Group hopes to raise $80,000 by end of 2015


The larger the fund balance, the more dollars become available to grant.

It may sound like the New Richland Area Foundation has plenty of funds available for granting to local projects with currently approximately $420,000 in the fund. However, that is not the case. The grant dollars available comes from a formula used by the Minnesota Community of Funds based on the investment interest.

Though this year’s granting dollars available was $15,000, the NRAF grants committee continues to be challenged with requests of more than $35,000 each year from the school and community. Therefore it is their plea to request the community’s help in growing the fund so that more dollars become available to grant each year. The NRAF has granted out well more than $60,000 in the last four years as it continues to support local school and community needs.

The first ever Goal Campaign is to reach $500,000 by December 31, 2015.

Gifts to the NRAF can be in the form of cash, appreciated securities, real estate, private foundations, life insurance, retirement plan assets, or will bequests.

All gifts, large or small, are greatly appreciated and enable the foundation to be a vital force in the community. The NRAF has been fortunate to receive many, many small donations as memorials, a $13,198 anonymous donation, a $28,000 gift of grain and a bequest of $320,000 from the Don Hamilton estate.  The committee thanks each and everyone for your support.

Goal information can be seen on display at the WFS Elevator in New Richland.

Or, for more information on how you can help grow the fund, you can contact any of the NRAF Grants Committee members of Gail Schmidt, Pam Goehring, Matt Harrington, Kermit Schoenrock or Nina Bartelt. Or, you can call Karen Bumm, the Executive Director of the WAF, directly at (507)-835-5990.

Your gift provides the best financial means to give back to the community and leave a personal legacy long into the future.

Gail Schmidt, NRAF