Community Grants in 2010

 2010 grants required a $1 to $1 match from recipients.   There will be 4th quarter grants available with the ability to accept request for capital development. Please take time to review the grant guidelines.   Contact Jeni Arnold at 454-6511 for more information and before you submit an application. 

1st Quarter Grants

Camp Winnebago provides a camp to promote self-worth, independence, and quality of life to people with development disabilities.  The grant from the foundation supported training for non violent crises intervention. $1060

Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center received funding for the rapid access program supporting children and adolescent in emergency psychiatric assessment needs also providing consultation service and support.  $5000

Semcac has a program that makes transportation available to and from medical appointment receiving chemotherapy or dialysis. $5000

Peoples Choice Awards were presented at Foundation Night

Winona Volunteer Services received funding to support an education and coupon program introducing fresh fruits and vegetables to clients while supporting local farmers. $5000

Home & Community Options needed to provide additional training for staff as the growing population of their clients is become more medically fragile. $4000

Big Brothers Big Sisters request was to add and support 15 additional matches through a community site based mentoring program. $2000

The Feast -Central Lutheran Church hosts a free weekly meal to over 200 community members. Their funds supported the purchase of a 20-quart mixer for making bread and other food preparation as the need for meals increases. $1000

December Review 2009

Second Chance Jail Ministries: Providing housing for those who have no place to go after leaving Jail. This programs mission is to support a healthy lifestyle, assist with finding and maintaining employment, and encourage continuing working towards a higher education. $5000

Theatre du Mississippi and the Frozen River Film Festival: This year’s theme featuring food will bring over 45 films highlighting cultural, environmental and social issues not often discussed in mainstream media.$5000

Rock Solid Youth Center: Was in need of purchasing a smokerlyzer to support a program that will encourage preteen and teens to quit smoking promoting a healthier lifestyle.$1800

Catholic Charities: Expressed a need for the use of the Medication Application Service.  This program aids in successfully applying for free medications from pharmaceutical companies which clearly was explained as a daunting task. $5000

April Review

Able Foundation, Inc is to receive $2,000 for the treatment demonstration tables and chairs for new centralized facility to provide effective and efficient training to staff and residents. Request $5,000.

Nordic Ski Club/St Mary’s University/City of Winona Cooperative Trail Project is to receive $2,000. This project is to provide man make snow on publicly funded and used cross country ski trails. Assuring consistently good conditions, extending ski season and improves healthy outdoor recreational opportunities in our community. Request $2,000.

Project Get Outdoors will receive $5,000 to expand program efforts in the Winona community. Project GO links children to nature exploration and outdoor recreational opportunities in their local communities. Request $5,000.

Great River Shakespeare Festival will receive $2,000 for an education and outreach project with the goal of creating audiences for the future by enriching the play-going experience and making the work of the Fest accessible and affordable. Project targets students, teachers and underserved populations for whom live theatre is new. Request $4,000.

Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center will receive $1,187 for the purchase of network camera with audio for use in the outpatient therapy department to assist in training and counseling. There by enhancing treatment by use of taped therapy practice and/or sessions. Request $1,187.

June Review

Camp Invention - $1,000 Camp Invention partners with schools to provide a one-week STEM enrichment program for elementary students that focuses on developing critical thinking skill, creativity, teamwork and a passion for science. Five activity-oriented modules integrating science, math, arts and history are used.

Project FINE-Diversity Youth Quest - $5,000 This is a great program in Winona County designed specifically to assist its newest and youngest community members of the immigrant community become well equipped to succeed alongside their American peers mentally, socially and academically as they learn to embrace the American culture, and mature into responsible adults who will contribute positively to their community.

Winona ORC -$5,000– Requests aide to alleviate transportation related costs. Funds will be allocated directly to the purchase of a new 2009 passenger bus awarded through the MN Dept. of Transportation Bus Grant Program. ORC is responsible for 20% of cost.

September Grants

DAC - $5000. For the purchase of a furnace unit to replace one that became inoperable in April 2009.  Estimated replacement cost is $10,700.  This unit supplies heat to the main work area that 20 to 25 complete their work.  State Human Services budget to the Winona County DAC received a 2.58% cut. The total amount of funding that they will lose in 2009 will reach close to $85,000.

Performance Center - $3000 The Page Series Educational Programming includes: a school residency that provides hands on learning in a grade school, a master class by a tap dance troupe, another master class by a vocal ensemble for intermediate and advanced students, a cultural heritage presentation in the community, four schools only matinee performances by visiting artist ensembles, as well as two schools only performances by pre-professional saint Mary’s groups

Fall 2008 Community General Fund Grants Awarded - Matching Awards

The Winona Community Foundation awarded $18,000 for community collaborations in it's 2008 fall cycle grant program.   These grants required a $1 to $1 match from recipients. 

Big Brothers/Big Sisters

$5,000 - to provide school-based mentoring in partnership with Key Kids at Central School utilizing WSU students as mentors. Also provides time & ongoing management support for each match, training of new volunteers and program materials for this expansion.

