Fall 2026

Alissa Oeltjenbruns

Vice President of Philanthropy and Community Vitality

alissao@smifoundation.org | 507.214.7023



SMIF's board and staff believe in SMIF's vision and back their beliefs with financial support. This past fiscal year, we once again had 100% of our staff and board as donors to SMIF. Staff gathered to celebrate with an afternoon of games. There might have even been a skit, we cannot confirm nor deny.

When you love where you live and love where you work, it shows in the quality of the programs we provide and the support we can spread throughout the region. We're proud that every staff and board member chose to make a financial gift, underscoring their confidence in SMIF's mission and impact.

Philanthropists can choose however they want to invest their money. What is it about southern Minnesota that made you want to invest in its future?

I grew up in Rochester and moved to Harmony in 1979 when I decided to buy the Harmony House Restaurant. Being successful there for 16 years afforded me the opportunity to become a Financial Advisor and help others achieve financial success. I feel blessed to have been born in SE MN and even more so the USA. Now I feel both the want and the obligation to continue being a positive force where I live.

You can read the full spotlight here.

Spotlight: Kenyon adds picnic shelters with help from grant

Photo: Students and volunteers stand with one of the completed shelters at Depot Park in Kenyon. Photo courtesy of Kenyon Community Development.

In 2025, the City of Kenyon received a SMIF Small Town Grant to add two new picnic shelters at the Depot Park. The project was made possible by the collaboration of local organizations, the school district and volunteers.

Our partners at CEDA wrote a wonderful article capturing the project, which was shared by the Kenyon Leader:

"A unique aspect of this project is that the shelters were built by students in the Kenyon-Wanamingo School District construction program, offering students valuable hands-on learning experiences while making a lasting impact in the community."



Read the full story.

Book pick up day was a blast!

We always look forward to our Early Literacy Grant book pick up days! Members from 75 organizations stopped by to pick up 26,797 children’s books. Watch the video to hear how a few will use their books to support kids and families across our region.

As always, we are incredibly grateful to our volunteers for their help and to Capstone and ABDO, Mankato-based publishers of children’s books, and to you, our donors, for making this grant possible!

Mara Schack, SMIF loan client and owner of Tone Music in Owatonna, shared her experience working with SMIF and what it means to bring music to all ages and abilities in the community.

"Music is in my bones, and I've always thought about having my own music studio," Mara shared. "It’s still a business, but at the same time I’m trying to provide music to all ages, levels and abilities in the community. I'm a firm believer that you can learn at any age.

"It has been really fun to be part of an organization that is working kind of like I am: community driven and wanting to help others. I feel like SMIF's values align with mine in a lot of ways, so it it feels like a good partnership."

Supporting SMIF directly supports small business owners like Mara.

To see more of how your dollars are at work, read Mara's full story.

These are the grant opportunities that are currently open at SMIF:

• Taylor Rural Improvements Grant: This grant seeks to fund capital projects in communities under 10,000. This year the grant will focus on enhancements to community gathering spaces, and applicants may apply for up to $25k.

• Taylor Rural Child Care Grant: This grant is for communities of 30,000 or fewer. Additionally, this grant prioritizes projects that benefit families facing disproportionate access barriers. This may include low-income families, communities of color, immigrant families, families needing nontraditional hours, children with disabilities/special health needs.

• Early Care and Education Grant: Grant funds can be used to support social, emotional, physical and mental health, training and development to operate and address the needs of young children, or other activities necessary to maintain the services in early care and education.

BridgED brings together leaders and practitioners to share real-world successes, explore regional trends and tackle common challenges through interactive discussions, workshops and peer learning.

Donating farmland leaves a lasting legacy

Benya Kraus with her cousin Jason Kraus, a farmer in Waseca County

SMIF's Acres for Good program allows farm families to donate their land as a charitable gift upon retirement or passing. SMIF will retain the land and keep it in production by a rental arrangement, allowing farmers the peace of mind that their land will continue to be farmed.

The net income stream from the land can be used to support southern Minnesota communities well into the future, benefiting either a local Community Foundation, a specific cause or SMIF’s programs which support children, entrepreneurs and community vitality in the region.

If you have any questions or want more information about this program, contact Alissa Oeltjenbruns at alissao@smifoundation.org.



As we continue to celebrate 40 years of impact, we invite you to help us invest in the future of entrepreneurs, children and communities.

Thanks to investment earnings, your gift will continue to grow and have an even greater impact on the region in years to come.

Leave a lasting legacy with FreeWill, a free online tool to write your legal will at no personal cost to you.

This resource helps protect your family and friends, plan beneficiaries for your assets and support the causes and communities you love.