Initiative Foundation
Initiative Foundation
Want to make a donation using Daffy?
Lower your income taxes with a charitable deduction this year when you donate to this non-profit via Daffy.
Do you work for Initiative Foundation? Learn more here.
By donating on this page you are making an irrevocable contribution to Daffy Charitable Fund, a 501(c)(3) public charity, and a subsequent donation recommendation to the charity listed above, subject to our Member Agreement. Contributions are generally eligible for a charitable tax-deduction and a yearly consolidated receipt will be provided by Daffy. Processing fees may be applied and will reduce the value available to send to the end charity. The recipient organizations have not provided permission for this listing and have not reviewed the content.
Donations to organizations are distributed as soon as the donation is approved and the funds are available. In the rare event that Daffy is unable to fulfill the donation request to this charity, you will be notified and given the opportunity to choose another charity. This may occur if the charity is unresponsive or if the charity is no longer in good standing with regulatory authorities.
About this organization
Mission
To empower people throughout Central Minnesota to build a thriving economy, vibrant communities and a lasting culture of generosity.
About
COMMUNITY AND NONPROFIT DEVELOPMENTCHILD CARE SOLUTIONS: IN 2019, THE FOUNDATION LAUNCHED A NEW PROGRAM TO WORK IN FOUR PILOT COMMUNITIES TO EXPAND ACCESS TO QUALITY, AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE. CENTRAL MINNESOTA HAS THE GREATEST DEFICIT OF CHILD CARE IN GREATER MINNESOTA, WHICH IS RECOGNIZED AS A MAJOR BARRIER TO WORKFORCE ATTRACTION AND RETENTION AT A TIME OF RECORD-LOW UNEMPLOYMENT. IN ADDITION, BECAUSE SO MANY PROVIDERS FACE CHALLENGES RELATED TO PROFITABILITY, THE PROGRAM EMPHASIZES AND OFFERS SOUND BUSINESS MANAGEMENT TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. IT ALSO SEEKS TO DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL UNITS OF GOVERNMENT (ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES) AND EMPLOYERS TO EXPLORE ALTERNATIVE MODELS (SUCH AS ALLOWING A PROVIDER TO OPERATE ON EMPLOYER SPACE IN EXCHANGE FOR PRIORITY PLACEMENT OF EMPLOYEES' CHILDREN). THIS PROGRAM IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH FIRST CHILDREN'S FINANCE, A MINNEAPOLIS-BASED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTION WORKING EXCLUSIVELY WITH CHILD CARE PROVIDERS, AND IS FUNDED BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES. ENERGY TRANSITION: STAFF CONTINUE TO HELP THE CITY OF BECKER AND SHERBURNE COUNTY PREPARE FOR THE DECOMMISSIONING OF UNITS AT THE LARGEST COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT IN THE MIDWEST. EFFORTS TO DIVERSIFY THE BECKER ECONOMY HAVE RESULTED IN THE GROUNDBREAKING FOR A NEW NORTHERN METALS RECYCLING FACILITY (PROJECTED WORKFORCE OF 150) AND EXPLORATION OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOST A GOOGLE DATA CENTER TO SERVE THE UPPER MIDWEST. IN 2019, THE INITIATIVE FOUNDATION MADE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANT AWARDS TOTALING $122,500.DISASTER RESPONSE: WE CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PHILANTHROPIC PREPAREDNESS, RESILIENCY, AND EMERGENCY PARTNERSHIP (PPREP) COLLABORATION THAT HELPS TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS TO SUPPORT HOMETOWNS IN TIMES OF CRISIS. IN 2019, TWO DOZEN COMMUNITIES RECEIVED TRAINING SUPPORTED BY THE INITIATIVE FOUNDATION ON HOW TO PREPARE A "WHOLE COMMUNITY" DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PLAN. THE EFFORT INVOLVED BOTH THE "COMMAND AND CONTROL" APPARATUS OF FIRE/POLICE AND OTHER EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROFESSIONALS WITH THE VOLUNTEER AND SOCIAL CAPITAL RESOURCES OF NONPROFITS, FAITH LEADERS AND OTHER CIVIC INSTITUTIONS. