NW MN FOUNDATION OFFERS FUNDAMENTALS OF GRANT WRITING WORKSHOP

BEMIDJI—August 19, 2013 -- The Northwest Minnesota Foundation (NMF) is delivering a course meant to help grant writers learn the basics of putting together a successful grant application.  The workshop will cover writing styles, formatting, defining the problem, developing solutions, budget basics, and supporting documentation.

This four-hour workshop is for professionals and nonprofit staff who are directly involved in grant applications. Finding grants opportunities is not the focus, but will be covered. Participants will leave with techniques to find data for need statements, tips on writing effectively, and discussing the importance of collaborating for effective grant applications.

The session will be offered September 24^th in Bemidji, at the NMF Conference Center. Early registration is encouraged; the deadline is September 19^th. There is a $25 fee for the workshop— to register, please visit www.nwmf.org, where a link will be available under upcoming events.

NMF Program Officer- Grants, Nate Dorr is the instructor. He holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy with a focus on non-profit management from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute.

The workshop is limited to 40 participants. A limited number of scholarships are available. Please contact Dawn Ganje, dawng@nwmf.org to inquire.

NW MN Foundation awards grants

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation recently awarded the Northwest Service Cooperative a $25,000 grant to improve teacher effectiveness. Authentic Intellectual Work (AIW) is a program that allows teachers to share lesson plans and receive constructive criticism in a trusting peer group setting. Because of its great impact in other states and Minnesota School Districts, the Northwest Service Cooperative and five regional superintendents want to implement this key tool in order to improve test scores.

The five pilot schools include Bagley, Clearbrook-Gonvick, Fisher, Kelliher and Laporte. They and the Northwest Service Cooperative are committed to the AIW process and believe it will produce results. With a safe environment to discuss lesson plans, the teacher will get tips and tactics on how to improve student performance. To build peer trust, teachers begin with their weakest lesson plan. Peers can then help the teacher connect with all students by giving positive feedback on the lesson plan.

“The idea is to build lesson plans that reach all students and develop student critical thinking by applying lesson concepts to real world applications,” said Dr. Bruce Jensen, executive director of Northwest Service Cooperative. “This approach does not require the schools to purchase new curricula, and works with the lessons they already use. The potential for success is real and immediate within one to three years,” Jensen said.

NMF Program Officer for Grants Nate Dorr said, “After the pilot phase, there is real potential to expand the program into other schools in Northwest Minnesota. The region has a chance to lead school reform in Minnesota if positive results are shown.”

The project was also supported by the Blandin Foundation, Minnesota Rural Education Association, and the Center for Authentic Intellectual Work housed at UW Madison.

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation is a public, charitable foundation serving 12 counties of Northwest Minnesota by investing resources, creating opportunities and promoting philanthropy.

NWMF announces new Early Childhood Program Specialist

BEMIDJI, MN – June 28, 2012 -- Northwest Minnesota Foundation (NMF) is pleased to announce that Vicky Grove of Thief River Falls has been selected as the new NMF early childhood program specialist. Grove begins her duties June 27.  Lin Backstrom, who held the position since 2003 has resigned.

Grove will work to serve the NMF region by providing support and direction to the 12 early childhood coalitions.  Her biggest role will be working with coalition coordinators and the Thrive Initiative. The early childhood coalitions work within their local communities and the region to help all young children reach healthy development and enter kindergarten ready to learn and succeed.

The Thrive Initiative’s focus is strengthening early childhood mental health services for young children and families in the Bemidji, Blackduck and Kelliher communities.

NMF President Nancy Vyskocil said, “We are excited to have Vicky on board with us because of her extensive background in education.  She has been immersed in the culture of education in Northwest Minnesota and has an awareness of what the needs are in our region.”

Grove is a 31 year veteran of special education, serving as a special education teacher and a regional facilitator for early childhood initiatives.  She holds a Master of Education in Special Education, with an emphasis in early childhood, from the University of North Dakota.  Grove continues to serve part-time as a Regional Professional Development Co-Facilitator for Regions 1 and 2, through the Minnesota Centers of Excellence for Young Children with Disabilities, a program affiliated with the Bemidji Regional Interdistrict Council and the Minnesota Department of Education. Most recently, Grove served as a special education teacher for the Red Lake Falls Schools.

