Together, giving looks good on us.
Since 1974, the Mankato Area Foundation has been a driving force in building a stronger, more connected community through the power of giving. We bring together individuals, families, and organizations who share a commitment to making a lasting impact.
As a trusted and permanent resource, we help donors align their generosity with local needs, ensuring their contributions create meaningful change—today and for generations to come. By providing expert guidance and philanthropic leadership, we empower donors to turn their charitable visions into lasting legacies.

DONOR ADVISED FUNDS
Generosity. For Good.
A Donor Advised Fund is an effective tool for charitable giving that provides benefits similar to a private or family foundation without the hassles. Donor Advised Funds minimize the worries and administrative burdens of grantmaking, so you can put your time and energy into what really matters: making a meaningful impact on the community, organizations and causes you value.

GIVING IN ACTION
Philanthropy Review 2025
In this edition of the Philanthropy Review, you'll notice a lot of action words: strengthen, energize, transform, honor. Because when people like you choose to act with generosity and intention, incredible things happen. Behind every story and every gift is someone who chose to do something meaningful.
Telling Our Story

COMMUNITY IMPACT
Feeding the Need
A regional response to food insecurity.
How a coordinated effort is transforming excess into access across South Central Minnesota.
On the day Tom Polich agreed to meet to talk about food rescue efforts, he showed up with a spreadsheet of data and a car full of squash.
The squash, part of a 684-pound rescue underway that day, was headed to the St. Peter Food Shelf and the Mayo Clinic Health System produce refrigerators, where it would be available for patients showing signs of food insecurity. Read More
News & Press
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20
Jul
MAF collaborates on Greater Mankato Mental Health Hub
Read moreMankato Area Foundation joined Talk of the Town with the Mankato Area United Way and Mayo Clinic Health System to raise awareness of the Greater
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17
Jul
Behind the Mural: Donor funds help bring public art to Lower North
Read moreSupport from the Gene Beiwen and Noel Van Tol Fund and the Marian Anderson Fund, both held at the Mankato Area Foundation, helped bring a
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11
Jun
Connecting donors to impact: A closer look at DAFS
Read moreIn this radio interview, our team shares how donor advised funds work, how they benefit our community, and how we serve as a trusted, knowledgeable
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17
May
Big impact for regional families: DAF helps support Children’s Museum
Read moreA transformational gift to the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota, made through a donor advised fund at Mankato Area Foundation, is helping bring expanded opportunities
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17
May
MAF Funds help bring creativity to the community
Read moreSupport from the Gene Biewen and Noel Van Tol Fund and the Marian Anderson Fund of the Mankato Area Foundation is helping spark new public







