Charitable Funds
The Initiative Foundation is proud to host a variety of Partner Funds for families, businesses, nonprofit organizations and volunteer-led groups. Our Partner Fund program allows local leaders to champion local causes while we provide the 501(c)(3) public charity infrastructure necessary for donor gifts to receive the highest possible charitable tax deduction. From community foundations to educational funds to special project and field-of-interest funds, the Initiative Foundation and its Partner Funds are working together to ensure strong and vibrant communities throughout Central Minnesota.
Click on the Partner Fund below to learn more and donate!
The Silver Lining Scholarship Fund was created by Maria Heymans-Becker and Leah and Jessica Schilling-Brigman in honor of Jeff Schilling, a longtime custodian at Mary of Lourdes School in Little Falls.
Learn About Our Partner Funds
Click on the fund name to learn more. Contact Carl Newbanks, director of development, to learn how you can create or support a Partner Fund.
AGENCY FUNDS
- Big Birch Lake Endowment Fund
- Big Fish Lake Association Emergency Fund
- Brainerd Public Schools Foundation Early Childhood Fund
- Bridges Manufacturing Workforce Development Fund (Regional)
- Conservancy Fund of Big Fish Lake
- Conservancy Fund of the Rice Lake Association
- Conservancy Fund of Roosevelt and Lawrence Area Lakes Association
- Darling Church Memorial Fund (Little Falls)
- Early Childhood Partnership for Isanti County
- Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA Chapter 551) (St. Cloud)
- Fish Trap Lake Endowment Fund
- Friends of Sherburne Nat’l Wildlife Refuge Fund
- Gull Chain Preservation Endowment Fund
- Horizon Health Partners in Life Fund (Pierz)
- JFHML Endowment Fund (Crosby)
- Land and Waters Preservation Trust (Cass & Crow Wing)
- Minnesota Pioneer Park Endowment Fund (Annandale)
- Morrison County Food Shelf Fund
- Northern Waters Land Trust (Leech Lake Area)
- Onamia Early Childhood Endowment Fund
- Paws + Claws Animal Shelter (Hackensack)
- Sacred Heart Area School Endowment Fund (Staples)
- Salem Lutheran Church Outreach Fund (Deerwood)
- Thrive Fund (Greater St. Cloud)
- Wadena City Library Fund
- Wright County Historical Society Fund
BUSINESS LOAN FUNDS
- Menahga Economic Development Loan Fund
- Princeton Economic Development Loan Fund
- Todd-Wadena Economic Development Loan Fund
COMMUNITY FUNDS
- Black Oak Getty Community Foundation (Greater Sauk Centre area)
- Cambridge Area Community Foundation
- Delano Area Community Foundation
- Greater Pequot Lakes Community Foundation
- Greater Pine Area Endowment (Pine City)
- Hackensack Lakes Area Community Foundation
- Longville Area Community Foundation
- Mille Lacs Area Community Foundation
- Morrison County Area Foundation
- Rum River Community Foundation (Milaca Area)
- Staples-Motley Area Community Foundation
- Three Rivers Community Foundation (Elk River Area)
DESIGNATED FUNDS
- CWEPA Fund (Crow Wing)
- Ellen McGregor Endowment for Education Fund (Verndale)
- Hanowski Family Fund (Little Falls)
- Lake Region Conservation Club Fund (Pierz Area)
- Mark Wood Foundation (Little Falls)
- Scott & Jane Stuart Memorial Park Fund (Longville)
- Skolmate Fund for the Welfare of Animals
- Julius & Tracy Kurpius Family Fund for the Living Legacy Garden
DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS
- Anderson Brothers Family Fund (Brainerd)
- Artesian Homes Charitable Fund (Motley)
- Betty & Larry Nelson Family Fund (Harris)
- Bob & Marsha Bunger Family Endowment Fund (Milaca)
- Bruce and Diane Gohman Fund
- Central Minnesota Builders Association Fund & Initiative (Regional)
- Chuck Christian Community Spirit Fund (Elk River)
- Colette & Paul Cameron Donor Advised Fund (Little Falls)
- Corey Borg-Massanari Foundation
- Edeburn Family Fund (St. Cloud)
- Gaalswyk Family Fund (Brainerd)
- Granite Partners Fund (St. Cloud)
- ILT Endowment Fund
- James & Susan Kurpius Fund for the Staples-Motley Dollars for Scholars (Staples)
- Jim & HK Stuart Memorial Fund (Longville)
- John & Bonnie Schlagel Endowment (Cambridge)
- Josh Richardson Family Fund (Elk River)
- Loren & Kathy Morey Family Fund (Staples)
- Marie and David Fischer Family Charitable Fund (Crosslake)
- Mel & Jeanette Beaudry Fund (Elk River)
- Nancy & Thomas Adams Family Charitable Fund (Pequot Lakes)
- Patrick & Jane Mitchell Family Fund (Cold Spring)
- Paula and Chad Becker Fund (Browerville)
- Playing it Forward: The Kenneth & Evelyn Pinckney Young Musicians' Fund (Little Falls)
- Prairie Lights: Pioneering Yesterday and Today Fund (Little Falls)
- Shawn Grittner Memorial Fund (Little Falls)
- Stephens and Olson Family Fund (St. Cloud)
- Teresa's Stash Legacy Fund (Todd County)
EDUCATION FUNDS
- Albany Area Education Foundation (AAEF)
- Becker Education Foundation (BEF)
- Bluejacket Education Foundation (BJEF)
- Braham Area Education Foundation (BAEF)
