St Croix Valley Foundation

Great staff and board who are committed to helping community foundations, donors and nonprofits succeed in the St. Croix Valley!

I have found serving on this board to be an extremely rewarding experience. I believe I have made a significant impact through my variety of leadership roles. The meetings are well organized and productive. I've personally experienced the results of this organization through enlightened community involvement. I am a long time community volunteer and this experience taught me the value of different nonprofit organizations effectively coordinating efforts to serve citizens under the umbrella of a community foundation. This volunteer experience has made me feel as though I have participated in something worthwhile. The board is committed to working together. Board leadership in the committee chairs is impressive. We have an extremely capable professional team.

Being a board member for SCVF has been a rewarding experience. Each board member makes significant contributions and their efforts are recognized and appreciated. I have served on many nonprofit boards and SCVF is the best run, best organized, most efficient organization I have experienced. Philanthropy in the St. Croix Valley is valued and thanks to the SCVF the future of the movement is strong. The board has lively discussion but it is united in its decisions and goals. The small staff does a remarkable job of serving our donors, large and small. Part of the success is the professional attitude of all involved.

The staff and board have worked very well together leveraging the impact for increasing gifts to the foundation and as important, providing grants from the foundation. I've personally experienced the results of this organization through significant growth in gifts to the foundation in a time of uncertain economic conditions, and seeing needed programming benefit from grants increasing the quality of life in the St. Croix Valley, and indeed in other parts of the country. I have met an abundance of good people that founded the SCVF, and continue to help grow this important charity. One of the most significant accomplishemnts of the SCVF is the bringing together of like minded individuals (8 affiliate organziations) in the watershed to collaborate for the greater good. Historically, this would have been impossible, but through persistent leadership, the affiliate organizations comprising the SCVF are learning from each other to increase the giving opportunities to more people. At the most recent Legacy event, one of our grantees explained how a River Falls Wisconsin charity has helped the homeless, in particular young people that have no homes. The SCVF Board is very cohesive and effective. I've witnessed tremendous leadership to bring together affiliate organizations, grow assets under management in difficult economic times and the sensitivity to personally thank donors on a frequent basis. Based on increased gift amounts, increasing granting opportunities, the Board has been very cognizant of the importance of very clean audits, great return on investments for donors and appropriate marketing to constituents. The staff is led by an executive director that has grown quickly as a leader by effective listening and seeking significant board involvement through strategic planning. The staff is well coordinated, professional and highly sensitive to the needs of the donors and the grantees.

The passion of the people on the board is profound. I think the foundation has done an excellent job of diversifying their board. The staff at the foundation is very well read and helpful. The meetings are organized and their pre- meeting materials are timely.