Willmar Area Community Foundation

💡 What’s Your Legacy? Let’s Build It Together! 💡 Imagine having a simple, flexible, and powerful way to give back to the causes you care about most – now and for generations to come. That’s the power of a Donor Advised Fund with Willmar Area Community Foundation! Here’s why donors LOVE it: ✔️ Flexibility: You recommend grants to the charities that matter to you, at your pace. ✔️ Tax Benefits: Maximize your charitable giving while minimizing your tax burden. ✔️ Local Impact: Your support stays in our community, helping causes that align with your values. ✔️ Legacy Building: Create a fund in your name or honor someone you love. Giving is more than a transaction—it’s an investment in your vision for the future. Let’s make your giving easier, more meaningful, and impactful. Learn more about Donor Advised Funds at https://lnkd.in/gVgb8MVM or message us to start the conversation!

This year, let’s come together to make a difference right here at home! 💙 Giving Tuesday, happening on December 3, is your chance to support the causes that strengthen our community. When you give locally, your generosity: 💙 Fuels programs that uplift neighbors in need. 💙 Supports scholarships, arts, and education. 💙 Builds a stronger, more vibrant community for everyone. Every dollar you give stays here, helping to create lasting change for the people and places you love. Ready to make an impact? Join us by giving to https://lnkd.in/gSyajGf ! Together, we can transform hope into action. Share this post to spread the word and inspire others to give back! #GivingTuesday #CommunityGiving #PowerOfGiving

Scholarships are now open today, December 1st! We believe that everyone deserves a fair chance to take advantage of the education available to them. That’s why we encourage you to apply for scholarships whenever the opportunity arises. These scholarships are available to both high school and college students, so don’t miss out! For more information and to apply online, visit https://lnkd.in/eV_9VnkH. Take the next step toward achieving your educational goals!

August is Make-A-Will Month.   It’s time to think about your legacy. If you haven’t updated your will in years—or don’t have one at all—now is the moment to act.    Did you know we have a free estate planning guide you can use to start the process? This guide provides guidance on the first step of the will planning process which is gathering all the information. Visit https://lnkd.in/gnrPgU7T to learn more and download this free guide.    A well-crafted will not only provides you with peace of mind but also helps you create a lasting legacy that supports the causes and values you care about. Don’t wait any longer—start the process of reviewing or drafting your will today and make a meaningful impact for the future.   #PowerOfGiving #Philanthropy #MakeAWillMonth

Thank you to University of Minnesota Extension for hosting this panel and asking us to be a part of it! Together, we are building a stronger, more connected community. #powerofgiving #philanthropy #connectedcommunity

We are pleased to welcome Becky Bunn as our new WACF Administrative Coordinator! Becky is a mom of 2 adult children and has lives in the Pennock area. She brings over 20 years of experience in office management, customer service, and a desire to make her community better thru her role at WACF. We are thrilled to have her on our team and look forward to having you all meet her too! Becky looks forward to working with the Foundations, CommunityGiving and all of the Willmar community! Welcome, Becky! #powerofgiving #philanthropy #WACF

MAIL CALL! We loved reading these hand written thank you notes from second graders at the Kennedy Elementary in Willmar following their field trip to Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center. This opportunity was made possible via a grant from WACF and generous donors like all of you! The teachers wrote, “One opportunity that students had was to do rock climbing. So many students were nervous and then so proud of themselves for overcoming their fears. Our students also learned about trees and the importance of caring for our environment. They also learned about pioneer life and practiced doing chores. It was an experience our students will carry with them.” #ThePowerofGiving #communityimpact #philanthropy

Project Turnabout's "Understanding Trauma" training event took place last night at our Willmar campus to educate the community on basic trauma-informed care. Everyone enjoyed great grilled food and connecting around an important topic for our entire community! This event was made possible through grant funding from the Willmar Area Women's Fund of the Willmar Area Community Foundation and organized through Willmar Community Education. Thank You to all who attended and made this evening a great success!

We are thrilled to share with you the highlights from our Annual Report with CommunityGiving! This report showcases the incredible impact that our generous donors and dedicated volunteers have made in our community. Thanks to your support, we have been able to make a real difference in the lives of those in need. From providing essential resources to supporting local initiatives, together we have created positive change and built a stronger, more vibrant community. Our donors have been the driving force behind our success. Your contributions have allowed us to fund crucial programs and services that address pressing issues and improve the quality of life for many. Your generosity knows no bounds, and we are truly grateful for your unwavering support. If you'd like to learn more about the impact of your support, we encourage you to check out our annual report online at https://lnkd.in/erARE29t or we can send you a paper copy, let us know!

WACF partners with Celebrate the Light of the World to grant out the funds raised each year to the beneficiary non-profits. Jon Schmidt recently presented WACF with a check for $62,570.13. Donations collected from November 23 to December 31, 2023, at the free, drive-through light display will help support four non-profit organizations in the Willmar Lakes Area: Kandiyohi County Food Shelf, Habitat for Humanity of West Central Minnesota, The Salvation Army of Willmar, MN, and United Way of West Central Minnesota. Thanks to all of the sponsors, donors, community volunteers, and the Willmar Fests committee for organizing and creating the light display.