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 through the approval of executive committee meeting minutes at the next scheduled full board meeting.”

“The irs form 990 is reviewed by appropriate staff in the foundation and then presented to the audit/finance committee for review and recommendation to the board. The full board of directors also receives a copy through the secure board portal of the website one week prior to filing. The audit/finance committee and the board are given public inspection copies of the form 990 that do not include the confidential list of major donors. Other than this list, the form is given in its entirety to the committee and board for review.”

“At the start of each year, the conflict of interest policy, accompanying questionnaire, and the code of ethics and conduct are distributed to all board members to complete. Disclosure of conflicts is the standing first item on every board agenda. The board of directors are instructed at each meeting to disclose if they feel there is a conflict of interest on any agenda item before it is brought to discussion. The board and/or ceo question and determine if the conflict is valid and if so, the board memeber does not participate in the vote. The conflict is noted in the minutes. The employee conflict of interest policy is distributed to key decision making employees, reviewed, and signed annually with updates to any potential conflicts of interested noted. Potential conflicts of interest for staff must be reported to the president/ceo and are handled according to the board approved policy requirements.”

“Southwest initiative foundation's executive compensation program is administered by the executive committee of the board. The executive committee is responsible for establishing and maintaining a competitive compensation program for the key executives of the foundation. The executive committee undertakes an annual review to evaluate the foundation's executive compensation program against the competitive market using information gathered on comparable positions within the specific industry sector and from independently published surveys. The executive committee meets independent of the president/ceo to discuss performance relative to the position description. During these deliberations, the committee also considers input obtained from other board members, staff, professional advisors, grant recipients, and other informed community leaders. The date of deliberations and subsequent meeting with president/ceo are documented in the minutes of the board meeting and the outcome maintained in the confidential personnel files of the foundation. The last review was completed in 2015 for the president/ceo, d. Anderson.”

“Condensed 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.”

“Swif's mission is to be a catalyst, facilitating opportunities for economic and social growth by developing and challenging leaders to build on the region's assets. Swif is a single connection offering unlimited possibilities to grow and promote people, businesses, entrepreneurs and communities in rural southwest minnesota. As a regional community foundation, swif brings together the expertise, resources and inspiration to make its communities and region stronger. Swif works to ensure that its 18-county service area is a highly productive and engaged region where growing numbers of people choose to live and work. The organization is governed by a 12-member board of directors representing diverse geographic locations, professions and backgrounds to help guide swif's community leadership development, economic development and loan programs, regional capacity building, grantmaking and philanthropic initiatives. Learn more about swif's mission and work at www.swifoundation.org.”

“Loan programs: swif loan programs, including its business finance program, support economic development and growth throughout southwest minnesota by providing gap financing to start, expand, and transition businesses located in its 18-county service area. Eligible projects must create and retain jobs that provide a living wage with benefits, generate new wealth for the region and diversify the economy of southwest minnesota. Loan funds may be used for machinery and equipment, inventory, working capital and real estate. The microenterprise loan program helps entrepreneurs develop small businesses and self-employment opportunities. This program provides loan funds not to exceed $50,000 to be used for start-up costs, equipment, inventory, furniture and fixtures and working capital. This program also provides customized support for entrepreneurs through on-going technical assistance and training as needed for the length of the loan. Eligible businesses may be start-up or expansion projects including, but not limited to, manufacturing, service retail and child care. This program also provides the center of rural entrepreneurship (core) website, a resource specifically designed to connect entrepreneurs and businesses to the tools, education, and resources they need to start, expand or transition their business. Swif is working to further facilitate advancement of key asset sectors and keep the resulting wealth in the region. Swif is making investments that support the region's economic asset sectors of renewable energy, food and agriculture, bioscience, and manufacturing by promoting these industries and the opportunities they present, as well as facilitating discussions and solutions to the challenges that may accompany them, including housing, workforce and child care shortages. In addition to business and business leadership development, recent work has included the youth energy summit (yes!) program. Yes! Is a team-oriented youth program that uses hands-on, experiential learning and energy action projects to address energy opportunities and issues in rural minnesota communities. The program empowers youth and inspires widespread adoption of clean energy technology and energy conservation practices which contribute to the environmental and economic health of rural minnesota communities. Hosting and participating in leadership forums, seminars and other convenings provide opportunities for leaders to network and gain access to resources that will support key regional industries.”

“Community foundations and designated funds: many donors find community and designated funds attractive options to support their charitable interests while relieving them of the administrative responsibilities that can often become overwhelming for families and volunteers. Swif currently serves 24 community foundation fund partners and more than 90 designated fund partners. Swif's community foundation program is a true partnership between swif and the local community - one that has proven to be mutually beneficial and an effective means to retain charitable dollars for the benefit of southwest minnesota communities. Swif provides the administrative and 501(c)(3) infrastructure to its community foundation funds. It also provides ongoing technical and professional support in areas such as strategic planning, fundraising, marketing, public relations and grantmaking. Community foundation funds are advised by local committees of community leaders who are responsible for raising funds, recommending grantees and raising public awareness. Since swif's grantmaking is targeted to projects related to its current priority areas, community foundation funds often fill a valuable niche by funding worthwhile projects that don't fit within swif's current grant criteria. Swif offers a variety of designated funds designed to help donors meet their unique philanthropic goals. Designated funds can be endowed or non-endowed (pass-through) and are created with a specific purpose in mind. In most cases, a designated fund is advised by a local committee of volunteer leaders. The committee raises money for the fund, recommends grant distributions, and raises public awareness. Swif provides assistance in the planning and development of designated funds. It also administers the funds and provides ongoing technical and professional support as needed, in areas such as fundraising, marketing, public relations and grantmaking. Designated funds can receive many types of gifts, including cash, appreciated stock, real estate and planned gifts, such as charitable gift annuities and bequests.”

“Leadership & community development programs: leadership development and community engagement are woven throughout all of swif's work, but we have continued to have specific programs designed to focus on individual, community and business leadership skill-building. The nonprofit leader's academy is assisting nonprofit and organizational leaders in southwest minnesota build capacity by encouraging and providing personal leadership development. Nonprofit leaders are recruited to participate in an engaging and intensive development session and given tools to better accomplish their work and their organizations' missions. Community foundation and designated fund volunteers also receive intentional leadership and capacity building training as part of the fund organizing process and through ongoing technical assistance. Swif is engaged in the minnesota early childhood initiative, a network of coalitions focused on quality care and educational opportunities for children ages birth to 5, to help ensure that all of southwest minnesota's youngest children thrive, and have a healthy life of learning, achieving, and succeeding. The minnesota thrive initiative is part of the minnesota early childhood initiative. The overarching goal of thrive is to create seamless systems or networks of local services that support the healthy social and emotional development of minnesota's youngest children ages birth to 5, with an emphasis on the first three years of life. Swif accomplishes these goals by working with 16 selected coalition communities located throughout the 18 counties of southwest minnesota. In addition, grant funds are available to pursue partnerships on early care and education projects that have a region-wide scope, which have included trainings for professionals, family-friendly events and other activities that engage the communities and raise awareness of young children's needs. Key issues for the early childhood initiative are access to early learning opportunities, access to quality child care, and access to dental care.”

“Change in agency funds -45,016. Change in value of split interest agreements 56,566.”