The mission of the North Brown Community Foundation
is to build a brighter future through philanthropic giving
to address community needs in the North Brown area.
WHAT IS IT?
The North Brown Community Foundation was established in April 2014 and is a community savings account of the South Dakota Community Foundation. The NBCF is one of more than 80 other community savings accounts in South Dakota.
WHAT AREA DOES IT SERVE?
The North Brown Community Foundation serves the area covered by the Frederick Area School District, including the communities of Frederick and Westport and the unicorporated areas of Barnard and Elm Lake.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Funds invested in the North Brown Community Foundation are invested by the South Dakota Community Foundation. Part of the interest that the account generates is returned to the community to be distributed as grants. The North Brown Community Foundation’s board gives out the equivalent of 4.5 percent of the fund’s principal (as figured from a rolling four-year average) to respond to community needs every year.
This can result in significant additional dollars being available for community projects. For example, using the actual rate of return that other SDCF community savings accounts did receive:
If a fund was established in 1994 with $100,000, and no additional funds were added, by 2014 that fund would have grown in value to more than $150,000. AND it would have given out nearly $125,000 in grants over those 20 years.
WHO MAKES DECISIONS ABOUT HOW GRANTS ARE AWARDED?
All grant-making decisions are made by the North Brown Community Foundation board of directors, which has representation from across the North Brown area. Grants can only be given to recognized nonprofit organizations.
WHAT ROLE DOES THE SOUTH DAKOTA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SERVE?
The SDCF, through its volunteer board of some of the state’s top investment minds, manages the fund. The SDCF takes care of the accounting and tax filings for the fund. They receive a 1 percent administration fee.
HOW CAN I GIVE?
Individuals or businesses can give by check, by printing and mailing the form here, or they can donate securely online at this link. Donors can designate the North Brown Community Foundation in their wills. And donors can also give stock, real estate, insurance policies, or other intangible assets. The SDCF is available to advise on such donations. Donations are tax-deductible.
WHY SHOULD I INVEST?
The North Brown Community Foundation is a perpetual resource for the community. As long as our communities are around, the fund will be available to support community needs.
Communities that have this kind of a resource to draw from often go through a change in what they see as possible for their communities.
“People who have focused for too long on their deficits instead focus on their assets. People move from thinking about scarcity to considering abundance. They begin to take control of their investments and their futures.”
— Ahmet Binerer, “Transfer of Wealth in Rural America”
Investing in the North Brown Community Foundation is a way to show appreciation for the way our communities has supported and benefited us. We can give back in gratitude, knowing that our gifts will help to ensure that future generations will also know the blessings that this community can provide.
Build a lasting legacy. Click here to donate to the North Brown Community Foundation today.
Or download, print, and mail a donation form: