and mail to this address:
Initiative Foundation – 446122
Attn: DACF
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 Delano Area Community Foundation 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 in the Delano area!
If you would like to leave Delano Area Community 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 Delano Area Community Foundation, the Initiative Foundation owns and manages financial contributions for the Delano Area Community Foundation.
Engage With the Delano Area Community Foundation
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Apply for a Grant
The Delano Area Community Foundation accepts grant applications from Sept. 1 to Oct. 31 for projects in the Delano area that focus on the following areas:
- Improve the quality and scope of educational programming to residents
- Promote community development and appearance
- Enrich the artistic and cultural climate
- Increase and diversify recreational activities
To be eligible for grant funding, an organization must:
- Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, unit of government or public school district.
- Serve the people who live and/or work in the Delano area community.
- Have a project that fits within our funding priorities.
Advisory Team
Local volunteers serve as advisory team members to advance the mission of the Delano Area Community Foundation. The partnership with the Initiative Foundation combines local knowledge and leadership with additional professional expertise, oversight and guidance to identify community needs, serve donors and manage the investments.
Lloyd Griep
ChairTom Schaffer
Vice ChairNick Neaton
SecretarySarah Hellmich
TreasurerMelissa Gaalswyk
Steve Heil
Maria Petersen
Emily Victory
Past Grants
2023
- Love INC Heartland—Fresh Start: $500
- Delano Area Council for Arts and Culture—Delano Old-Fashioned Christmas 2023: $950
- NourishingHOPE: $1,000
- Loretto Lightning Robotics, Booster Club—Start-up Costs: $1,000
- Delano Area Council for Arts and Culture—Delano Dramatic Company 2023 –24 Season: $1,000
- Delano Area Council for Arts and Culture—2024 Sculpture Fest and Sculpture Walk: $950
- City of Delano—Senior Center Lunch Program Equipment and Scholarships: $1,000
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.
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.