Southwest Initiative Foundation

“The executive committee is comprised of the officers of the corporation; chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary, and treasurer as well as the immediate past chairperson. The executive committee may act on behalf of the board to review and act upon grants and loans, review and act upon policies, review and act upon budgetary variances, and conduct other business of the corporation between regularly scheduled board meetings. All actions of the executive committee are reviewed by the full board and ratified at the next scheduled full board meeting. Form 990 part vi section a, line 2: board members do not have family or business relationships with each other. If a relationship arises, it must be disclosed at that time. A conflict of interest questionnaire is completed annually, and each board meeting has a standing agenda item asking for disclosures as well.”

“The irs form 990 is reviewed by appropriate staff in the foundation and then presented to the finance and audit committee for review and recommendation to the board. The full board receives a copy of the form on the board portal prior to voting on the recommendation.”

“At the commencement of each fiscal year, all employees receive the foundation's conflict of interest policy and questionnaire. Additionally, should they assume a position on a board that could potentially conflict with the policies outlined therein, they are obligated to update the conflicts of interest questionnaire.”

“Southwest initiative foundation's president compensation is overseen and administered by the executive committee of the board, which is responsible for establishing and maintaining a competitive compensation program for the president. This program is reviewed annually, incorporating a wage inflation indicator provided by gallagher, as appropriate, and adjustments are made based on changes in the labor market in which the foundation competes for talent, while also considering the foundation's overall budget and long-term sustainability. Individual pay adjustments are determined by changes in the labor market for the position and performance in the role to ensure compensation remains competitive and equitable. The executive committee works with gallagher's human resources & compensation consulting practice to source data, including 990s from comparable organizations, as needed.”

“Audited financial statements are available on the organization's website and audited financial statements are available upon request. The organization's governing documents and conflict of interest policy are not made public.”

“Southwest initiative foundation (swif) is a nonprofit community foundation connecting people, investing in ideas and building communities to create a southwest minnesota where all people thrive. Since its founding in 1986, swif has distributed more than $122 million through its grantmaking and business finance programs. A talented team of staff and dedicated board members work alongside our partners, donors and community leaders on projects and programs that directly support our mission. From the beginning, we have focused on social and economic growth in southwest minnesota. The 18 counties and two native nations we call home are continuously evolving, and swif has grown and responded to our region's changing needs. The foundation's work can look different from one program, partnership or place to another. Its organizational values of equity, integrity, curiosity, collaboration and optimism guide the work and ensure staff bring the same care and commitment to every interaction. Swif is uniquely positioned to provide regional leadership, offering a trusted perspective that can unite efforts and leaders throughout southwest minnesota. As an independent community foundation, swif carries a long-term commitment to the region and can leverage outside funding and expertise. Swif also has a deep history of bringing people together from all sectors to explore and implement local solutions. Swif's original mission was to strengthen southwest minnesota in three ways: improving the region's economic self-reliance, overcoming human distress and promoting regional leadership, coordination and partnerships. The foundation continues to address these broad areas and serve as a partner through business finance and economic development, grantmaking and community programming, and community giving and philanthropy. The lasting outcome of this work is economic mobility, for all people in southwest minnesota to attain a reasonable standard of living, experience the dignity that comes from having power and autonomy over their lives and be engaged in and valued by their community.”

“We provide grants and programs to create opportunities for all people to thrive in our local communities. Our grantmaking, proactive programming and community-led belonging activities help create opportunities for all people to thrive in the communities they call home. Through these efforts, we can lead individuals and communities through growth. Swif has relaunched growing local: emerging leaders, an eight-month training program designed to help up and coming leaders discover and build upon their unique strengths so they can make a difference in their communities. This program helps cultivate a vital leadership pipeline in southwest minnesota, supporting boards, commissions and committees with leaders who reflect the make-up of communities. The initial cohort graduated 14 participants, and this year's cohort includes 13 emerging leaders. Swif coordinates welcoming week efforts across southwest minnesota ranging from 6 to 16 communities. Through this, organizations and communities bring together neighbors of all backgrounds to build strong connections and affirm the importance of welcoming and inclusive places in achieving collective prosperity. Swif provides funding and support for welcoming week celebrations in communities across our region as part of our membership in welcoming america, the national organization leading welcoming week. The welcoming and inclusive communities project at swif helps community members build relationships and learn inclusive community practices while growing their local network of "welcomers" who are passionate about including everyone. Communities apply to be part of the project and then participate in monthly cohort meetings to share tools, skills and strategies for welcoming and inclusion. The team also works to improve community wellbeing by supporting youth and families and improving mental health resources and awareness. This includes being a partner in suicide awareness campaigns, de-escalation techniques and crisis support and response. Staff hosted a farm couples retreat to foster mental well-being and strong relationships. The day included practical tools and strategies for coping with stress and burnout. Grantmaking is at the heart of our role as a community foundation. We accept grant ideas on an ongoing basis as well as providing defined grant rounds throughout the year. We also serve as a philanthropic intermediary to bring additional grant dollars into our region through partner foundations. An open grant round attracted projects and programs that support a strong foundation for youth to develop essential skills and resilience, prioritize mental wellness, and create a sense of belonging through collaborative projects that bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds. Swif is one of 23 community foundations across a 10-state network participating in a philanthropic preparedness, resiliency and emergency partnership. We continue to use the best practices learned through this network in disaster response and recovery work within our region as needs arise. Swif's paul and alma schwan aging trust endowment fund promotes productive aging in southwest minnesota. Established in 1991, this is a key example of the legacy and impact donors can make through swif. It continues to fund age-friendly communities work launched in 2016, in partnership with the minnesota river area agency on aging, and the prairie five community action agency. This fund also supports a responsive grant fund for community projects that reduce social isolation and loneliness for senior citizens in southwest minnesota.”

