Winona Community Foundation History
In 1985 Mark Kristiansen, then director of the United Way of Greater Winona, organized a task force to investigate the possibility of forming a community foundation in our area. Members of this task force forged ahead and on January 26, 1987, the Winona Community Foundation was a registered not-for-profit agency, receiving a Certificate of Incorporation from Joan Anderson, then Minnesota Secretary of State. A board of directors was established and the first donation of $2,000 was received, thus starting the allocation of grants in our community. Sue Cornwell stepped in as president of the Foundation and worked as president until 2003.
The Foundation continues to grow rapidly, serving more donors than ever before in the Winona community. For that, we thank our following founders:
Ken Sebo
Richard Blahnik
Sue Cornwell
Dr. James Daniel
Tom Graham
Pauline Knight
Mark Kristensen
Earl Laufenburger
Lee Luebbe
Gerry Neal
Patte Peterson
Richard Struck
Mary Testor
Winona Community Foundation Fast Facts
In 1987, the Winona Community Foundation, was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and received its first gift of $2,000 that same year.
The Winona Community Foundation has more than $14 million in assets under management in both Foundation controlled and donor advised funds.
In 2018, the Winona Community Foundation and its Fund Advisors awarded more than $1.56 million to charities throughout the Winona area and beyond.
The Winona Community Foundation meets and exceeds federal and state law requirements in practice and by policy as demonstrated by its National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® accreditation and its Platinum rating by GuideStar.
Some of the many grants and gifts that have come through the Winona Community Foundation over the years, from both general funds and restricted donor funds include:
Habitat for Humanity and the Winona/Rochester ReStore project
Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center on-site project at the middle school
Houston County Women’s Resources’ project “Unlocking Keys Through Art”
Project FINE’s U.S. Citizenship Program for area residents
Winona Dakota Unity Alliance’s Permanent History project
WSU’s Maxwell Children’s Center project
WSU’s Maxwell Library
Winona Health
High Wagon Bridge restoration project
Lake Winona bike path project
Big Brothers/Big Sisters
Home and Community Options
City of Winona parks projects
Morrie Miller Athletic projects
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
YMCA-Winona
American Red Cross-Winona
Minnesota Private Colleges Fund
Winona Area Hospice Services
Nature Conservatory