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 Old National Bank. Please write the check to the Initiative Foundation, noting the Fund name on the memo line, and mail it 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. Through an Initiative Foundation partnership with FreeWill, you can create your will online at no cost, and it only takes about 20 minutes. This simple step offers peace of mind, ensuring your wishes are documented and your future plans are secure.
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 Nov. 15 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.
Nick Neaton
ChairSarah Hellmich
SecretaryMelissa Gaalswyk
Advisory Team MemberMark Gaalswyk
Advisory Team MemberPast Grants
2025
- Delano Public Schools—Welcoming New Delano Babies With a Book: $1,000
- City of Delano—Delano Area Senior Center History Trips: $1,000
- BIO Girls, Inc.: $1,000
- Delano Dramatic Company 2025-26 Theater Season: $1,000
The following grants were awarded to Delano Area Council for Arts and Culture.
- Delano Sculpture Fest and Sculpture Walk: $1,000
- Delano Old-Fashioned Christmas 2025: $1,000
- Grant in Honor of Lloyd Griep: $500
2024
- Delano Public Schools—COMPASS Mental Health Awareness Day: $1,000
- Love INC Heartland—Fresh Start: $500
- Loretto Lightning Robotics Booster Club—Team Sponsorship: $1,000
- Delano Dramatic Company—2024-25 Season: $1,000
The following grants were awarded to Delano Area Council for Arts and Culture:
- 2025 Delano Sculpture Fest and Sculpture Walk: $1,000
- Delano Old-fashioned Christmas 2024: $1,000
- Delano Community Band: $1,000
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
FREE Service: Make Your Will
Planning your estate has never been easier—or more accessible. Through an Initiative Foundation partnership with FreeWill, you can create your will online at no cost, and it only takes about 20 minutes. This simple step offers peace of mind, ensuring your wishes are documented and your future plans are secure.
By including this Partner Fund in your will, you can play a vital role in strengthening Central Minnesota. Your legacy can help build a thriving economy, vibrant communities, and a spirit of generosity that lasts for generations.
Not ready to finalize your plans? Use FreeWill to outline your wishes before meeting with an attorney. Take control of your legacy today—it’s quick, easy, and impactful.
Contact the Fund
Are you looking for how to engage with the fund, leave a legacy, or donate? Contact a member of the fund’s advisory team or reach out to the Initiative Foundation. 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.