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Greater Winona Area Community Foundation
The Greater Winona Area Community Foundation was established in 1987 as a permanent charitable endowment for the Winona region, tracing its roots to earlier...
Greater Winona Area Community Foundation
The Greater Winona Area Community Foundation was established in 1987 as a permanent charitable endowment for the Winona region, tracing its roots to earlier local philanthropic efforts including the historic Winona Foundation and relationships with families such as the Laird Nortons. President and CEO Mandi Olson oversees operations, while a volunteer board chaired by Jacob Woodworth — a principal at WKM Properties — provides governance drawn from local business leadership including the insurance and manufacturing sectors. Asset allocation mixes an investment portfolio with direct community infrastructure holdings. The foundation holds dedicated funds tied to specific real assets: the Masonic Temple Restoration Fund, the Winona Bandshell Restoration project, and the Winona Lake Park Path. Named endowed funds, such as the Carol A. Orlowske Endowed Fund, provide perpetual grantmaking capacity. Philanthropic partners include the Slaggie Family Foundation, and the foundation administers the Winona Area Nonprofit Alliance, a network of over 50 local organizations. The foundation reports no public AUM figure; Altss estimates approximately $14 million in total charitable assets based on available fund disclosures. It maintains accreditation under the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations and holds membership in the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits. Recent operational activity is documented through standard annual grant cycles and nonprofit network administration rather than publicly announced discrete transactions or fund closings. The foundation sits at the center of a layered local philanthropic architecture: it operates as a fiscal sponsor and administrative backbone for the Winona Area Nonprofit Alliance, extending its influence beyond direct grantmaking into capacity-building for the nonprofit ecosystem. This hub-and-spoke structure, paired with the Goodview Community Foundation relationship, creates a small-city philanthropic network that functions as shared infrastructure rather than a standalone grantmaker.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1987
AUM
Approximately $14 million (Altss estimate)
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Winona
Corporate office
Winona, MN, United States
Principals
Mandi Olson
President and CEO
Jacob Woodworth
Board Chair
Dave Jensen
Vice Chair
Ann Gibson
Treasurer
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
How does the foundation allocate its charitable assets?
The foundation maintains a blended portfolio of invested financial assets and direct community infrastructure holdings. Documented real asset positions include the Masonic Temple Restoration Fund, the Winona Bandshell Restoration project, and the Winona Lake Park Path. Named endowed funds such as the Carol A. Orlowske Endowed Fund provide ongoing grantmaking capacity. The board does not publicly disclose detailed asset allocation weights or investment policy targets.
What is the relationship between the foundation and the Winona Area Nonprofit Alliance?
The foundation serves as the administrative backbone and fiscal sponsor for the Winona Area Nonprofit Alliance (WANA), a network of over 50 local nonprofits. This hub-and-spoke model means the foundation's influence extends well beyond direct grantmaking — it provides operational infrastructure that supports the broader nonprofit ecosystem in the region. The arrangement centralizes back-office functions while allowing member organizations to maintain independent programmatic identities.
Who holds fiduciary responsibility for the foundation's assets?
A volunteer board of directors drawn from local business leadership governs the foundation. Board Chair Jacob Woodworth is affiliated with WKM Properties, Vice Chair Dave Jensen runs the Dave Jensen Agency for Farmers Insurance, and Treasurer Ann Gibson is tied to WinCraft by Fanatics. President and CEO Mandi Olson manages day-to-day operations. Investment committee composition is not publicly detailed.
Does the foundation accept donor-advised funds?
Yes, the foundation offers donor-advised funds alongside endowed funds, scholarship funds, and field-of-interest funds. Individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits can establish funds aligned with their philanthropic goals. The foundation pools these assets for investment purposes while maintaining separate accounting for grantmaking recommendations and distributions.
How is the foundation related to the Goodview Community Foundation?
The Goodview Community Foundation operates as a related philanthropic vehicle serving the adjacent community of Goodview, Minnesota. While the exact legal structure of the relationship is not publicly detailed, the two foundations share geographic and programmatic overlap within the Winona micropolitan area. Both fall under the same community foundation ecosystem serving the Mississippi River region southeast of the Twin Cities.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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