Minnwest Bank partners with Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines to award nearly $1 million to nonprofit organizations across Minnesota through the Member Impact Fund

Minnwest Bank, in partnership with Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (FHLB Des Moines), is pleased to announce that 50 nonprofit organizations across Minnesota will receive a total of $980,400 in grants through the Member Impact Fund. This matching grant program will result in FHLB Des Moines awarding $20 million in funding to support affordable housing and community development in Minnesota.

“Minnwest Bank fosters a culture of volunteerism and altruism across its 34-branch footprint, all part of our purpose of building strong, vibrant communities,” said Ivan Van Essen, President of Minnwest Bank. “We are proud to donate to so many positive organizations to make an impact across the communities we serve.”

Each recipient organization was nominated by local Minnwest Bank staff, with Minnwest Bank submitting a donation and FHLB Des Moines matching the donation 3-fold. Recipient organizations and total donation/grant awards include:

1. Dawson-Boyd Schools – Backpack for Jacks program (Dawson): $16,000
2. 360 Communities (Burnsville): $100,000
3. The Open Door (Eagan): $40,000
4. Winona Community Warming Center (Winona): $10,000
5. Hometown Resource Center (Saint Charles): $10,000
6. MN Dairy Initiatives – One Gallon at a Time (Lewiston): $10,000
7. Winona Volunteer Services (Winona): $10,000
8. ATLAS of Rock County (Luverne): $10,000
9. Generations, Inc. (Luverne): $10,000
10. Kids Rock! Child Care Center (Luverne): $40,000
11. Luverne Area Community Foundation - AED Project Fund (Luverne): $10,000
12. Rock County Opportunities (Luverne): $10,000
13. Sanford Health Foundation - Minnesota Reach Out and Read (Luverne): $10,000
14. Luverne Area Community Foundation - SW Minnesota CEO (Luverne): $12,000
15. Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership (Slayton): $16,000
16. Marshall Area YMCA (Marshall): $12,000
17. United Community Action Partnership Food Shelf (Marshall): $20,000
18. United Way of Southwest Minnesota (Marshall): $34,000
19. Girls on the Run Minnesota (Saint Paul): $20,000
20. Sakan Community Resources Inc. (Bloomington): $20,000
21. The Lift Garage (Minneapolis): $20,000
22. Westonka Food Shelf (Mound): $30,000
23. Montevideo Area Youth Center (Montevideo): $10,000
24. Prairie Five Community Action - Bring It Home (Montevideo): $10,000
25. Prairie Five Community Action - Fuel Assistance (Montevideo): $10,000
26. New Prague Arts Foundation – PRAHA Outdoor Performance Stage (New Prague): $108,000
27. Scott County Community Development Agency – Small Business Initiative (Shakopee): $10,000
28. Child's Place (Redwood Falls): $20,000
29. Redwood Area Communities Foundation - Share the Spirit (Redwood Falls): $16,000
30. Redwood Area Food Shelf (Redwood Falls): $10,000
31. Redwood Area Food Shelf - Freezin' for Food (Redwood Falls): $10,000
32. Wabasso Area Food Emergency Reserve Inc. (Wabasso): $10,000
33. We Care Project (Morgan): $10,000
34. Women's Rural Advocacy Programs, Inc. (Redwood Falls): $20,000
35. Bolder Options (Rochester): $14,000
36. Children's Organ Transplant Association - Minnesota Fund (Rochester): $36,000
37. Collider Foundation (Rochester): $40,000
38. First Homes (Rochester): $40,000
39. RAEDI Foundation: (Rochester): $14,400
40. Somali American Social Service Association (Rochester): $12,000
41. Toys for Tots Southeast Minnesota (Hayfield): $20,000
42. Central Minnesota Housing Partnership, Inc (Augusta): $10,000
43. Central Minnesota Task Force on Battered Women – Anna Marie’s Alliance (St. Cloud): $10,000
44. East African Dream (St. Cloud): $10,000
45. Katherine Johnson Education Center (St. Cloud): $10,000
46. ROCORI Action Packs (Richmond): $10,000
47. Murray County Cattlemen's Association (Slayton): $10,000
48. WonderWorld Preschool Inc. (Slayton): $10,000
49. Tracy Area United Fund (Tracy): $10,000
50. Area Food Shelf of New Richland (New Richland): $10,000

Local Minnwest Bank branches and employees have been proud volunteers and contributors to the recipient organizations for years. Together, they have been dedicated to improving their community through affordable housing and community development initiatives.

FHLB Des Moines provides funding solutions to more than 1,200 members to support mortgage lending, economic development and affordable housing in the communities they serve. The Member Impact Fund provides FHLB Des Moines members up to $3 for every $1 in matching grant donations to strengthen the ability of not-for-profits or government entities to support the needs of their communities.

“The Member Impact Fund continues to be a powerful resource in supporting our members as they expand access to affordable housing and drive community development,” says Kris Williams, president and CEO of FHLB Des Moines. “It’s inspiring to see the partnerships centered around improving local communities in such a variety of ways.”

Recipient organizations were selected based on the needs for grant funding to support capacity-building or working capital necessary to strengthen their ability to serve affordable housing or community development needs including job training, affordable housing, financial literacy, food banks and youth programs

This member matching grant program is part of FHLB Des Moines’ ongoing mission to offer a variety of funding options through its members.

Since its founding in 2023, the Member Impact Fund has supported affordable housing and community development with nearly $70 million in grants awarded by FHLB Des Moines. Member institutions apply and receive Member Impact Fund matching grants to be distributed to eligible organizations alongside their own grant contribution.

About Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines is deeply committed to strengthening communities, serving 13 states and three U.S Pacific territories as a member-owned cooperative. We work together with over 1,200 member institutions to support affordable housing, economic development and community improvement.

FHLB Des Moines is one of 11 regional Banks that make up the Federal Home Loan Bank System. Members include community and commercial banks, credit unions, insurance companies, thrifts and community development financial institutions. FHLB Des Moines is wholly owned by its members and receives no taxpayer funding. For additional information about FHLB Des Moines, please visit www.fhlbdm.com.

About Minnwest Bank

Minnwest Bank is a family-owned financial services company providing agriculture, commercial and personal banking services throughout Minnesota and South Dakota. It is one of Minnesota’s largest banks, with over $3 billion in assets and 34 branch locations. For more information about Minnwest Bank, visit minnwestbank.com.