Mille Lacs Area Community Foundation
A Partner Fund of the Initiative Foundation
About the Fund
The Mille Lacs Area Community Foundation serves as a vehicle for gathering and distributing charitable gifts to make a lasting contribution to local communities. The fund focuses on projects within the Mille Lacs Lake Watershed area that involve environmental stewardship and community beautification; economic vitality; sustainable farming and food programs; and community pride.
The Mille Lacs Area Community Foundation is a Partner Fund of the Initiative Foundation. As a program of the Initiative Foundation, all Mille Lacs Area Community Foundation contributions are professionally managed and stewarded for the benefit of the community now and long into the future.
The Mille Lacs Area Community Foundation is a proud supporter of the Keep It Clean campaign. Learn more.
Grants
The Mille Lacs Area Community Foundation accepts grant applications from June 1 through Sept. 15 for projects in the Mille Lacs Lake Watershed area that focus on:
- Environmental Stewardship: Protecting and promoting water quality, natural habitats and green spaces.
- Economic Vitality: Conducting outdoor recreational events and opportunities in environmentally conscientious ways.
- Sustainable Farming and Food Programs: Bringing thoughtfully raised, nutrient-rich foods to the hungry in our communities.
- Community Pride: Bringing natural history to life through art, cultural events and storytelling and recognizing volunteers who drive the vitality of our area.
Grant applications are reviewed in October. Grant recommendations for funding are awarded in November.
Eligible applicants include organizations within the geographic area defined as the Mille Lacs Lake Watershed area.
501(c)(3) nonprofits, school districts, other local units of government and community groups operating through a mission-related fiscal host with the appropriate tax-exempt status.
The Mille Lacs Lake Watershed area includes: Cities of Isle, Garrison, Onamia, Vineland and Wahkon; Mille Lacs Band of the Ojibwe; Townships of Bay Lake, Eastside, Garrison, Hazelton, Isle Harbor, Kathio, Lakeside, Malmo, Roosevelt, South Harbor and Wealthwood.
Engage With the Fund
Donate Online: When you give to the Mille Lacs Area Community Foundation, your gift establishes an enduring legacy that will benefit the communities surrounding Mille Lacs Lake 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: MLACF
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 Mille Lacs 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.
Looking to learn more about the Mille Lacs Area Community Foundation? Want to help us spread the word? Download the brochure.
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 Mille Lacs area!
If you would like to leave Mille Lacs 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 Mille Lacs Area Community Foundation, the Initiative Foundation owns and manages financial contributions for the Mille Lacs Area Community Foundation.
Engage With the Mille Lacs Area Community Foundation
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Advisory Team
Local volunteers serve as advisory team members to advance the mission of the Mille Lacs 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 investments.
Kelly LaBrosse
ChairAnn Brucciani Lyon
Advisory Team MemberBarb Eller
Secretary/TreasurerElias Beamish
Advisory Team MemberRichard Weber
Advisory Team MemberPast Grants
2025
- Depot Studios—Keep It Clean Campaign: $1,000
- Family Pathways—Healthy Fruits & Vegetables for Onamia Food Shelf: $1,000
- Wild and Free Wildlife Rehabilitation Program—Water and Sewer Support: $1,000
2024
- Aitkin County Soil and Water Conservation District—Keep It Clean: $4,310
- Family Pathways—Improved Access to Nutrient-rich Foods at the Onamia Food Shelf: $2,434
- Onamia Area Friends of the Library—Reaching Out to Brighten Days: $2,000
2023
- Isle School District (ISD #473)—Inclusive Playground: $500
- Onamia City Council (Parks and Recreation)—City Park Improvement: $500
- Isle Area Pickleball Association—Court Renovation Project: $500
- Wild and Free Wildlife Rehabilitation Program—Privacy Fencing for Fawn and Raccoon Enclosures: $500
- East Central Regional Development Commission—Lake Mille Lacs Scenic Byway Common Loon Artificial Nesting Platform: $500
History of the Fund
Formerly known as the Isle Area Community Foundation (IACF), the Mille Lacs Area Community Foundation was started in 2006 with a single $9,000 gift from VFW Post 2816 (now 2762).
Not long after its creation, the IACF advisory board disbanded and the fund quietly grew under the care of the Initiative Foundation to $20,000, the threshold necessary to begin making grants.
During the summer of 2020, the Initiative Foundation conducted a review of all its Partner Fund agreements. At the same time, an Isle-area-community member participated in an Initiative Foundation training program. This combination of events sparked a conversation that led to the assembly of a new advisory team now known as the Mille Lacs Area Community Foundation.
In 2021, the Mille Lacs Area Community Foundation began awarding grants.
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.