Luverne Area Community Foundation (LACF) wants to expand the meaning of the word “area” in its name.
After eight years at the LACF helm, executive director Emily Crabtree has found that potential donors’ focus on “Luverne” in the foundation’s name has limited what the foundation can do in other communities.
Earlier this year, the LACF kicked off a matching endowment program to expand individual community grants specific to the seven other communities in Rock County.
LACF donors can now designate money to a specific community —Hardwick, Kenneth, Magnolia, Jasper, Hills, Beaver Creek, Steen as well as Luverne — and LACF will match up to $5,000 in each of the community endowment funds.
Crabtree said Luverne has widespread participation in giving to LACF. She wants the encourage that giving in the other Rock County communities.
“Endowments represent long-term money or other financial assets that are donated to the community foundation and are invested to grow the principal and provide additional income for future investments and expenditures,” Crabtree said.
“A $10,000 endowment would give each community a $500 grant on average to make a community improvement. The more the endowment grows so does the yearly grant.”
Members of the Arthur Moeller American Legion Post 478 in Hardwick delivered the first checks to the community funds.
“The Legion wants to kick-start the Hardwick and Kenneth community funds,” Crabtree said. “It’s another way to help these small towns thrive.”
Legion members designated $1,000 to both the Hardwick and the Kenneth funds. They also donated $2,300 to the Rock County Veterans Fund.
As the individual community funds are established and receive the LACF match, Crabtree said a percentage of the individual community funds will be distributed each year through the grant-making process open to local nonprofit organizations specific to each community.
Crabtree said she attempted to roll out the community endowment program earlier this year, but her conversations with each community’s city council was discontinued due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Contributions and potential matches are now just getting off the ground with the Hardwick Legion contribution.
For more information on the community endowments or to make a donation, contact Crabtree at the LACF office on Main Street Luverne or call 507-227-2424.
Local representation is also sought for the community grant distribution process.