Making an Impact

Left to right: Richmond McCleur, Takka the dog, and Mandi Olson. It was a great day for animals in Winona as the Winona Community Foundation presented a $5,000 check to Richmond McCluer, board member of the Winona Area Humane Society (WAHS), from the Ramona Jezewski English Endowment Fund. This endowment fund was established in 2019 to give yearly to the Winona Area Humane Society in Ramona Jezewski’s name. So far, a total of $30,000 has [...]

Education and children’s literature were Donna Helble’s passions. In 1973, Helble moved to Winona to take a position at Goodview elementary where she taught grades one through four in the Program for Learning in Accordance with Needs. In 1988, she began her career at Winona State University as a professor of education. She chaired the popular community-wide “Reading in the Mall” event for 25 years that promoted children’s literacy in Winona and the [...]

Winona Community Foundation Awards $63,381 to Local Nonprofits Left to right: Mandi Olson (WCF President/CEO), Rebecca Wolfe (Home & Community Options), Ann Gibson (WCF Grant Committee), Judy Davis (WCF Grant Committee), Janet Heukeshoven (Winona Symphony Orchestra), Emily Tipton (Friends of the Winona Public Library), Marcia Ratliff (Engage Winona), Dan Hall (Winona Symphony Orchestra), Mark Peterson (WCF Grant Committee), Jen Tepovich (Ampact/ServeMinnesota), Chris Allen (Winona County Dive/Rescue Team), Janneke Sobeck (Winona Family YMCA), [...]

A Generous Gift to Grow the Connect People to Nature Fund The Connect People to Nature Endowment Fund supports local programs, equipment, and activities designed to get people of all ages outdoors and connected with their natural surroundings. Started in 2009 by JC and Arelene Pfieffer, the Connect People to Nature Endowment Fund started with just a few thousand dollars and was designed to grow over time by way of both investment earnings [...]

Help our local charities make a difference in the Winona area. By participating in this golf outing, you are directly supporting the competitive Community Grant program that benefits local non-profits. Register Online 5th Annual Charity Golf Outing Friday, June 27 12:30 Shotgun The Bridges Golf Course in Winona

The Winona Community Foundation’s Competitive Grant Program plays a vital role in addressing the ever-evolving needs of the Winona area. Through this program, the Foundation awards grants to local nonprofits, supporting a broad range of causes and helping to strengthen our community. Since its inception, the program has become a key source of grant funding for area organizations, and for the 2025 granting year, it is receiving a significant $19,000 boost thanks [...]

For many years, the Winona Community Foundation has helped local charitable projects or groups get off the ground by providing fiscal and administrative infrastructure they need to operate through the use of a fiscal sponsorship agreement. A fiscal sponsorship agreement works for start-up nonprofit organizations, seasonal nonprofit organizations, and short-term projects or initiatives. Fiscal sponsorship allows an organization or project to utilize the benefits of the Winona Community Foundation's nonprofit status while raising funds [...]

The mission of Storm Sporting Events is to promote health and wellness while raising awareness of youth and mental health. In 2023, Storm Sporting Events received a $5,000 Cycle 2 community grant from the Winona Community Foundation. As a direct result of this funding, the organization was able to hold the kid's triathlon in Winona. Earlier that year, Storm Sporting Events took on the legacy of the Trinona triathlon after its previous owners made [...]

Empowering Youth: Presenting the 2024 Founders Award On October 8, 2024, the Winona Community Foundation awarded the members of the BK5K Road Race Planning Committee with the Founders Award. The award honors an individual or group in our community who has demonstrated and extraordinary commitment to improving life in Winona through the use of their time, talent, and treasure. 2024 marks the 20th year the award has been given to a member [...]

Winona Community Foundation Awards $71,972 to Local Nonprofits An important part of the Winona Community Foundation’s mission is realized though awarding community grants to meet the ever-changing needs of the community through a competitive process. By doing so, a variety of interests are supported with the goal of helping local charities make a difference in the Winona area. Our community grants for nonprofits are broad and inclusive to meet the [...]

It is an honor for the Winona Community Foundation to award the members of the BK5k Road Race Planning Committee with the 2024 Founders Award. Each year, the award honors an individual or group in our community who has demonstrated and extraordinary commitment to improving life in Winona through the use of their time, talent, and treasure. 2024 marks the 20th year the award has been given to a member of our community. [...]

In 2012, the Winona Community Foundation was informed that they were named a beneficiary of the Wilmer L. Larson and Beverly A. Larson last will and testament and a generous gift arrived shortly after worth $245,000. The Board of Directors was given discretion to use it for the benefit of the Winona area. At the time, the Foundation was coming out of losses and changes from the 2008 recession. During that uncertain time in [...]