INITIATIVE FOUNDATION

Retain and create quality jobs by providing financing and coordinating business development services, especially to underserved groups and entrepreneurs; advance community vitality through increased public-private partnerships; increase economic security of individuals, families and children by improving the effectiveness and sustainability of nonprofit organizations; and build permanent endowments that allow donors to address local needs and opportunities.

Entrepreneurship support: Foster growth of businesses by providing training, financing and technical assistance, with an emphasis on underserved communities and social enterprise ventures through our Enterprise Academy and our Initiators Fellowship.\n\nWorkforce and career development: Tap under-utilized pools of talent and support career exploration and development in high-demand fields.\n\nChildcare availability: Catalyze innovation within the region and coordinate with partners in support of economically sustainable, quality childcare. \n\nNonprofit capacity building: Provide training to anti-poverty organizations, other nonprofits aligned with IF values, and IF partner fund volunteers and boards to enhance their ability to achieve their respective missions across all 14 counties of our region.\n\nNonprofit and local government innovation: Use training, technical assistance and grant funding to support innovative early state projects which foster inclusive engagement and development of emerging leaders.\n\nWorkplace best practices: Model a holistic approach to diversity, equity and inclusion; workplace wellbeing; organizational culture; and other operational practices.\n\nEndowments: Grow endowments and secure major gifts by cultivating donor relationships and making direct asks across multiple forms of media.\n\nLegacy giving: Preserve and grow the region's wealth by encouraging bequests and maintaining and initiating region-wide relationships with priority stakeholders.\n\nIntegrated Impact: Multiply impact by seeking opportunities for coordination across Innovation Fund grant-making, Foundation programming and Partner Funds, and connecting to external grant-makers.

The Initiative Foundation is governed by a 15-member volunteer Board of Trustees. We have 24 dedicated full-time and three part-time employees. We are led by a six-member leadership team under the direction of our president, Matt Varilek. Hundreds of volunteers are engaged throughout the region in Initiative Foundation-led community and philanthropic efforts.\n\nThe Initiative Foundation has a coveted Four-Star/Superior rating from the Charity Navigator, and the highest accountability rating possible from the Charities Review Council’s Accountability Wizard. We are a financially sound organization with assets totaling $95 million, including an endowment of $65 million.

The following demonstrates a sampling of our progress across planned goals: \r\n• We funded $2.139 million in new loans ($2.45 million total approved) to 26 companies creating 96 jobs, retaining 294 jobs, and leveraging over $15 million.\r\n• Business technical assistance was provided to 18 businesses through combined external consulting programs or scholarships. \r\n• We provided grant and technical support so that our entire region now has access to micro lending programs through partners.  \r\n• Thriving Communities Initiative (TCI) leadership training and technical assistance to several dozen communities throughout the region on issues ranging from workforce development, financing for community facilities, trails development, and local foods.\r\n• Held trainings on Parent Aware (child care rating programs and scholarships) and Sustaining Your Coalition. Two reflective training sessions for early childhood professionals were provided in coordination with the MN Home Visiting Coalition. \r\n• Held several early childhood development trainings and launched new Early Childhood Dental Network. \r\n• The Thriving Organizations Partnership (TOP) programs were fully implemented in 2013.\r\n• The first cohort of TOP Financial Resiliency through Social Enterprise (FRSE) nonprofit organizations completed the year-long training and assistance program. \r\n• Four professionally-facilitated TOP Leaders Circle groups were formed across the region. \r\n• The Nonprofits Assistance Fund, MAP for Nonprofits and MN Legal Corp each held workshops and/or offered Open Office Hours to Central Minnesota nonprofits at the Initiative Foundation office in Little Falls. \r\n• Fourteen nonprofit organizations reported enhanced or increased level of services as a result of hosting a year-long VISTA member. \r\n• Eleven grants were made to small nonprofit organizations) to conduct technology assessments.