Stillwater charity hopes to create a culture of philanthropy

When the Good Samaritan Society of Stillwater needed gas money for the vans it uses to take patients to appointments and on shopping trips, the Stillwater Area Foundation [SAF] filled the need.

In 2010, the foundation also made a sizeable contribution to Lakeview Hospital's Born to Read program, and it helped pay for a picnic for school crossing guards. Members of the two-year-old foundation reached into their own pockets to make the $6,000 in grants.

Now, as foundation members prepare to award another round of grants this spring, again using their own money, they are kicking off a campaign to promote philanthropy and asking donors to help them establish an endowment that will be used to help nonprofit organizations.

"We hope to build a pool of funds that will give us flexibility and the agility to meet needs today and tomorrow," said SAF Chairwoman Jill Greenhalgh. "We would love to be a catalyst if a new need arose in the community. If an organization loses its funding, we want to be there to fill the gap."

The campaign is aimed at both individuals and businesses that would make annual contributions.

The money would be invested, and the foundation would use 5 percent of the interest to make grants, said Jane Stevenson, president of the St. Croix Valley Foundation, a network of foundations that work to foster philanthropy in Washington and Chisago counties in Minnesota, and in Pierce, Polk and St. Croix counties in Wisconsin.

"I think they would like to give away $1 million a year," Stevenson said. "They want to be able to fill all the needs of nonprofits in the Stillwater area."

The Stillwater Area Foundation serves communities in the Stillwater Area School District north of Interstate 94. The Lower St. Croix affiliate serves communities south of I-94, such as Afton, West Lakeland Township, Lake St. Croix Beach, Lakeland Shores and St. Mary's Point. The St. Croix Foundation serves areas in the five counties not covered by an affiliate foundation. It awards $1 million to $2 million in grants annually.

"There is no way we can provide philanthropic services to every community unless we have feet on the ground in those communities," Stevenson said. "Leaders have their fingers on the pulse and know what is needed in those communities, and know who could devote resources to the needs. They raise the funds and give grants in their community."

One of the St. Croix Foundation's most successful ventures was Partners for the Future. It challenged 19 nonprofits in Washington County to establish endowments. The St. Croix Foundation used $1 million to match every dollar the nonprofits raised. All 19, including organizations such as Family Means and the Partnership Plan, met the goal.

"You never know when you are going to have a bad economy," Stevenson said.

The Stillwater Area Foundation was formed in 2009 when members brainstormed what a better Stillwater would look like.

For more information see the Stillwater Area Foundation's website at www.still- waterareafoundation.org.