North Dakota Community Foundation

North Dakota Community Foundation Donor Story

The T.A. and Anna Solheim Permanent Endowment was established with a gift from the estates of T.A. and Anna Solheim of Minot. The Solheims directed that over $270,000 from their estate go to the NDCF for the Minot Community Endowment Fund.

Mr. Solheim served as the first chair of the North Dakota Community Foundation beginning in 1977 and served through the mid-1980s. Under his leadership, the North Dakota Community Foundation invented the community fund concept which has been replicated all across the United States. The Community Fund program at the NDCF has grown to over 40 North Dakota communities.

With the Solheim’s generous gift, the endowment balance of the Minot Community Endowment Fund exceeds $840,000. Brad Stai, Chair of the local Minot Community Endowment Fund Advisory Committee said, “With Ted and Anna Solheim’s generous addition, we will be able to give over $33,000 in grants for 2010. The beauty of the Solheim’s gift is that it will continue to give back to our community each year going forward. This is the magic of giving to the Minot Community Endowment Fund!” To date, the Fund has given over $350,000 in grants to support Minot area projects.

The Solheim’s gift was matched by the Otto Bremer Foundation in the amount of $10,000 and by the North Dakota Community Foundation in the amount of $5,000.

Story from: North Dakota Community Foundation Annual Report