The selection of communities for the Sustaining Community Success program began with a request from the Stephen Area Endowment Fund advisory committee. They asked that NMF apply for an Otto Bremer Foundation grant to support their endowment fund.  Stephen members were aware of a generous Bremer Foundation grant that supported the Argyle Area Community Foundation’s endowment effort. 

NMF staff next met with Bremer Bank and Bremer Investment Management and Trust representatives in Crookston and Warren to learn more about the “service area” of their respective banks. Crookston Bremer Bank President James Snyder identified Crookston, Fisher, Climax, Fertile and Beltrami as the core service area of the Crookston facility.  Warren Bank President Doug Safar identified Warren, Alvarado, Oslo and Stephen as the core communities in his service area.  Other communities such as East Grand Forks and Argyle were excluded because they are already served by other community foundations and have received Bremer Foundation support. 

Following these meetings, NMF staff met with community leaders in Fisher, Fertile and Warren to discuss the concept and establishment of community funds serving their respective school districts.  The positive first response led the NMF Board to conditionally approve the establishment of community funds in these school districts, pending final decisions to move forward and commit the initial general endowment funding requirement. 

Community Training Materials  Stewards' Councils 

Crookston  Fertile-Beltrami  Fisher  Stephen  Warren