FM Area Foundation
FM Area Foundation 502 FIRST AVENUE NORTH, SUITE 202 FARGO, ND 58102-4873
August 2014
T
he mission of the FargoMoorhead Area Foundation is to enrich the quality of life of the people of this area by:
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED TELEPHONE: 701.234.0756 FAX: 701.234.9724 www.areafoundation.org
The Future is Bright The FM Area Foundation is experiencing exciting times. Through community partnerships, generous donors and engaged local organizations we are helping make FargoMoorhead an even greater place to live.
• Encouraging philanthropy • Assessing and responding to community needs • Providing flexibility for donors with varied interests and giving capacities
Already in 2014 records were broken as 29 local organizations sponsored tables and nearly 250 individuals attended the June Women’s Fund Breakfast to learn more about women and leadership and donate to the Fund.
• Serving as a resource and a catalyst for other organizations
2013-2014 Board of Directors • • • • •
Serving the Community Since 1960
FM Area Foundation
Connecting people and purpose .
Nine Years of Service for Foundation
250 Celebrate
with the Women’s Fund
We Want to Hear From You! This summer we are focused on cleaning our database. If you have a name or title change, want to update your address, or feel you are receiving too many or not enough mailings, please let us know! Email lexi@areafoundation.org or call 701.234.0756 to report any changes needed.
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Carol Schlossman, Chair Morrie Lanning, Vice-Chair Dorwin Marquardt, Treasurer Laine Brantner, Secretary Joan Justesen, Immediate Past President Tom Dawson Corey Elmer Bruce Furness Thomas Jefferson Susan E. Johnson-Drenth Dr. Joel Jorgenson Matthew Mohr Lisa Vatnsdal Neil Jordheim, Trustee Representative
Foundation Staff Tim Beaton, JD Executive Director Patty Mastel, CPA Finance Director Cher Hersrud Program Officer Courtney Larson Communications/Marketing Officer Lexi Oestreich Administrative Assistant
$205,000
Awarded in Grants
ConfirmedininCompliance Compliance Confirmed with forfor withNational NationalStandards Standards U.S. Community Foundations
U.S. Community Foundations
Tim Beaton
Executive Director
A grant from the Otto Bremer Foundation and a recent partnership with the Bush Foundation will allow us to initiate community projects that will impact FargoMoorhead and the state of North Dakota.
The Otto Bremer Foundation awarded the FM Area Foundation a $100,000 grant to conduct a metro-wide project that will address growth and change in our community through active citizen engagement, research and partnerships. There are three parts to this metro-wide study: Moorhead Community Voices, Project Tomorrow 2.0 and Pockets of People. These projects will kick off late summer. The Foundation also received $60,000 from the Bush Foundation to partner with the Minot Area Community Foundation to strengthen the community foundation field in Western North Dakota, provide donor education to support the new foundations and research limitations of the nonprofit sector to meet critically increasing needs, specifically in Williston and Dickinson. This month the FM Area Foundation launched At the Foundation, two new funds have been established, a new logo has been implemented and we recently hired a Communications and Marketing Officer. Together we are moving forward and looking toward a bright future!
a new logo. The logo consists of three inter-connected sections that symbolize: DONORS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION The new logo will help create a unified visual identity for the Foundation.
“Because both of my parents have passed away, I know that I will not be receiving financial support from anyone. I need funds from other sources to achieve my goal of completing a bachelor’s degree.” — Wyatt Whiteaker
DGF Student Receives Jepson Scholarship — Overcomes hard times
Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton High School senior, Wyatt Whiteaker, received the $3,000 Denton and Thressa Jepson Scholarship. Tim Beaton attended the DGF Awards Day in May to present Whiteaker with the scholarship.
Shares Message at
Whiteaker will attend NDSU this fall for computer science or chemistry. As a high school senior he has completed 27 college credits through Minnesota State Community and Technical College.
Annual Breakfast
Whiteaker grew up in an unstable financial situation. In his essay, he talked about weekends he went without food and how both his parents passed away in a two-year span. He is dedicated to education and was a stand-out wrestler. At the Awards Day ceremony, Whiteaker received a standing ovation from his classmates, teachers and scholarship presenters.
