A monthly newsletter for Community Foundation friends, donors, and fund holders. | |
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Hello from the Community Foundation!
We have exciting news! We have expanded our team, hiring Emberly Lietz as our new Development Director. Emberly will promote the Community Foundation's charitable giving opportunities and connect our fund holders to philanthropy throughout the region. To meet Emberly, email [email protected], call 701-213-4545, or stop by our office.
Speaking of philanthropic opportunities, the summer months are a great time to regroup with your family about your charitable giving plans and also ensure that you’re coordinating with your advisors to accomplish key estate and financial planning priorities before the year-end rush is upon us.
In this issue of Giving Matters, you'll find a selection of highlights and educational materials:
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Jared Vigen reflects on how his involvement on the Board of the Community Foundation allows him to give back in a meaningful way today, while ensuring a lasting legacy of compassion and empowerment for the future.
- The Grand Forks Children's Museum shares about recent impacts and events, opportunities for you to get involved, and the status of their building campaign. The plan is to break ground in 2025!
- Looking for funding or development training? Check out our current opportunities!
- Whether you’ve been involved in philanthropy for many years or you're just starting out on your charitable giving journey, you’ve likely noticed that there are many, many ways to support the causes you love. The Community Foundation can help you evaluate various giving vehicles based on your own “charitable giving personality type.”
As always, please reach out with any questions or ideas you might have. Our team is here to help you make a difference in our region, supporting local nonprofits that are working every day to improve the quality of life for so many people.
Thank you for the opportunity to work together!
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Becca Baumbach
Executive Director
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We are thrilled that Emberly Lietz has joined our team as Development Director!
Emberly is a proud graduate of the University of North Dakota and a dedicated advocate for humanity, community, and business. She has a diverse background in volunteerism and extensive experience in member and donor relations, fundraising, and event planning.
Emberly has served as executive director of the Grafton Area Chamber of Commerce, membership director at The Chamber - Grand Forks/East Grand Forks, and director of development at CVIC. Through her new role as Development Director at the Community Foundation, Emberly remains committed to driving impactful initiatives and fostering positive change in her community.
In addition, Emberly owns and operates The Lake House Retreat in Erskine, MN, and is embracing a new phase of life as a “downtowner” in Grand Forks and an empty nester of four incredible adult children.
You can reach Emberly at [email protected] or 701-213-4545.
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Learn about a volunteer member of the Community Foundation's Board of Directors. | |
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 Jared Vigen |
I serve on the Board of the Community Foundation because of my deep-rooted commitment to the well-being and growth of our community. Having been born and raised in Grand Forks and having attended the University of North Dakota, I have a profound connection to this region and its people. Serving on the Board allows me to give back in a meaningful way.
One of the aspects I truly value about the Community Foundation is its role in fostering philanthropy and connecting donors with impactful causes. Through managing charitable funds and providing grants to local nonprofits, the Foundation addresses a wide range of needs across Grand Forks and the surrounding area. As a child, I participated in the Summer Performing Arts (SPA) program and sang with the Grand Cities Children’s Choir. It is rewarding to see the Community Foundation continue to support these programs, nurturing young talents and enriching our community.
Being on the Board aligns with my values of service and community involvement. I appreciate working with a dedicated team of board members, donors, community leaders, and volunteers who are all passionate about creating positive change. Together, we ensure that resources are used effectively and transparently to maximize our impact.
Ultimately, my involvement with the Community Foundation is driven by a desire to leave a lasting legacy of compassion and empowerment. By serving on the Board, I am honored to play a role in shaping a brighter future for our community, where everyone can thrive and prosper.
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MAKING AN IMPACT: GRAND FORKS CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | |
Highlights from a recent grantee of the Community Foundation. | |
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The Grand Forks Children’s Museum is excited about our growth over the last couple of years. Our mission is to Engage Minds Through Play. The team of board members, volunteers and staff members have been working on programming, fundraising, building and exhibit designs and so much more.
As we continue with our capital campaign, we have also formed partnerships and began programming at various events throughout the community. ArtWise has been so gracious to partner with us for a few activities, such as Take a Break in March and their annual ArtWise show in April. We joined the Hands-On Learning Fair in April, the Grand Forks Public Library for the Summer Reading Program and ArtFest in June. We have also been at two sites with the Summer Lunch Program through St. Joseph’s Social Care each week.