Grove was born and raised in Grand Forks and during her school years was involved in vocal music and drama.  Grove’s volunteer affiliations include the Fourtown Grygla Sportsman’s Club, Grygla Lions, Council of Exceptional Children/Division of Early Childhood, Catholic Daughter’s of America and the St. Bernard’s Church Choir. 

“I am very excited to join the staff of NMF and I am looking forward to serving the region’s youngest citizens and their needs to help them prosper in their communities,” said Grove.

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation is a public, charitable foundation serving 12 counties of Northwest Minnesota by investing resources, creating opportunities and promoting philanthropy.

Request for Proposals: Women’s Fund Grants and Scholarships

The Northwest Minnesota Women’s Fund is calling for funding proposals for programs and services that benefit women and girls within the twelve county Northwest Minnesota Foundation service area.
Counties served by NMF are Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau.

Grant Program
The Northwest Minnesota Women’s Fund develops resources and serves as a catalyst for improving the quality of life for women and girls. They envision a region where women and girls reach their full potential and work toward that end through grants, scholarships, education, and recognition programs.

The Women’s Fund will consider grant applications for up to $2,500. To qualify for consideration, applications must support the mission and vision of the Women’s Fund. Priority will be given to applications that support the Women’s Fund goals:
1. Developing entrepreneurial and economic opportunities for women
2. Supporting programs that lead to a safer environment for women and girls
3. Building networks of women in leadership positions throughout the region
4. Encouraging and equipping women and girls to achieve their full potential

Grant funds can be used for speakers, educational materials, program delivery expenses, research projects, and for professional development. Grant funds are not available for scholarships (higher education).
Criteria for selection:
• Relationship of the project to Women’s fund mission and goals (as stated above)
• Evidence of grassroots support involving women
• Identified purpose and need for project
• Clear goals and action steps for completing the project
• Description of working relationship(s) with other partner(s) and/or funding sources
• Potential long-term impact of the project
• Evidence of an evaluation plan

Scholarships for Women
Contingent upon fundraising, the Women’s Fund will offer scholarships to women from the 12 counties in the Women’s Fund service area who are pursuing post-secondary education at a public higher education institution in the area (Bemidji State University, Northwest Technical College in Bemidji, Northland Community and Technical College at Thief River Falls and East Grand Forks, the University of Minnesota Crookston, and the White Earth Tribal College).

Preference will be given to women who intend to remain in the region upon graduation. Scholarship funds are to be used for tuition and books or direct educational material expenses.

As advised by a donor, one scholarship is designated for a woman attending the University of Minnesota, Crookston, with preference given to an older than average woman student.

The deadline for submission of proposals and scholarship applications is March 1, 2012. The grants will be awarded by July 30. The grant and scholarship applications and guidelines are available on the NMF web site www.nwmf.org (Designated Component Funds/NW MN Women’s Fund), or contact Peggy at 218-759-2057 or 800-659-7859, e-mail peggyc@nwmf.org.

NMF Celebrates 25 Year Anniversary Excellence Award Recipients Announced

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation, in celebration of 25 years of making a difference in the region, has announced special 25th anniversary excellence award recipients, selected for their strong leadership and for continually enhancing the quality of the places where they live and work.

The foundation Board of Directors knows the important contributions individuals and nonprofit organizations make in every community and recognizes that their dedication and commitment is often unseen and rarely acknowledged. Since 1992, NMF has reinforced these efforts by identifying outstanding leaders, organizations, individuals in an organization, component funds’ philanthropy and special projects that enhance Quality of Place.

To commemorate its 25th anniversary, the Board asked all past honorees to submit questionnaires about their ongoing impact in the region. They reviewed the submissions, and from them, identified two individuals and one organization that demonstrated their continued excellence in leadership and commitment to helping Northwest Minnesota be a great place to live and work.

The recipients of the NMF 25th Anniversary Excellence Awards:
Kittson Memorial HealthCare Center, Hallock, MN - Organizational Excellence Award in 1999.