“Southwest initiative foundation's community foundation program establishes a geographically focused fund, known as an affiliate foundation. Through a partnership that is mutually beneficial, the community foundation program functions as a well established method of retaining charitable dollars in the region and using those dollars to support community needs and opportunities. Volunteer advisory boards drive local mission, activities, and impact for swif's 31 affiliates. Swif provides the administrative, investment and 501(c)(3) infrastructure, as well as a series of "launch meetings" to provide board training for new affiliates. Additionally, technical and professional support in areas like strategic planning, fundraising, marketing, public relations, and grantmaking are provided on an ongoing basis for all partners. Community foundation volunteers are often well established or emerging community leaders, making possible projects like park improvements, swimming pools, backpack food programs, band instruments, student field trips and so much more through annual grantmaking and special initiatives. Since the community foundation program started in 1999, nearly $10 million has been granted to support community needs and opportunities. We currently hold more than 120 designated funds, including donor-advised funds, employee hardship funds, education foundations, agency endowments, field-of-interest funds and scholarship funds. Donor-advised funds allow an individual donor or family to provide input regarding grant distributions. These funds can be endowed or nonendowed (passthrough) and are created with a family's goals and legacy in mind. Many donors find that swif designated or component funds are attractive options to support their charitable interests while relieving them of the administrative responsibilities that can often become overwhelming for families and volunteers. All funds under the swif umbrella can receive many types of gifts, including cash, appreciated securites, real estate, farmland which can stay in production through swif's keep it growing farmland retention programand planned gifts, such as charitable gift annuities and bequests. Swif can create a fund that fulfills the charitable goals of a donor when the donor's primary interests are within the 18 county service area. Swif funds offer unique potential to keep southwest minnesota communities, schools and organizations strong and vibrant. They connect community minded people and local needs with the resources necessary for long lasting impact.”

“Southwest initiative foundation provides flexible and innovative economic development finance solutions for business retention, expansion, startup and ownership succession projects through its business finance program and its microenterprise loan program. Its financing programs support projects in the retail, service, manufacturing, child care, hospitality, and other sectors, with a special interest in supporting projects in food and agriculture, manufacturing, renewable energy and bioscience. In addition, the microenterprise loan program provides valuable technical assistance for borrowers in the areas of business management and operations, finance and accounting, and marketing. Swif is especially interested in opportunities to support populations who have been historically underinvested in by the marketplace including women, bipoc entrepreneurs, veterans, people with disabilities, and lowincome people. Swif also operates the initiate prosperity website (in partnership with northern economic initiatives corporation) www.initiateprosperity.org which provides comprehensive technical assistance resources including interactive tools, templates, videos and guides. Swif is a lender for the minnesota emerging entrepreneur loan program through the minnesota department of employment and economic development, in addition to being a microlender through the us small business administration (sba) and a rural microentrepreneur assistance program lender through the us department of agriculture (usda). Swif is also a grantor for the minnesota main street economic revitalization program, in addition to being a partner for the elevate community business academy as part of the rising tide capital network. Child care is the fastest growing economic development issue facing our region. Swif has developed a multifaceted response focused on five aspects: project investment and technical assistance, community planning, professional development, public policy, and public relations. Swif has supported professional development of the region's economic development professionals, in addition to sponsoring economic development related programming, events, and relationship building opportunities. Swif has also served as a convener, facilitator, funder, advocate, and/or program administrator for projects related to career pathways and child care. Our rural communities face unique challenges, as well as opportunities to collaborate around these and other issues. Key issues facing our region's economic development include child care, housing, and broadband.”

“Change in agency funds -59,953. Change in value of split interest agreements 91,124. Provision for loan losses 641,522.”