Southwest Initiative Foundation
Southwest Initiative Foundation is a public charity based in Hutchinson, Minnesota, serving an 18-county region in southwest Minnesota and the Upper Sioux and Lower Sioux Indian Communities. Founded in 1986, it supports regional communities through grantmaking, community programs, local philanthropy, and business finance. Its stated vision is a Southwest Minnesota where all people thrive.
Southwest Initiative Foundation at a glance
In short: Southwest Initiative Foundation gave $4.9M across 166 grants in 2025 (avg $29K), mostly in Minnesota. 64% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $4,862,354
- +99.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 166
- +78.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $29,291
- +11.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $123,441,507
- +7.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 64% first-time grantees (107 of 166, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Southwest Initiative Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests through a grant request form when no relevant grant round is open. The form is an initial project-idea submission; the foundation says a response generally takes about a month, and applicants whose ideas fit current opportunities may be invited to submit a full application. General grant guidelines call for a project benefiting the foundation’s service area, locally generated ideas, early and ongoing involvement of targeted and diverse populations, partnerships, clear goals and measurable outcomes, and a plan for continuing the project after foundation funding. Applicants must be a 501(c)(3), a unit of government, or a public agency; organizations without tax-exempt status may apply through a suitable fiscal agent. Grants generally range from $1,000 to $20,000, and the foundation will consider up to 50% of project costs, with the balance from other sources, including in-kind and cash contributions. Requests are generally for up to one year, with additional annual support potentially considered at a declining level for up to three years. The guidelines generally exclude capital expenditures, religious purposes or activities, lobbying or political activities, for-profit businesses, and debt retirement. Churches and religious organizations may apply for activities benefiting the larger community, but not for strictly religious purposes.
- Contact
Mailing address: 15 3Rd Ave Nw, Hutchinson, MN 55350
Phone: (320) 587-4848
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from Southwest Initiative Foundation
Fostering Social Connection in Later Life Grants
Southwest Initiative Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Glencoe Area Community Foundation Grant
Southwest Initiative Foundation
Amount
US $500 - US $2,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Paul and Alma Schwan Aging Trust Endowment Fund
Southwest Initiative Foundation
Amount
$168,322 total in 2024 (15 grants awarded)
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Southwest Initiative Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was ISD #466 - Dassel-Cokato ($343K). Together the top 10 received $1.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
1,060 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,005 grants of 1,060 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s service area comprises Big Stone, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Swift, and Yellow Medicine counties, plus the Upper Sioux Community and Lower Sioux Indian Community. Its general grant guidelines require proposals to demonstrate a benefit within that area and state a preference for applicants located in the region.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 166 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Southwest Initiative Foundation open to new grantees?
64%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 107 of 166 grantees (64%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $31K; repeat grants $25K. How we count
Medians: $19K first-time, $12K repeat.
- 28% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+14%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.2M (2020) to $5.1M (2021). In 2025 it made 166 grants totaling $4.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ISD #466 - Dassel-Cokato Cokato, MN | DC Charger Robotics, Industrial Technology Department. | $342,996 |
| City of Marshall Marshall, MN | Marshall Aquatic Center Project, Welcoming Week Event. | $323,400 |
| City of Tracy Tracy, MN | Tracy Central Park Improvements, Tracy Community Center. | $211,500 |
| Little Huskies Learning Center Jackson, MN | Lhlc - security system, lhlc- remick loan support, lhc- facility renovations. | $189,733 |
| Wallin Education Partners Saint Paul, MN | 2024-25 Yellow Medicine East Scholarships | $133,512 |
| Clark-Vinroot Properties LLC Worthington, MN | The Thompson - Mserp | $126,000 |
| Pipestone Senior Citizens Center Pipestone, MN | Schroeder senior center and food shelf building project, sleep tight pipestone | $116,904 |
| Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging Inc Mankato, MN | Age friendly community building project - phase 7, support community engagement in aging. | $100,500 |
| ISD #2884 - Red Rock Central Lamberton, MN | Playground equipment, rrc weekend food program, decodable book library. | $79,300 |
| FM Bank Granite Falls, MN | FM Bank - Mserp | $75,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Southwest Initiative Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2025 filing reports 166 grants; the 2024 and 2023 filings report 93 and 73 grants, respectively.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $123,441,507 | $14,711,866 | $11,406,039 | $4,862,354 | 166 | $6,712,546 |
| 2024 | $114,617,884 | $11,617,544 | $10,063,990 | $2,443,092 | 93 | $4,521,886 |
| 2023 | $108,175,659 | $13,272,478 | $10,336,099 | $4,344,862 | 73 | $1,614,187 |
| 2022 | $100,435,349 | $19,655,047 | $11,284,034 | $4,264,898 | 335 | $7,328,558 |
| 2021 | $108,678,960 | $12,722,630 | $11,832,584 | $5,102,965 | 393 | $3,119,323 |
| 2020 | $96,104,043 | $10,669,977 | $7,688,804 | $1,200,424 | 65 | $3,338,387 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission began with strengthening southwest Minnesota by improving economic self-reliance, overcoming human distress, and promoting regional leadership, coordination, and partnerships. It says its work continues through business finance and economic development, grantmaking and community programming, and community giving and philanthropy, with the lasting outcome of economic mobility for people in the region.
Its program work includes leadership development, welcoming and inclusive communities, support for youth and families, mental health awareness and crisis response, nonprofit training, and productive aging. The foundation also supports local affiliate foundations and designated funds, and works on regional economic development issues including child care, housing, and broadband.
