Southwest Initiative Foundation

Southwest Initiative Foundation is a nonprofit community foundation connecting people, investing in ideas and building communities to create a southwest Minnesota where all people thrive. We believe our communities are strongest when all people can fully participate in our region’s opportunities and feel like this is a place where they belong. Southwest Minnesota is home to a strong entrepreneurial spirit, safe communities, high-quality schools and early childhood supports, and high civic participation and volunteerism. While we are working from a position of strength, we know we have work to do in ensuring all southwest Minnesotans experience real inclusion, equity and access to opportunities.

In 2016, our Board of Directors made the strategic decision to sharpen our focus and combine our work in economic development, community impact, and philanthropy around a single purpose: our kids.

To reach the future we want for our region, we need to ensure all our kids and families are set up for success. We launched a comprehensive, 10-year strategy called Grow Our Own to align resources, build momentum, and close the opportunity gap for our kids by investing in the people and systems that surround them.

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