The Austin Area Foundation continues to show signs of slow, steady growth.

AAF announced Friday that it distributed $21,000 in 2015, up from $19,000 in 2014 and $17,000 in 2013.

“We’ve increased significantly in a relatively short time,” said Peggy Benzkofer, chair of AAF’s distribution committee.

Since its formation in 2007, the Austin Area Foundation has distributed more than $109,000 to community nonprofit organizations, schools, groups and local improvement projects.

“We at the foundation are excited to be able to share a little good news with area organizations right before the holidays,” AAF Executive Director Jeff Baldus said in a press release. “This is always my favorite time of the year, when we at the foundation are awarding grants to those organizations making an important and positive difference here in the Austin community.”

Baldus started as AAF’s first executive director in May of 2014, and Benkofer said he’s helped facilitate some of that growth.

“It’s been a wonderful addition,” she said.

With more endowment funds and other signs of growth, Benkzofer sees good things awaiting in the future.

“We hope to continue to grow things and work with other nonprofits,” she said.

Benzkofer noted AAF recently sent out a letter to every household in Austin to introduce the foundation to people and to gain more funding.

AAF Founder and Chairman Mike Ruzek was also pleased with the growth, and he credited community donors.

“The Austin Area Foundation has experienced significant growth in the 12 your history and that is due to many donors,” said Mike Ruzek, founder and chair of Austin Area Foundation, in a press release. “This growth has true meaning. It represents a greater ability to better our community and Austin Area Foundation serves as a way donors can carry out that mission.”

Applications can be found at Austin Public Library, Austin Area Chamber of Commerce or Austin Area Foundation website www.austinareafoundation.org for next year, with applications due Sept 1, 2016.

“It’s just exciting to be a part of and it’s wonderful to have additional people step up and make grant requests to us,” Benzkofer said.

She urged people to apply for grants again next year even if they didn’t receive funds this year.

 

AAF, Hormel Foundation

partnering to boost endowment funds

The Austin Area Foundation as a “Community Foundation” is partnering with The Hormel Foundation to offering Austin Area 501(c)3 organizations the opportunity to establish and/or add to their current endowment fund for the benefit of their organization.

If an organization establishes or adds a minimum of $4,000 to an endowment fund, AAF and The Hormel Foundation will add $2,000 to that fund as an incentive.

2015 Austin Area Foundation grants

$1,200: Matchbox Children’s Theater Help with production costs for August shows

$550: Hormel Historic Home for History for Half Pints programming

$700: Austin Community Band for summer music/concert series in the park

$1,400: Children’s Dental Health Services for 2000 outreach kits

$1,500: Gerard Academy for supplies

$2,000: Austin Symphony for partial sponsorship of program

$1,650: Austin Area Commission for the Arts for loading dock replacement and handicap seating

$1,000: Freedom Fest 2016 to finance festival events and free kid activities

$500: Southeast Minnesota Women’s Center (Rachel’s Hope)

$500: Edition II Inc. to offset performance fees to Nursing Homes

$500: Austin High School Clay Target Team for expenses

$1,500: Northwestern Singers for instrumentalists and carpenter

$1,000: Friends of the Shooting Star Trail to help build and Maintain Mountain Bike Trail

$500: Austin Park & Recreation for pickleball league equipment

$500: Faith Church for its Community Car Care Clinic

$1,500: Mower County Seniors Inc. for the Senior Advocacy/Caregiver Program

$500: Habitat For Humanity Freeborn/Mower for a saw

$2,000: Friends of the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center for an animal track sensory table

$2,000: KAUS and Hy-Vee for Feed a Family

Total: $21,000