Foundation Grants
Community Vital Signs
About Us
West Central Initiative
Through philanthropy and planning, the West Central Initiative fuels insight and action for the benefit of the region and the world. Along the way, the foundation understands its progress through two lenses: the Minnesota Association of Development Organizations (MADO) DevelopMN Cornerstones and the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Both lenses focus in on what a region and community needs to accomplish to become strong and resilient for generations to come.
Web Address
www.wcif.org
Social Media Links
Twitter - @wciminn
Facebook - www.facebook.com/westcentralinitiative
LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/west-central-initiative
Vimeo - vimeo.com/wciminn
Both lenses focus in on what a region and community needs to accomplish to become strong and resilient for generations to come.
Web Address
www.wcif.org
Social Media Links
Twitter - @wciminn
Facebook - www.facebook.com/westcentralinitiative
LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/west-central-initiative
Vimeo - vimeo.com/wciminn
Assets and Giving for West Central Initiative
Assets
2019 - 71,296,541
2018 - 68,913,134
2017 - 66,461,730
2019 - 71,296,541
2018 - 68,913,134
2017 - 66,461,730
Domestic Grants
2019 - 2,829,367
2018 - 3,470,688
2019 - 2,829,367
2018 - 3,470,688
Recent News from West Central Initiative
Northwest Minnesota Foundation receives child care grant
Foundation: Initiative Foundation, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Southwest Initiative Foundation, West Central Initiative
"We know families are facing big challenges finding quality child care right now, especially in rural Minnesota," said Tony Lourey, Minnesota...more
Foundation: Initiative Foundation, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Southwest Initiative Foundation, West Central Initiative
"We know families are facing big challenges finding quality child care right now, especially in rural Minnesota," said Tony Lourey, Minnesota...more
SMIF among Greater Minnesota groups to get $1.5M to grow child care access
Foundation: Initiative Foundation, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Southwest Initiative Foundation, West Central Initiative
Initiative Foundation in Little Falls has said it will bring together local leaders and give challenge grants to help child care providers address gaps...more
Foundation: Initiative Foundation, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Southwest Initiative Foundation, West Central Initiative
Initiative Foundation in Little Falls has said it will bring together local leaders and give challenge grants to help child care providers address gaps...more
Greater Minnesota groups to get $1.5 million to grow child care access
Foundation: Initiative Foundation, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Southwest Initiative Foundation, West Central Initiative
PAUL -- Six Greater Minnesota regional development groups are set to receive more than $1 million in state grants aimed at growing access to...more
Foundation: Initiative Foundation, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Southwest Initiative Foundation, West Central Initiative
PAUL -- Six Greater Minnesota regional development groups are set to receive more than $1 million in state grants aimed at growing access to...more
West Central Initiative to host two Nov. 7 events
Foundation: West Central Initiative
WCI is a regional community foundation serving the nine west central Minnesota counties of Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope,...more
Foundation: West Central Initiative
WCI is a regional community foundation serving the nine west central Minnesota counties of Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope,...more
WCI grant provides dental kits to students
Foundation: West Central Initiative
The schools contract with Wilkin County Public Health to do the health screenings, and the county's health department received a $500 grant...more
Foundation: West Central Initiative
The schools contract with Wilkin County Public Health to do the health screenings, and the county's health department received a $500 grant...more
Cities awarded Change Makers grants
Foundation: West Central Initiative
The Minnesota cities of Breckenridge and Campbell have received two of the first ever Community Change Makers Grant awards from West...more
Foundation: West Central Initiative
The Minnesota cities of Breckenridge and Campbell have received two of the first ever Community Change Makers Grant awards from West...more
Schara joins WCI as marketing coordinator
Foundation: West Central Initiative
West Central Initiative is a regional community foundation serving the nine west-central Minnesota counties of Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse and Wilkin. WCI...more
Foundation: West Central Initiative
West Central Initiative is a regional community foundation serving the nine west-central Minnesota counties of Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse and Wilkin. WCI...more
Oral health care products being collected for distribution at food shelves, Head Start
Foundation: Initiative Foundation, West Central Initiative
So for the month of March, locations in Faribault and Northfield are collecting oral health care products for America's ToothFairy Smile Drive. ... Teri Steckelberg, early childhood director at...more
Foundation: Initiative Foundation, West Central Initiative
So for the month of March, locations in Faribault and Northfield are collecting oral health care products for America's ToothFairy Smile Drive. ... Teri Steckelberg, early childhood director at...more
The Regional Funders Backing Early Childhood Learning—With a Twist
Foundation: Helios Education Foundation, Initiative Foundation, Knight Foundation, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Southwest Initiative Foundation, McKnight Foundation, William Penn Foundation, West Central Initiative
It also well predates the recent surge of philanthropic interest in this area. The foundations' commitment to early childhood education started back in 2003 with a gift from the McKnight Foundation....more
Foundation: Helios Education Foundation, Initiative Foundation, Knight Foundation, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Southwest Initiative Foundation, McKnight Foundation, William Penn Foundation, West Central Initiative
It also well predates the recent surge of philanthropic interest in this area. The foundations' commitment to early childhood education started back in 2003 with a gift from the McKnight Foundation....more
New grants for improving communities
Foundation: West Central Initiative
For more information, visit wcif.org/change-makers.html or contact Wendy Merrick at wendy@wcif.org or 800-735-2239. West Central Initiative is a regional community foundation that focuses on economic...more
Foundation: West Central Initiative
For more information, visit wcif.org/change-makers.html or contact Wendy Merrick at wendy@wcif.org or 800-735-2239. West Central Initiative is a regional community foundation that focuses on economic...more
Social Enterprise Network Sites
Social Entrepreneurship
Spotlight
3 Social Enterprises Earn Honors at Social Enterprise Award
Three social enterprises were recognized at the 2013 President’s Challenge Social Enterprise Award for their major contributions to society. SATA CommHealth and Bliss Restaurant landed Social Enterprise of the Year titles, while Bettr Barista Coffee Academy bagged the award for Social Enterprise Start-up of the Year.