7. EDSR 08-11-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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June 25, 2008 INITIATIVE Ms. Catherine Mehelich FOUNDATION Elk River EDA 13065 Orono Pkwy Elk River, MN 55330-5600 RE: 2009 Budget Request for Initiative Foundation Support of $5,000 Dear Ms. Johnson, Warm regards from your friends at the Initiative Foundation! I know this letter arrives on the heels of an impactful ...and in many ways very difficult ...year for Cities within our region. The infrastructure and growth issues you and your colleagues have routinely faced are now superseded by a housing slowdown and mortgage crisis that harkens to the very roots of the Initiative Foundation's beginnings: The Foundation has, for nearly twenty-two years, been your partner in providing economic opportunity, encouraging citizen engagement, and building local folks' capacity to seize opportunities and address issues for the betterment of their respective home towns. Over $50 million has been invested in fourteen central Minnesota counties ...161 cities ...since 1986 in the form of business financing loans and grants to nonprofit organizations. And this does not take into consideration the hands-on technical support and staff assistance that are hallmarks of our work. Is it any wonder why major funders from outside our region and outside the state (including The McKnight Foundation) continue to make significant investments in central Minnesota through the Initiative Foundation's mission and activities? The purpose of this letter is to seek financial support from the Elk River EDA to further the Initiative Foundation's ability to • Provide economic opportunity and living-wage jobs; • Train and build the capacity of local leaders; • Convene people across traditional boundaries in response to issues and/or opportunities; • Help support locally-developed projects that address community needs; • Leverage significant outside investment in our region; • Encourage philanthropy and assist people who wish to leave a legacy to their home town. Within this mailing please find an Impact Statement providing a broad overview of Foundation support since inception, and a County Project List, with detailed information for the County of Sherburne. A number of fact sheets describing Initiative Foundation programs and offerings are also included, in hopes that your neighbors and friends will take full advantage of your Initiative Foundation. We respectfully ask that you consider our request for $5,000 from the Elk River EDA in 2009. Thank you for your consideration! S' erely, ~~ F urt anson Vice President for Donor Services cc: Gene Waldorf, Chair, Initiative Foundation Board of Trustees Kathy Gaalswyk, President 405 FIRST STREET SE LIrTLe FALLS. MN 56345 WV.M'.IFOUND.O RO PHONE: 320.632.9255 FAx: 320.632.9258 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY LENDER. PROVIDER AND EMPLOYER.