Project FINE

$5,000 - for the Diversity Youth Quest expansion. Program promotes assistance with meeting many of the same challenges of typical teenagers (drugs, sex, alcohol, depression) as well as the unique challenge of facing these without the wisdom and support of parents familiar with the American culture. Monthly presentation on basic topics: mental health, physical health, cultural integration & identity, social skills and academic success.

Winona County ORC

$4,500 - for specific skills training to help clients obtain and stay in permanent employment. Increase knowledge and skills in janitorial field that would enable ORC to place individuals in more complex direct hire positions. Collaboration with Southeast Tech. to develop the training program and obtain instructor.

Rock Solid Youth Center

$3,000 - for c oordination of adventure days, service projects, and exposure trips for youth using facility. Hosting outdoor weekly summer adventure nights, monthly service projects and coordinating out of area trips 2x a semester that include elements of public service and recreation. Give youth who are economically disadvantaged an opportunity to experience recreational & educational activities similar to those of their peers.

Student International Reading Association of WSU

$500 - f or books included with holiday gift-giving celebration for families of under served socio-economic, ethnic and linguistic populations. Have reading circles, dinner and Perform "How the Grinch Stole Christmas".

Spring 2008 Community General Fund Grants Awarded

The Winona Community Foundation awarded $25,000 for community collaborations and flood recovery assistance for its spring 2008 grant program.

Sustain Winona-City of Winona
$7,500 - for development of a comprehensive boulevard reforestation plan which encompasses environmental improvements to make the area more appealing to support and enhance other community ties and civic goals

Winona County Historical Society
$6,900 – in support of repairs needed due to flood damage sustained to the Arches Museum parking lot

U of M Extension in Winona
$2,500 – for a photo exhibit entitled "Faces of Farmers" which is an outreach project connecting food buyers and the farming community

Garvin Brook Disaster Relief Fund
$2,500 – to support a community event marking the anniversary of the August 2007  floods for residents of Stockton, Minnesota City, Rollingstone and Hillsdale areas

Pickwick Mill Inc.
$2,600 – for assistance in the replacement of the roof of this historical building

Theatre du Mississippi

$3,000 - for a community concert on the river in conjunction with the opening of the Great River Shakespeare Festival

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Fall 2007 General Fund Grants Awarded

The Winona Community Foundation awarded $35,000 to projects lead by local nonprofit's organizations for its fall 2007 grant cycle.

• Project FINE
  $7,500 -for the Diversity Youth Quest, a program designed to help immigrant adolescent children deal with social and cultural challenges
• Home & Community Options
  $7,500 – for remote monitoring and video conferencing system, integrated into an automatic call software program to reduce staff monitoring and increase independent living options
• Winona MN Early Childhood Initiative
  $7,000 – for expansion of a pilot project providing toolkit backpacks for school readiness success

• Winona Symphony Orchestra
  $1,500 – for support of operations for the sesquicentennial year
• Madison PTA
  $1,000 – for development of an accessible, educational outdoor learning center representing the diversity of Minnesota's natural resources for use by the school and the community
• Project GO, Park & Trails council of MN
  $6,000 –for implementation of after school programs in regional schools that would allow children to connect with adult mentors and explore, play and reflect in nature near their community
• Elder network
  $2,000 –to provide the Chore Service program to area seniors
• WSHS Baseball Program
  $2,500 – for renovation of baseball field's pitchers mound and dirt infield as well as fixing outfield settling

Spring 2007 General Fund Grants Awarded

The Winona Community Foundation awarded $29,375 to projects lead by local nonprofit's organizations for its spring 2007 grant cycle.

• Winona Volunteer Services
  $5,000 - to coordinate cooking demonstrations, taste samplings and life skills training to clients utilizing the food shelf. Includes hosting frequent nutritional and educational workshops.
• Ridgeway Community School
  $5,000 – for a mobile laptop lab for school and community use
• Polish Cultural Institute
  $6,000 – to produce a photo mural project
• Great River Shakespeare Festival
  $3,875 – for community programs using the actors for outreach initiatives
• Pickwick Mill Inc.
  $9,500 – for the tuck-pointing project that helps with the historical preservation of Mill

This competitive process for grants to community projects comes from the Foundation’s General Fund.   Events like the Celebrity Night fundraiser help us continue to grow our assets so we can increase our investment capability, which results in greater returns to give back to the community on a continuous basis over the long-term.  Other awards from these assets are allocated through modest Winona Fund grants responding to current needs that may not fit within the competitive program timeline, Youth in Philanthropy grants awarded through yet another unique competitive process which involves youth review of applications, and finally, the Founders Fund award which involves a nomination process that selects an individual who has touched our community for all time with the accompanying grant award going to the local charity of the recipient’s

Beyond its community granting program from its unrestricted General Fund, the Foundation also works closely with donors to the over 70 restricted advised funds to facilitate gifts to groups as well.   Donors to advised funds can make recommendations to the Foundation’s board to support various nonprofit's and the Foundation’s role is to administer and facilitate these gifts.

Foundation looks towards the future and evaluating ways to continue to effectively allocate assets and remain relevant to the ever changing needs of the community. Call the Foundation office at 507-454-6511 with questions, feedback or for further information need when applying for a grant.