What are you passionate about?

How do you want to improve life in the Winona area? And could you use funding to support this effort or passion?

The Winona Community Foundation has matching grant dollars to start a new Field of Interest Fund. What’s your interest? Nature? Animals? Children?

During our Founders Event on October 6th, 2020, we celebrated JC Pfieffer as the 2020 recipient of its Founders Award. During this event, we thanked him for planting seeds and improving life in the Winona area. Now he wants to help YOU plant a seed by offering a Field of Interest Fund Challenge. The Founders Award recipient is given money from an endowment to give to a charity of his/her choice. JC chose to direct his $6,000 grant as an incentive for others to start a new Field of Interest Fund at the Winona Community Foundation.

What are FIELD OF INTEREST Funds?

Make a Donation

Grow the Balance

Support Charities

These funds are broad in purpose and allow donors to target their giving to reflect a passion for a particular cause or area of interest. Examples include but are not limited to education or the environment. The Board of Directors of the Winona Community Foundation is responsible for making grants to charities that align with the field of interest. You may choose this type of fund to focus your giving and to encourage others to give to your field of interest.

There are three matching grants worth $2,500 each ready for YOU to inspire your generosity in your interests.

Examples of Field of Interest Funds at the Foundation

Established to support environmental, land, plant, and animal/bird conservation issues. Grants are given for sustainable agriculture, maintaining and improving pedestrian access to public land, related education and for acquiring property or permanent easements for public benefit.

    • Monies have been awarded to the Sugarloaf Access trail, the Flyway Trail project and Camp Wenonah for new signage for community members to enjoy.

Established as a bequest in Donna’s will with directives to promote literacy of youth in Winona.

    • The first grant was given in 2020 to the Friends of the Public Library to start the Dolly Parton Imagination Library project.

This fund supported projects focused on educational needs in the Winona area. The monies were granted out through a competitive grant process and the entire balance was used for 3-year projects.

    • One grant was awarded to Washington-Kosciusko Elementary School as a three-year grant to pilot a program that would ensure all kindergartners are at reading level by the end of the school year.
    • The other grant awarded was to Ready Set School which ensures all Winona County children grades K-12 having necessary school supplies and clothing for school.

Provides individuals in need with funds for dental care.

    • Program partners vet the needs and receive reimbursement based on criteria established for the fund.

Provides individuals in need with assistance in emergency situations including loss of job, home or unexpected bills.

    • Program partners work with individuals and request reimbursement from the Foundation for any help given.