- Cuyuna Lakes Education Foundation (Crosby-Ironton)
- Lake Region Christian School Education Foundation (Brainerd)
- Little Falls Education Foundation
- Patriot Foundation (Pequot Lakes)
- Pillager Education Foundation
- Royalton Education Foundation
- Sauk Rapids-Rice Education Foundation (SRREF)
FIELD OF INTEREST FUNDS
- Child Care & Early Childhood Education Fund
- Early Childhood Fund for Morrison County
- Family Farm Fund (Regional)
- Housing Fund of Greater Mora Area
- Manufacturing Fund of Central Minnesota (Regional)
- Memorial Hospital Foundation (Serving Greater Isanti County)
- The Initiators Fund (Regional)
- The Lakes Area Medical Development Association Fund (Brainerd Area)
- Women’s Leadership Fund
RELIEF FUNDS
- Cambridge Area Disaster Preparedness & Relief Fund
- Central Minnesota Emergency Child Care Fund
- Central Minnesota Emergency Relief & Recovery Fund
- Delano Area Emergency Fund
- Greater Todd County Disaster Recovery Fund
- Sourcewell Region Five COVID-19 Relief Project
SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS
- Alternative Sources of Energy Fund (Milaca)
- Archie & Isabelle Powell Scholarship Fund (Elk River)
- Bachman Engelking Scholarship Fund (Mora)
- Bert & Helen LeBlanc Legacy Scholarship Fund (Regional)
- Betty Ford Menzel Scholarship Fund (Crosby-Ironton)
- Beverly M. Pantzke Scholarship Fund (Little Falls)
- Bob Wright Memorial Independent Free Papers of America Scholarship Fund (Regional)
- Dorn Family Fund (Delano)
- Fregin Foundation (Little Falls)
- H. Eugene Menzel Scholarship Fund (Aitkin)
- Holdingford Scholarship Fund
- Irene Myres Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund (Pequot Lakes)
- Little Falls Scholarship Fund
- Madden’s Pine Beach Scholarship Fund (Pillager)
- Mary Jean Tillman Healthcare Scholarship Fund (Little Falls)
- Pillager Scholarship Fund
- Silver Lining Scholarship Fund (Little Falls)
- Staples Knights of Columbus-Lloyd & Marion Giddings Scholarship Fund
- The Bruske-Johnson Scholarship Fund (Isle)
- Tollefson Scholarship (Pine City)
- William & Ethel Nelson-Zimmerman Scholarship Fund (Royalton)
- ZES Scholarship Fund (Zimmerman)
SPECIAL PROJECTS
Instructions for claiming your scholarship award
Once you have registered for your first semester, please complete this form in its entirety. Please attach proof of registration such as a confirmation notice from your college.
Upon receipt of this completed form and proof of your registration for your first semester, we will begin to process your scholarship payment. The check will then be mailed to your school to be applied to your account. Please allow 4-6 weeks for the payment to be processed. If you still do not see the credit to your account, please contact the financial aid officer at your school or the scholarship coordinator at the Initiative Foundation at (320) 632-9255. Thank you, and good luck in the pursuit of your education!
Colette and Paul Cameron use their donor-advised fund to support the Pine Grove Zoo and other Little Falls-based organizations.
We can help you turn good ideas into good work.
For those who wish to simplify giving or fundraising, the Initiative Foundation hosts a full array of charitable funds. Creating a fund is an attractive alternative to starting a family foundation or nonprofit organization, which requires many administrative and legal responsibilities.
Our approach allows you to enjoy the rewards of giving without these burdens. We provide tax-deductible donation and grants administration, investment management, gift processing, marketing assistance and consulting services.
The Initiative Foundation hosts a variety of funds in partnership with families, organizations and volunteer groups. Funds can be permanent endowments or liquid cash accounts.
Donor-Advised Funds
For families and businesses who wish to formalize their giving by recommending charitable grants on their own timetables. Learn more ...
Education and Scholarship Funds
For people who care about quality education from the K-12 years and beyond. These funds can be established as endowed or non-endowed project funds and support programs and activities that cannot generally be carried out in the traditional classroom settings. Learn more ...
Field-of-Interest Funds
For donors who wish to support a specific interest area (e.g., children’s literacy, family farms, water preservation, etc.) by requesting the Initiative Foundation to award related grants on their behalf. Learn more ...
Agency Funds
For 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that wish to develop a permanent funding stream and accept planned gifts from donors.
Community Funds
For communities that wish to unite the philanthropy of donors and develop a permanent fund to support local priorities.
Special Project Funds
Temporary funds for groups who wish to raise money for a specific charitable goal (e.g., construct a building, beautify a park, etc.).
