At the FM Area Foundation, we take our responsibility to invest and manage funds wisely while ensuring the donor’s intent is always met seriously. We help your charitable gifts make the most significant impact possible on our community year after year.
IRS Form 990 provides annual financial information about the FM Area Foundation’s assets, investments, expenses, and grant awards.
For over 60 years, the FM Area Foundation has worked hand in hand with individuals, families, businesses, professional advisors, and nonprofits to create funds that support our community. We manage more than 500 charitable funds, each with specific objectives or catering to the community’s most pressing needs.
You have the power to make a positive impact in two ways. You can donate to one of our existing funds, or you can contact us to create a charitable fund that matches your values. Whichever route you choose, we are humbled by your trust and grateful for your kindness and generosity.
“We wanted the scholarship to live on as a legacy for Norman and I in our communities to encourage a young person as they seek their dreams.”
"We established a donor-advised fund to consolidate assets that will be used for charitable purposes. Doing so has management and tax advantages that make our dollars go further in helping others.”
“Given charitable giving impacts everything - investment planning, taxes, and estate planning, a holistic approach where someone understands the big picture is often helpful.”
“Support through the FM Area Foundation and its supporters has created an immeasurable impact on our work — delivering hope and fostering a sense of belonging for so many in our community going through a tender time in life. This ripple of kindness is cultivating joy and shared connection in our community, just because, and only made possible through generous donors. What a beautiful gift to know your community cares about you!”
“We are thrilled to engage our daughters as future advisors to our fund. Knowing there will always be a family member to guide our charitable intent makes us feel great.”
“Anything that can motivate a child’s love of reading deserves support. Read to Lead can be such a vehicle.”
“Thank you to the Women's Fund for supporting our moms and children.”
“The community foundation is specifically created to encourage and nourish the giving spirit in the community.”
“Thanks to support from the FM Area Foundation, we completed two major projects. We're very grateful for the Foundation’s generosity as these projects support our mission to preserve and maintain the historic facility.”
"The FM Area Foundation goes above and beyond to help our mission thrive! They have been instrumental in helping us serve so many local families with access to furniture, and are a wonderful asset to us and our community. We are incredibly grateful for their support!"
We aim to maximize donors’ gifts to make a more significant impact in our community.
All assets are managed consistently with sound and prudent fiduciary practices and comply with all applicable laws, including the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act as adopted in North Dakota and Minnesota.
An Investment Committee, appointed by the FM Area Foundation Board of Directors, is responsible for implementing the Investment Policy as directed by the Board of Directors and acting with care, skill, prudence, and diligence.
Assets are expected to generate a reasonable risk-adjusted total return, given normalized capital markets. Over the longer-term (5-year horizon), the assets are expected to yield annual income at a rate equal to and preferably greater than, the market aggregate of investment-grade securities. Emphasis is on investments that assure the return of invested principal over the return on money invested.
Fiduciary standards of prudence apply to investments of the Foundation. Given a range of risk from very low to very high, endowment investments should carry a moderate level of risk.
All investments of Foundation assets will be made in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the Investment Policy. Diversification of assets should be employed.
Because the Portfolio is expected to endure into perpetuity, and inflation can impact its Performance Objective, the long-term risk of not investing in growth securities outweighs the short-term volatility risk.
