Annual Report 2016 Celebrating 40 years of Service to the Communities, Charities, and Citizens of North Dakota “On the Shoulders of Giants ” “ WeWeseearemore,likeanddwarfsthingssittingthatareonmorethedistant,shouldersthantheyofgiantsdid,not. Missionbecause Statementoursightissuperiororbecausewearetallerthanthey,but The mission of the North Dakota Community Foundation is to improve the quality of life for North About Our Year Dakota’sbecause citizensthey throughraise charitableusup, givingand andby promotingtheir philanthropy.greatstatureaddtoours.” NDCF Board of Directors ............................................................................................ 4 Letter from our Chair & President .............................................................................. 5 About the North Dakota Community Foundation -JohnofSalisbury The North Dakota Community Foundation was incorporated in 1976. NDCF is an IRS designated History of NDCF ........................................................................................................... 6 501(c)(3) statewide public nonprofit tax-exempt corporation that receives and distributes charitable 2016 At-A-Glance .......................................................................................................... 8 funds to support a wide range of programs that benefit North Dakotans. Our Community Endowment Funds .......................................................................10 NDCF was formed by a group of concerned citizens who were looking for a general charitable vehicle to build endowment to support the nonprofit sector in the state. Initial support for the Our Statewide Greatest Needs Fund .........................................................................12 Foundation came from the Otto Bremer Foundation, the Northwest Area Foundation, the Northwest New Funds in 2016 ......................................................................................................14 Bancorporation, the North Dakota Bremer Banks and the Bush Foundation. The office staff under the supervision of its volunteer Board of Directors carries out the work of the ..............................................................................................17 Foundation. Board members represent all citizens of North Dakota. All grant distribution decisions Financial Reports are made by the NDCF Board of Directors. Gifts Received in 2016 ................................................................................................20 Grants Awarded in 2016 .............................................................................................24 National Standards The National Standards Seal represents official confirmation from the Endowment Assets of Our Funds .............................................................................43 Community Foundations National Standards Board that NDCF has met the most rigorous standards for community foundations. The seal affirms NDCF’s commitment to financial security, transparency, and accountability and says that our grantmaking Donors & Memorials ........................................................................................52 includes an open, competitive process designed to address the changing needs of our community. Giving Back/Leaving a Legacy Here to Help: Our Staff ...............................................................................................64 This and past issues of the North Dakota Community Foundation’s Annual Report are available on our website at NDCF.net Different Ways to Honor a Loved One .....................................................................65 ND Income Tax Credit Information .........................................................................66 www.facebook.com/NDCommunityFoundation Chair & President ’s Letter As we celebrate the North Dakota Community Foundation’s 40th anniversary and look back on the success of the Foundation over the years, we can’t help but remember and celebrate those who brought us here. You might have noticed the phrase on the cover “On the Shoulders of Giants”. It is taken from a 2016 Board Chair President & CEO quote by John of Salisbury and later shortened Douglass Prchal Kevin Dvorak and used by Sir Isaac Newton, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants”. Current and former NDCF Board members gathered at the organization’s 40th anniversary celebration in April 2016. Pictured front row, left to right: That is the reason for the success of the Foundation. We are standing on the shoulders of some Tim Ottmar (Jamestown), Douglass Prchal (Bismarck), Nancy Johnson (Fargo), Sheila Palczewski (Bowman), Judy Estenson (Warwick), Michael Killoran (Casselton), Georgia Artz (Bottineau), Scott Swenson (Watford City), Spencer Larson (Linton). Back row: Joanne Ottmar (Jamestown), Tara Holt (Bismarck), incredible people, who had a great vision many years ago and others who continued to support David ‘White Thunder’ Trottier (Rugby), Patsy Thompson (Bismarck), Christie Obenauer (Hazen), Kevin Dvorak (NDCF President & CEO), Dawn Keeley and build on that vision throughout our history. The shoulders that we stand upon belong to those (Grafton), Linda Steve (Dickinson), Rita Staloch (Minnewaukan), Frank Keogh (Williston), Jim Weisser (Linton), and Lowell Overbo (Ashley). who came up with the idea of a statewide community foundation, those who served on the first board of directors, Governor Bill Guy who served as the NDCF’s first Executive Director, Ted NDCF Board of Directors Solheim, NDCF’s first board chair who later left a substantial gift in his will for his hometown NDCF is governed by a 15-member Board of Directors. They are volunteers and receive no financial endowment fund. compensation for their service on the Board. They are elected from the population of North Dakota Many of those giants appear in the pages of this report. Those and so many more; donors, community and are selected to represent a broad cross-section of North Dakotans. They can serve two three- volunteers, along with 115 former NDCF board members have all contributed to make NDCF what year terms and then must leave the Board. This structure ensures that the North Dakota Community it is today, quietly leading us into tomorrow. If you are part of this, thank you. If you are not yet, Foundation is truly the people of North Dakota’s Foundation. please join us on the shoulders of these giants, the view is grand! If you are interested in serving on the NDCF Board, please contact our Bismarck office. We keep a list of potential board members for consideration. 2016 NDCF Board Of Directors: Fond Farewells Chairperson Douglass Prchal, Retired Government Employee ......................................................................Bismarck NDCF had to say goodbye to several of our “giants” in 2016 who helped make this organization Vice Chairperson what it is today. Scott Swenson, Banker ............................................................................................................ Watford City Secretary-Treasurer Nancy Johnson, Representative/Home Economist ..................................................................Fargo, ND Vernon Wagner, who served on NDCF’s Board of Directors from 1986-1992 and Directors again from 1993-1999, provided great leadership during his tenure and especially Michael Killoran, Banker .............................................................................................................Casselton when he served as Board Chair. Vern was passionate about serving his community LouAnn Waliser, Insurance Agent ...................................................................................................Lisbon and held leadership positions in numerous organizations that improved life in Spencer Larson, Farm Loan Officer ................................................................................................. Linton our state. Sheila Palczewski, Volunteer ......................................................................................................... Bowman Georgia Artz, Director of Public Health Nursing .....................................................................Bottineau Valerie Bren was NDCF’s Office Manager from 1979 til 2010. She had excellent bookkeeping and Tim Ottmar, Attorney .................................................................................................................Jamestown Diane Baumbach, Clincial Social Worker ...................................................................................Emerado office management skills, but more importantly showed incredible care for our donors and grantees Judy Estenson, Nurse ..................................................................................................................... Warwick and had an unflinching dedication to our mission. Bonnie Krause, Retired CEO/GM of Telecommunications Company ........................................Hazen Wayne Hauge, Farmer and CPA ............................................................................................................ Ray Lowell Overbo of Ashley, ND served on our board from 2000-2006 and attended NDCF’s 40th Ann Poeschel West, Financial Advisor .......................................................................................... Grafton anniversary celebration last April to help celebrate its accomplishments. Christie Obenauer, Banker * ..............................................................................................................Hazen