$71,972 awarded to local Winona non-profits

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 current community needs in the Winona area. Since the program’s inception, it has become an essential asset for local Winona area nonprofits.

By the September 1st deadline, the Foundation received 18 applications requesting more than $117,000 in funding. The Foundation’s grant committee is always challenged to select grantees, as available grant dollars are limited and many applicants served the diverse needs and opportunities in our community.

This cycle, the Winona Community Foundation’s Board of Directors awarded $71,972.31 to 12 local nonprofits. The following organizations received funding from the Foundation’s Community Impact Fund:

To purchase exercise equipment for the Friendship Center’s Active Wellness Center which serves adults 55+

Click here to learn more about the City of Winona’s Active Wellness Center

To purchase a climbing wall for their indoor gym/play area to expand activities throughout the year and especially during the winter months

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

To support the production of their 20th anniversary film festival programming and production of a documentary of the 20-year history of FRFF

Click here to learn more about Frozen River Film Festival

To offer educational workshops to first-time home buyers, led by community experts

Click here to learn more about Habitat for Humanity serving Winona County

To purchase a sound-proof privacy pod for employees to continue to facilitate confidential conversations with clients

Click here to learn more about Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center

To fund “The Art of Living: Riding the Wave” off-site workshops focused on art and mental health at Hiawatha Bluffs Living

Click here to learn more about Minnesota Marine Art Museum

To support year-round programming for area Black and Brown youth and allies culminating in their 5th annual Juneteenth celebration. Our Voices is fiscally sponsored by Theatre du Mississippi.

Click here to learn more about Our Voices

To help provide education and connection to local resources to refugees and immigrants in Winona County who are interested in starting or growing a microbusiness

Click here to learn more about Project FINE

To fund their “Place Matters” cohort initiative focused on strategies to end racism in Winona

Click here to learn more about ROAR

To fund the translation of their “How to Start a Business” guide into Spanish and Hmong, using Project FINE to complete the work

Click here to learn more about the Winona Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation

To purchase five new rolling art tables, which reduces turnover time to increase space utilization and programming. Can also be shared with Winona non-profits who incorporate art in their programming.

Click here to learn more about the Winona Arts Center

To purchase recording equipment for use in collecting local stories as part of its Oral History Project and its exhibit overhaul

Click here to learn more about the Winona County Historical Society

Creating a Sustainable Future for our Community

These dollars come from people like you, who have a giving heart and a love for our community. By giving a gift to the Foundation, 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, and sponsors of our annual Charity Golf Outing. 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.