Our giant Blue Blocks are well known throughout the area. All ages enjoy creating and building with these whenever they find them at an event. We try to bring these loved blocks to every event!
Our programming activities vary as our creative programming expert produces innovative ideas to engage participants. Our goal is to get the community excited about the future of the Children’s Museum and get as many people involved as possible through volunteering, partnerships, and financial support. Some of the activities have included color mixing in numerous ways, paper making, monster creations, and other art projects. The last two years, we have had a pop-up museum in October at the Grand Forks Curling Club. This is scheduled for this coming October, as well. During this exciting event, we have exhibits that are engaging in many ways. Last year, we had a cardboard maze, a musical area, sewing machines and more! We are in the planning stages for this year’s event and excited to make it even better than before!
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We are grateful to all the organizations and people that have supported us so far and continue to look for new partnerships and support throughout the region. This project would not be possible without support from so many such as the Community Foundation. The pledges, grants, in-kind donations, and commitments of many people have immensely impacted the stages and growth of the Grand Forks Children’s Museum project.
We are in the concept phase for our exhibits and near the end of schematic design for the building. We are just over halfway to our fundraising goal. Our goal is to break ground in the spring of 2025 and open the doors to the museum in 2027.
Thank you to everyone that supports the Grand Forks Children’s Museum project. We are looking for more people to come on board to help make this dream a reality in our community. Please contact us if you are interested in becoming a changemaker for our community and want to get involved.
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Are you ready to enhance your leadership skills, connect with inspiring women, and lead the way to lasting change in your community? Now is the time to plant those seeds!
Applications are now open for the Women's Fund Leadership Academy through July 29th. This year's theme is "Ready, Set, Grow," and we're thrilled to embark on this journey of growth and empowerment with you.
The Academy, held annually each fall, selects a cohort of applicants (age 18 and older) residing within Grand Forks, Walsh, or Polk County to take part in 24 to 38 hours of free, in-depth leadership training geared toward personal and professional development. Examples of sessions include the Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment, personal brand development, meaningful mentorship, and financial readiness.
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Stay up-to-date on benefits, opportunities, and changes that may impact your charitable giving. | |
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 | | Charitable giving traditions are a big part of many peoples’ lives. The ways philanthropic values translate into action and behavior, however, vary widely from person to person. And that’s a good thing! |
|  | | It’s an election year, which means you may have more questions than answers as you work with your advisors to build out your financial and estate plans. In particular, the looming sunset of key provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 has created a tremendous amount of ambiguity. |
|  | | Every week, the team at the Community Foundation works with a wide range of charitably-minded individuals and families who are either already working with the Community Foundation or are considering establishing a donor-advised or other type of fund to organize their giving. | |
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CURRENT & UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES | |
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GRANT PROGRAMS
- The Brockman Feldman Family Fund seeks to increase the reach and accessibility of academic extracurricular activities in Grand Forks, Walsh, and Polk Counties. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
- The mission of the Women’s Fund Grant Program is to provide ideas, energy, and resources so that girls and women are empowered to achieve economic, social, and political equity. The program seeks applications from eligible entities for programming support grants. Preference may be given to new projects or programs and/or new grant applicants. Grants are typically awarded in the $5,000 range. Applications close August 14.
- The Community Opportunity Grant Program provides $5,000 programming grants to improve the quality of life in our region in the areas of community and human services, environmental sustainability, and human rights. Preference may be given to new projects or programs and/or new grant applicants. Applications close August 14.
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OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
- The Women’s Fund Leadership Academy works to invest in and empower women leaders within the Greater Grand Forks region. The Academy, held annually each fall, selects a cohort of applicants residing within Grand Forks, Walsh, or Polk County to take part in 30 hours of free, in-depth leadership training, geared toward personal and professional development. Examples of sessions include the CliftonStrengths assessment, personal brand development, meaningful mentorship, and financial readiness. Applications close July 29.
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COMMUNITY FOUNDATION HOURS
Our office is open Monday through Thursday from 10am to 4pm. Meetings are by appointment. We keep remote hours on Fridays from 10am to 4pm and are available by phone and email.
This newsletter as well as any referenced materials are provided for informational purposes only. They are not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice.
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