SMIF through the years
1986: A foundation for southern Minnesota is born
In the 1980s, an economic crisis had shaken Greater Minnesota. Farms across the state faced bankruptcy and rural communities suffered….
Read more1987: First investments are made in three focus areas
While SMIF’s programming has changed over the years, the Foundation has been doing work in the areas of Community Vitality,…
Read more1987: Business financing begins
SMIF closed its first loan to ABA Water Systems in Plainview in 1987. SMIF offers a range of services and…
Read more1989: SMIF receives first donation
The first local contribution that was donated to SMIF was from Linda Jacobson, who was also SMIF’s first executive director….
Read more1991: First Community Foundation is established
SMIF’s first Community Foundation was formed in Wanamingo. Community foundations benefit a defined community or geographic area, while donors’ gifts…
Read more1994: First AmeriCorps program begins
AmeriCorps members commit their time in key areas of education, economic opportunity, disaster response, healthy futures, environmental stewardship and veteran…
Read more1997: Paint donations for community projects begin
Since 1997, SMIF has helped distributed more than 10,500 gallons of paint to more than 300 projects in the region…
Read more1999: Ground breaking of new office building
SMIF started out with three staff members in the Owatonna Industrial Park. In 1990, the office moved to the City…
Read more2002: Technical assistance for businesses begins
In 2002, SMIF received a grant from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to start providing businesses that have received an…
Read more2002: Grant program to support early literacy begins
In 2002, Mankato-based publishing company Capstone helped launch the BookStart program, working with SMIF to distribute thousands of books to…
Read more2003: Early Childhood Initiatives are launched
In 2003, the Minnesota Initiative Foundations (MIFs) joined forces to launch the Minnesota Early Childhood Initiative with the goal to…
Read more2003: SMIF commits to community development principles
In 2003 SMIF board and staff committed to ABCD (Asset-Based Community Development) principles and completed extensive training to embrace focusing…
Read more2005: Peer groups for entrepreneurs begin
The first of SMIF’s Peer Networks was started in 2005. This first group was for CEOs – a network that…
Read more2006: First Donor-Advised Fund is established
The Christianson Family Fund, based out of Preston, became SMIF’s first Donor-Advised Fund in 2006. Designated Funds are created by…
Read more2007: Disaster Recovery Fund is launched
When floods ravaged Rushford and the surrounding areas in 2007, SMIF launched a Disaster Recovery Fund to support the communities…
Read more2008: Affiliate Fund grantmaking exceeds $1 million
An estimated $7 billion is going to transfer generations in southern Minnesota by 2030. SMIF’s Affiliate Fund program is intended…
Read more2010: Support for a regional food system begins
In 2010, SMIF partnered with McKnight Foundation to fund a report assessing the regional food landscape, which was produced by…
Read more2011: Grant program launches region-wide projects
In 2011, SMIF launched a special funding opportunity called “One Big Thing Grants.” The program was designed to support new…
Read more2013: First trainings held for child care providers
In 2013, SMIF began hosting trainings for child care providers in the region to make sure they have access to…
Read more2013: Trainings for entrepreneurs expand
While SMIF had been working with partners to hold trainings for entrepreneurs since 2002, those trainings were specifically for its…
Read more2016: Program for BIPOC entrepreneurs is launched
In 2016, SMIF launched The Prosperity Initiative, a program which provides coaching and business resources to entrepreneurs who identify as…
Read more2017: Programs focused on small towns begin
In 2017 SMIF announced its renewed commitment to small town growth. While SMIF continues to make its programming and resources…
Read more2019: Program to address the child care shortage begins
In 2016 Minnesotans were alerted to the fact that there is a serious lack of child care slots in our…
Read more2020: SMIF’s COVID-19 response begins
As the world grappled with the immediate fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, SMIF moved quickly to double down on supporting…
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