Examples of 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. Little Huskies Learning Center received $189,733; its stated mission is to provide children with a caring, developmentally appropriate environment for social, emotional, and cognitive growth. An individual recipient Agency on Aging received $100,500; it says it helps older adults thrive in southwest Minnesota and supports older adults and caregivers with information and assistance. A C E of Southwest Minnesota received $74,500; it describes its work as building strong, involved communities through volunteerism and active-living programs for adults 55 and older and care partners. Kids Rock Child Care Center received $65,291 and says it provides child care in response to a severe local shortage.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 166 grants totaling $4,862,354. Grant amounts ranged from $5,045 to $342,996, with a median of $15,000. Its largest reported grants included $342,996 to ISD #466 – Dassel-Cokato for a DC Charger robotics and industrial technology department; $323,400 to the City of Marshall for the Marshall Aquatic Center project and a Welcoming Week event; and $211,500 to the City of Tracy for Central Park improvements and a community center.
Other notable 2025 awards included $189,733 to Little Huskies Learning Center for security, loan support, and facility renovations; $133,512 to Wallin Education Partners for Yellow Medicine East scholarships; $126,000 to Clark-Vinroot Properties LLC for the Thompson – MSERP; and $116,904 to Pipestone Senior Citizens Center for a senior center and food shelf building project and Sleep Tight Pipestone. The filing reports that 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota, 1% to an individual recipient, and less than 1% to Illinois.
The foundation’s website says it accepts grant ideas on an ongoing basis, alongside occasional defined grant rounds. It also says most of its grants are awarded through community foundation and designated-fund partners, which have their own application guidelines. The currently listed Fostering Social Connection in Later Life opportunity supports projects serving southwest Minnesota that reduce or prevent social isolation and loneliness among older adults. The Initiators Fellowship is a two-year program for emerging social entrepreneurs, but its listed June 16, 2026 deadline has passed. The PROMISE Act Grant program listing says applications are closed.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Mary Christine Rock as board chair, Daniel Greve as vice chair, Erica Volkir and Theresa Zaske as board members, Terry Gaalswyk as secretary, and Thomas Brakke as treasurer. It lists Scott Marquardt as president, Margie Nelsen as CFO, Nancy Fasching as vice president of community impact, and Melissa Maiers as chief administrative officer.
Southwest Initiative Foundation is led by Scott Marquardt, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 5 of 11 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Scott Marquardt
President
Senior Vice President → Current President & CEO, 2023
Current President & CEO → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$101K (2020) → $142K (2025)
Mary Christine Rock
Board Chair
Treasurer → Vice Chair, 2022
Vice Chair → Board Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amy Woitalewicz
Business Finance Director
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$110K (2023) → $101K (2025)
Margie Nelsen
CFO
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$113K (2020) → $119K (2025)
Theresa Zaske
Board Member
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$628 (2020) → $0 (2025)
Nancy Fasching
Vice President of Community Impact
Vice President → Vice President of Community Impact, 2025
On filings since 2024
50 hrs/week
$123K (2024) → $109K (2025)
Melissa Maiers
Chief Administrative Officer
New on the 2025 filing
50 hrs/week
$122K (2025)
Terry B. Gaalswyk
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Greve
Vice Chair
Treasurer → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Erica Volkir
Board Member
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Brakke
Treasurer
On filings since 2024
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (15)
- Former: Abdirizak Mahboub (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Kathy Wehking (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Patricia Loehr-Dols (2020–2024) — Past Chair
- Former: Christine Rock Hantge (2024) — Chair
- Former: Diana D. Anderson (2020–2023) — Former President & CEO
- Former: Randy Reinke (2020–2023) — Past Chair
- Former: Teresa Peterson (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Tom Brakke (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Benjamin Wilcox (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Ben Wilcox (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Patti Loehr-Dols (2022) — Chair
- Former: Dan Greve (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Janice Nelson (2020–2021) — Past Chair
- Former: Mark Titus (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Patricia Dols (2021) — Vice Chair
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $142K, to Scott Marquardt (President). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Southwest Initiative Foundation
How much does Southwest Initiative Foundation give each year?
Southwest Initiative Foundation gave $4.9M across 166 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.4M across 93 grants.
What is Southwest Initiative Foundation's typical grant size?
Southwest Initiative Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $29,291, across 166 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Southwest Initiative Foundation that year got $31K on average.
Where does Southwest Initiative Foundation give grants?
Southwest Initiative Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Willmar, MN (20 grants), Marshall, MN (16 grants), Worthington, MN (8 grants) and Granite Falls, MN (7 grants).
Does Southwest Initiative Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 2% of Southwest Initiative Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 166) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Promise Grant Program" (40 grants) and "Mission Support" (4 grants).
Who are Southwest Initiative Foundation's largest grantees?
Southwest Initiative Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include ISD #466 - Dassel-Cokato ($342,996), City of Marshall ($323,400) and City of Tracy ($211,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 18% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Southwest Initiative Foundation?
Southwest Initiative Foundation reported $123.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $14.7M.
What does Southwest Initiative Foundation fund?
The organization’s stated mission began with strengthening southwest Minnesota by improving economic self-reliance, overcoming human distress, and promoting regional leadership, coordination, and partnerships. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Southwest Initiative Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests through a grant request form when no relevant grant round is open. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Southwest Initiative Foundation's EIN?
Southwest Initiative Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1555592. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Southwest Initiative Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 9, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Southwest Initiative Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Southwest Initiative Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 8, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/southwest-initiative-foundation-morg_40b45628d3a44548ab725ef8b5df9b67
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_411555592_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Southwest Initiative Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/southwest-initiative-foundation-morg_40b45628d3a44548ab725ef8b5df9b67},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-08. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Southwest Initiative Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Southwest Initiative Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?