Since the early 1990’s Rick Failing has led Kittson Memorial through planning and assessments, guided in part by training received from the foundation. Over the years, Kittson Memorial also participated in other NMF programming such as training on developing a foundation, which led to the establishment of an endowment fund with NMF. Kittson Memorial’s managers have also attended leadership training programs to enhance their managerial skills. It is because of facility improvements and expanded services, combined with a staff-centered management approach and a focus on exceeding patient expectations that Kittson Memorial Healthcare Center is thriving today.

Florence Hedeen, Park Rapids, MN – Excellence in Leadership Award in 1993.
Florence Hedeen was an early participant in the foundation’s leadership training program, where she wanted to sharpen her skills on behalf of the Headwaters Intervention Center. She has remained involved with NMF in a number of ways, including with the Northwest Minnesota Women’s Fund, serving on the advisory committee for ten years and as the chair. Florence’s other interests and pursuits have evolved from efforts to foster world peace to election to the school board and work on behalf of the North Country Trail Association. She helped restart the Park Rapids League of Women Voters and was elected to the state board. Her work on increasing League membership in Minnesota resulted in her nomination to become a Ruth S. Shur Fellow in 2009 and she was among the first class of 12 national coaches serving state and local Leagues.

Sue Liedl, Tenstrike, MN – Individual Excellence in an Organization Award in 1997.
Sue Liedl has stayed in close contact with the foundation since attending one of the first leadership program sessions in 1991. When she received her award she was working as a volunteer developing and implementing a conflict management program at St. Philips’ grade school in Bemidji. This has evolved into work with STAR Teams (Students Teaching Attitudes of Respect), and the development of Peacemaker Resources, a nonprofit created to expand this work into other schools throughout northwestern Minnesota. With the support of NMF, STAR and Peacemaker has expanded to 18 other schools in 12 different communities. Starting with one school, to one community, to one nonprofit, in 12 counties, Sue and her team are now fielding requests for services from around the world.

The three will be featured at the NMF 25th Anniversary Banquet, scheduled for October 20 in Bemidji. Each recipient will select a regional nonprofit to receive a $1,000 grant from NMF’s Ruth Edevold Endowment for Excellence in honor of their award. Congratulations to these honorees for making a difference!

Free Paint Available for Community Restoration Projects

BEMIDJI, MN—Jan. 18, 2011— A fresh coat of paint can make a remarkable difference in the appearance of community structures, neighborhood facilities and parks. While adding to a sense of civic pride, this agreeable task is again being made very affordable. For the 14th consecutive year, the Northwest Minnesota Foundation (NMF) announces the availability of free paint for community fix-up and restoration projects.
In partnership with the Valspar Corporation and the Minnesota Beautiful Picture-It-Painted Program, help will be given to towns and organizations to obtain the paint and other coating materials required for selected projects.

“Over the years, visual improvements all around the region have resulted from The Picture-It-Painted Program. Literally thousands of gallons of paint have been given for a wide range of projects,” said Nancy Vyskocil, NMF president. “We’re pleased to be working with Valspar once again to help bring the Minnesota Beautiful project to our communities.”

Free paint will be made available by NMF and Valspar in support of projects that best meet certain eligibility criteria. Selection will be based on the visual impact of the proposed projects, potential advantages to the public, volunteer participation and support, current and/or intended use of the structure to be refurbished, and benefits to those in need.

Qualifying projects might include, but are not limited to, those involving historic structures, senior citizen and community centers, facilities for the disabled, publicly owned buildings, and murals or other visual-impact designs. Projects that would not qualify include those involving denominational churches, city maintenance, private properties, or school projects (except for murals).

Picture-It-Painted applications are due by March 7th, with awards announced on March 28th. Applications are available for downloading at www.nwmf.org, or by calling NMF at 218-759-2057 or 800-659-7859.

"Many towns and organizations will compete for this chance to renew or preserve a community asset,” said Vyskocil. “We encourage all applications and appreciate the spirit shown for the projects.”

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation invests resources, creates opportunities and promotes philanthropy to make the region a better place to live and work.