An important part of the Winona Community Foundation’s mission is realized through awarding community grants to meet the ever-changing needs of the community. Since the program’s inception, it has become an essential asset for local Winona area nonprofits.

By the September 1st deadline, the Foundation received 32 applications requesting more than $218,000 in funding. The Foundation’s grant committee was challenged to select grantees, as many applicants served the diverse needs and opportunities in our community.

This cycle, the Winona Community Foundation’s Board of Directors awarded $64,241 to 10 local nonprofits from the Community Grant Program. The following organizations received funding:

Dakota Visions grant to partner with the Winona County Historical Society to support a Dakota curator in organizing an exhibition and curating three public programs which would provide opportunity for Winonans to learn about Dakota history and culture.

Click here to more about the Art of the Rural.

FCC Playground and Skills Improvement grant to repair the playground equipment for safety purposes. The playground is vital to numerous programs Family & Children’s Center offers.

Click here to more about Family & Children’s Center.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library non-profit, partnering with the Friends of the Winona Public Library, to continue sending a free book every month to children age birth to five.

Click here to more about Friends of the Winona Public Library.

Grant to support 3 initiatives:
1) Promote wellness of mentors, mentees, and their families
2) Recruit, train, and support additional community members for their program
3) Provide educational and celebratory events for mentors, mentees, and their families

Click here to more about Miller Mentoring.

Early Learning Program grant to continue to provide early education to children of refugee and immigrant families, providing activities that support cognitive learning, social learning, and mental health.

$5,000 of this grant comes from the Donna Helble Literacy Fund of the Winona Community Foundation.

Click here to more about Project FINE.

Semcac Clinic grant to continue to offer affordable family planning services to the Winona area, including outreach and education to teens, college students, and disadvantaged groups.

Click here to more about Semcac.

Kid’s Trinona grant to bring back Trinona’s kids triathlon after the acquisition of Trinona by Storm Sporting events in 2023.  This grant would help purchase equipment (bike racks, canopies, and inflatable arch) used for the race.

Click here to more about Storm Sporting Events.

Hope for Homes grant to distribute funds to low-to-moderate income individuals or to housing providers, to improve tenants’ ability to live and stay in their homes.

Click here to more about Winona County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.

LiveStrong for Cancer Patients and Survivors grant to continue partnering with LiveStrong® to offer 12-week classes (cardio, strength training, balance, and mental health topics) free of charge to current and past cancer patients.

Click here to more about Winona Family YMCA.

Refrigeration grant request to provide a walk-in cooler and freezer for the food shelf, which serves in-need members of the community free of charge.

Click here to more about Winona Volunteer Services.

Funding from Other Foundation Funds

Donna Helble Literacy Fund

As part of her will, Donna Helble made a specific gift to the Winona Community Foundation with the direction to establish a special interest fund for promoting literacy of youth in Winona. Donna is no longer with us, but her passion for education and literacy live on through her generous gift. The Foundation carries her torch forward, continuing to promote children’s literacy in Winona by awarding grants through this fund.

Early Learning Program grant to continue to provide early education to children of refugee and immigrant families, providing activities that support cognitive learning, social learning, and mental health.

Click here to learn more about Project FINE.

Creating a Sustainable Future for our Community

At its heart, the Foundation exists to serve as a permanent source of charitable dollars for the benefit of all who live, work, and play in this wonderful place we call home. These dollars come from people like you, who have a giving heart and a love for our community.

By contributing to the Foundation’s community endowment, you are helping to build our community. The larger our community endowment gets, the greater impact we can have on our local nonprofits.

Funds to support the Community Grant program are made possible in part through estate gifts made by Ramona L. Jezewski English and Wilmer & Beverly Larson. Community grants are also supported by individual donors and a percentage of Board designated funds including: the Thomas H. Laken Fund, the Sue & Jack Cornwell Fund, and the General Trust fund of the Winona Community Foundation.

For more information, visit our Grants page or contact our team directly at (507) 454 – 6511 or wcf@winonacf.org.