HickoryTech Fund
The mission of the HickoryTech Fund of the Mankato Area Foundation is to support local initiatives and critical community needs across Southern Minnesota. The fund, previously known as the Consolidated Communications Community Fund, will continue to benefit the region with a new name and a rolling application deadline, beginning January 1, 2026.
Since 1963, the Community Fund has contributed $7 million to improve our communities and we are proud of the positive impact these funds have had on the lives of area residents and pleased the HickoryTech Fund will continue to support our region.
If you have any questions about the HickoryTech Fund of the Mankato Area Foundation, please connect with Sarah at sarah@mankatoareafoundation.com at call 507-344-7265.
Important update regarding the Consolidated Communications Community Fund, which has supported nonprofit organizations across southern Minnesota for more than 60 years.
Consolidated recently became a private company and while the company continues to serve our region with consumer and business fiber services, its donor-advised Community Fund will transition to be managed and directed by the Mankato Area Foundation (MAF) effective July 1, 2025.
The fund will continue to support this region with a new name, HickoryTech Fund of the Mankato Area Foundation.
The new name honors the Company's origins, first established in 1963 by the Mankato Citizens Telephone Company, later known as HickoryTech. While the name will shift to reflect that history, the fund’s mission and support in our region won’t change.
About the Fund
Since 1963, the Community Fund has contributed nearly $7 million to support critical community needs in southern Minnesota. We’re proud of the significant positive impact these funds have had on the lives of area residents and pleased the HickoryTech Fund will continue to support our region.
WHAT HICKORYTECH GRANTS DO NOT SUPPORT:
- Organizations without a 501(c)(3) IRS exempt status, except for some government organizations, such as schools.
- Organizations that practice discrimination by race, color, creed, gender, sexual preference or national origin.
- Individuals.
- Political activities or organizations.
- Religious organizations for sectarian purposes.
- Fraternal, veteran or labor groups when serving only their membership.
- Special occasion or goodwill advertising.
- Loans or loan guarantees.
- Cause related marketing.
Sarah Beiswanger
507.389.4583
sarah@mankatoareafoundation.com
Telling Our Story
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS
Continuing its Commitments
The Mankato Area Foundation has helped the Consolidated Communications Community Fund continue providing grants to local organizations.
Amid all the changes that John Finke was thinking about when Enventis was purchased by Consolidated Communications in 2014 was the question of what to do with the company’s foundation. Learn More