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE WITH A CHALLENGE GRANT OF $10,000 TO CREATE ITS ENDOWED FUND TO SUPPORT FUTURE DISASTER RESPONSE EFFORTS.HEALTHY LAKES AND RIVERS PARTNERSHIP (HLRP): THE FOUNDATION COMPLETED THE FINAL YEAR OF FIELDWORK ASSOCIATED WITH A $4 MILLION GRANT FROM THE LESSARD-SAMS OUTDOOR HERITAGE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT INNOVATIVE PILOT PROJECTS THAT PREVENT THE SPREAD OF AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES (AIS). FIFTEEN OF 17 FUNDED PROJECTS REMAIN ACTIVE. PROJECTS RANGE FROM DEPLOYING AN INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM) STRATEGY FOR THE TREATMENT OF EURASIAN WATERMILFOIL IN WASHINGTON COUNTY TO DEPLOYING A COMBINATION OF MECHANICAL AND CHEMICAL TREATMENT OF STARRY STONEWORT (A RAPIDLY SPREADING ALGAE) AT LAKE KORONIS IN STEARNS COUNTY. IN CASS COUNTY, FOUNDATION FUNDING HAS SUPPORTED TRAINING INSPECTORS TO DE-ESCALATE CONFRONTATIONS WITH RECREATIONALISTS AND TO ENCOURAGE GOOD STEWARDSHIP WITHOUT INCITING RESISTANCE OR RESENTMENT. VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK IS WORKING WITH NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES TO RESTORE NATIVE CATTAILS WHILE CURTAILING AN INVASIVE HYBRID. THESE EXAMPLES REFLECT THE DIVERSITY OF EFFORTS THAT LOCAL PARTNERS ARE LEADING, AND WHICH HAVE RECEIVED GRANT COMMITMENTS FROM THE FOUNDATION THROUGH JUNE 2020. GRANTMAKING AND SPECIAL INITIATIVES: THE INITIATIVE FOUNDATION AWARDED $1.9 MILLION IN GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS TO 448 ORGANIZATIONS FOR ALL PROGRAMS IN AGGREGATE.NONPROFIT DEVELOPMENT: FOUNDATION STAFF PILOTED THREE COHORTS OF OUR FINANCIAL RESILIENCY PROGRAM. PROGRAMMING IS OFFERED IN TWO TRACKS: ONE FOCUSED ON CLARIFYING AND REFINING EACH NONPROFIT'S BUSINESS MODEL, AND THE SECOND FOCUSED EXCLUSIVELY ON DONOR DEVELOPMENT CAPACITY-BUILDING. WITH GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT FROM FOUNDATION STAFF, VARIOUS OTHER NONPROFIT TRAINING PARTNERS AND BUSINESS AND MARKETING CONSULTANTS, A TOTAL OF 17 ORGANIZATIONS (INVOLVING 67 INDIVIDUALS) PARTICIPATED IN FINANCIAL RESILIENCY PROGRAMS ADVANCING THEIR FUNDRAISING, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, LEADERSHIP, MARKETING AND PROGRAM-DELIVERY CAPACITY.FOUNDATION STAFF AND CONSULTANTS FACILITATED TWO LEADERS CIRCLES FOR NONPROFITS, INVOLVING 19 LEADERS FROM 15 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. THESE PEER-COACHING CIRCLES BUILD LEADERSHIP SKILLS/ABILITIES, HELP MEMBERS IN A CONFIDENTIAL SETTING TO IDENTIFY CONSTRUCTIVE STEPS FOR RESOLVING WORK CHALLENGES AND DECREASE PROFESSIONAL ISOLATION. MOST LEADERS CIRCLES MEMBERS REPORT GAINING NEW SKILLS IN THE AREAS OF PROBLEM-SOLVING, LISTENING, SPEAKING AND TAKING ACTION.FOUR QUARTERLY NONPROFIT LUNCHTIME LEARNING SESSIONS, COORDINATED BY THE INITIATIVE FOUNDATION IN CONJUNCTION WITH LOCAL PARTNERS, WERE HELD IN ST. CLOUD AND BRAINERD. EIGHTY NONPROFIT PROFESSIONALS PARTICIPATED IN ONE OR MORE LUNCHTIME LEARNING SESSIONS.
Interesting data from their 2020 990 filing
The filing documents outline the non-profit's mission as “To empower people to build thriving communities and a vibrant region across central minnesota.”.
When outlining the tasks it performs, they were referred to as: “To empower people to build thriving communities and a vibrant region across central minnesota.”.
- The non-profit's reported state of operation is MN as per legal requirements.
- The filing reveals that the address of the non-profit in 2020 is 405 FIRST STREET SE, LITTLE FALLS, MN, 56345.
- As of 2020, the non-profit has 33 employees reported on their 990 form.
- Is not a private foundation.
- Expenses are greater than $1,000,000.
- Revenue is greater than $1,000,000.
- Revenue less expenses is $5,060,670.
- The organization has 15 independent voting members.
- The organization was formed in 1986.
- The organization pays $2,346,947 in salary, compensation, and benefits to its employees.
- The organization pays $419,038 in fundraising expenses.