Willow Lake Area Community Foundation Meets Fundraising Goal, Challenge Boost Total
September 26, 2024 // Community Savings Account
The Willow Lake Area Community Foundation (WLACF) recently exceeded its initial fundraising goal by raising more than $250,000 to establish its endowment fund and prepare it to offer grants beginning in 2025. As a result of surpassing its challenge goal of $200,000, WLACF received twin challenge grants of $50,000 each from the South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF) and the Field of Dreams Fund, a SDCF sub-fund. WLACF will operate as a Community Savings Account partner fund within SDCF.
The WLACF advisory council, including Matt Vandersnick, Carolyn Nichols, Kim Bratland, and Bob Syring launched its effort in 2022 and met its goal with a year to spare in the three-year challenge grant period. The purpose of the foundation is to support various charitable projects and organizations in the Willow Lake area.
“We’re so grateful to the people and businesses who supported our effort to get the Willow Lake Area Community Foundation off the ground,” said Matt Vandersnick. “We received donations from current as well as former area residents, which is a sign of how important home is to all of us. We look forward to being able to make a difference in our area!”
As an endowed fund, WLACF will use a percentage of its assets to make grants annually. Information on applying for grants will be forthcoming.
The Willow Lake Area Community Foundation was established by a local advisory council in partnership with the South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF). Their goal was to create a long-term funding source for charitable causes in the local area. With careful investment, the fund will continue to grow and enhance quality of life in the local area forever. This fund is one of 87 communities in partnership with SDCF.
SDCF is a public non-profit organization established in 1987. SDCF, with offices in Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls and Aberdeen administers 1,200 funds benefiting hundreds of charitable organizations annually. The Foundation distributed nearly $31 million in grants in 2023 which made a tremendous difference in communities statewide. This would not have been possible without the generosity of our donors. If you have a specific cause you would like to support or would prefer to give for the general good of our state, please visit https://sdcommunityfoundation.org/giving to learn more or call 1-800-888-1842.
Donate or learn more about Willow Lake Area Community Foundation.