History of our Foundation

The Minot Area Community Foundation was incorporated on January 10, 2000 and received its 501(c)(3) designation as a public charity on March 16, 2000. Founding Board members were Daniel L. Feist, Kenneth R. Williams, James F. Searcy, James M. Thompson, Judith E. Howard and Kenneth L. Kitzman. Additional Board members were added to further strengthen the new organization. Those added included Connie Feist, Lowell Latimer, Mike Dolan, Mark Kohlman and Chris Lamoureux.
 

The Community Foundation's initial viability was made possible by a significant gift from Mike & Dorothy Dolan to help start the fledgling enterprise. Due to the generosity and vision of all our donors, the Community Foundation is now able to build stronger, healthier communities across North Dakota today, and in the future. We will continue working for our donors and the communities we serve with visionary leadership, effective grant making and endowment building services.

From those humble beginnings, the Community Foundation has grown significantly into one of the leading funding sources of area nonprofit organizations. Since its inception through 2021, the Community Foundation has invested more than $19 Million back into the community, but this is only the beginning. Local support continues to grow through planned gifts, which ensures continued increases in what the Foundation will be able to invest back into our area in the future.

Although the numbers are impressive, the Foundation's core values have remained the same. We don't measure success by funds raised, nor grants given, but rather by the impact we have on the people right here in our communities.

The Minot Area Community Foundation has truly become the center for community giving.