“We are honored to recognize Whiteaker’s perseverance and academic excellence. We wish him, and all of this year’s scholarship recipients, the best as they further their education,” Beaton said.
Foundation Welcomes New Board Members The FM Area Foundation welcomes Lisa Vatnsdal and Susan E. Johnson-Drenth to its Board of Directors. Vatnsdal is the Community Development Manager in the Planning and Neighborhood Services Department for the City of Moorhead. She manages programs and services related to housing finance and code enforcement, communications and marketing, and federal and state grant administration. Vatnsdal has worked for the City of Moorhead for 24 years.
Tom Schaffer Retires Tom Schaffer is retiring from the Board of Directors after nine years of service. He was appointed to the Board May 2005. He served as Vice-Chair and was a member of the Executive Committee, Scholarship Committee, Grant Selection Committee, Investment Committee, Budget Committee and Governance Task Force. Schaffer said his parents inspired him to give back. “Our family has had a nice life here, and serving on this board allowed me to give back to this community.”
Lisa Vatnsdal
Johnson-Drenth is an attorney at law at JD Legal Planning in Fargo. She is a Fellow in the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, and is the State Chair for North Dakota. She also holds licensure as a registered nurse in North Dakota. Johnson-Drenth is the only Certified Elder Law Attorney in North Dakota and the Moorhead, Minn., region. Susan E. Johnson-Drenth
Women’s Fund
“We are honored to have Lisa and Susan join our Board of Directors. Their areas of expertise provide the Board and the Foundation with great insight,” said Tim Beaton, Executive Director.
He and his wife, Nancy, will be spending time at their lake cabin this summer and enjoying time with family. Schaffer was an active Board member dedicated to inspiring others in the community to make a difference. We thank Tom for his distinguished years of service.
2 NEW FUNDS
We are happy to announce two new donor advised funds were established at the FM Area Foundation in the second quarter: the Beverly (Gerhardson) and Lloyd W. Paulson Family Advised Fund and the National Automobile Dealers Charitable Fund.
O
n June 5 nearly 250 men and women came together for a breakfast conversation hosted by the FM Area Foundation’s Women’s Fund about women and leadership. The breakfast speakers encouraged attendees to rise up and support each other to make a change for women and leadership. The 2014 grant recipients were also announced at the breakfast. This year the Women’s Fund awarded six grants totaling more than $42,000 to organizations in our community that have programs or initiatives in place to help women and girls attain leadership roles in their careers and communities.
2014 Grant Recipients Include: • THE CHAMBER The Chamber created Women Connect: a 12 month women’s series that connects women of all career levels, strengthens their professional network, and engages them in building meaningful business connections. The objective of this program is to empower and unite women through business connections of all professional levels and backgrounds.
• INSPIRE INNOVATION LAB The grant will help Inspire Innovation Lab purchase software for the creation of “Breaking the Mold: a ‘tidbits’ magazine created by area teen girls.” The publication includes articles that allow girls to express their thoughts and opinions. Circulation will include middle and high schools in the metro area.
• JEREMIAH PROGRAM Funds will go to support the initial 16-week Jeremiah Program Personal Empowerment Training in Fargo-Moorhead. The training teaches and reinforces concepts of self-worth, responsibility, sociability, self-management, integrity and honesty. The training is the precursor to residence in a campus setting.
• TRI-COLLEGE UNIVERSITY Grant funds will help provide lodging, meals and materials for 10 women from Cass and Clay Counties to participate in the NEW Leadership Development Institute. The Institute mission is to encourage civic and political participation and to provide leadership training to women who do not have extensive leadership experience.
• UNITED WAY OF CASS CLAY The Women’s Fund helped create 35 Under 35 and is pleased to provide support for an addition to this successful program. Mentor Connect Pilot Program is an expansion of 35 Under 35 that connects young female leaders with respected business professionals.
• YWCA CASS CLAY The grant funds will fully support the creation of a new program—the Education and Employment - Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) Initiative. The Initiative is a partnership of the YWCA Cass Clay and NDSCS that provides training for women in nontraditional areas of employment, in fields where employees are needed. The program will help eliminate two primary barriers— childcare and transportation. To donate to the Women’s Fund, visit areafoundation.org and click “Give Online.”