A Decade of Transformation And The Inspiring Vision For The Future

As 2023 comes to a close, and we wrap up our 10-year celebrations, we can’t help but feel inspired by the vision, passion, and generosity of the people who continue to invest their time, talents, and resources into the communities they love and call home. 

10 years ago, with a shared vision and belief in Mitchell County, our founding donors, early fundholders, and original board members paved the way for where we are today. 

From the initial desire to create a community foundation to the growth of over $7 million dollars in assets, Solomon Valley Community Foundation continues to dream and work towards a vibrant future for Mitchell County. Since our inception, SVCF has awarded over $4.2 million dollars in competitive and donor-directed grants and scholarships. We have worked with donors to create over 45 various funds, held 7 successful Match Month campaigns, partnered with the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development to create Mitchell County Strong, and launched the Dream Big initiative. 

Leading up to, and throughout this past year, our board has taken the opportunity to not only reflect on the accomplishments of the past but also cast a vision and strategic plan for the future. As an organization we are looking forward to taking what we have learned and continuing to grow, adding layers of impact, outreach, and donor support so that Mitchell County can continue to grow and thrive. 

During this past year, we also spent a considerable amount of time throwing parties! 

In March we had a delightful afternoon filled with tea, delicious food, and wonderful conversation at our first-ever Ladies Tea. Then in April, in conjunction with our 10-year anniversary, we were able to host a donor appreciation dinner where we also unveiled our 

new branding and aspirations for the future. And then to wrap things up, in May we hosted an After Hours event where we invited the public at large for an evening out and took the opportunity to showcase our new branding and introduce Julia Rabe as our new Executive Director. 

Over the last ten years, we have undoubtedly grown as an organization. Both in terms of monetary impact and grants given, but also in knowledge, experience, leadership, and relationships. We have forged partnerships with local businesses, philanthropists, organizations, and passionate individuals who share a common desire to enhance and promote the quality of life within our communities. The exciting part is, we're just getting started!

As a foundation, we recognize the value and importance of the work our area non-profits provide. In the coming year, and consecutive years to come, our Leadership Capacity Committee will be focusing on ways to better support our non-profits and the work they do. We have since started hosting a non-profit roundtable in the fall, and a meetup in the spring. During these times area non-profits come together to share about the initiatives they are working on,  and the difficulties they are facing allowing time for networking, support, and overall connection and collaboration.  During our spring meetups, SVCF provides tools, resources, and information pertinent to the non-profit world. This past spring, in preparation for a new Give to Grow Day initiative, SVCF presented information on organization funds and the benefits they can provide.

As an organization, we are also excited to start developing stronger relationships with our area schools. This coming fall we will be working with 5th-grade students across the entire county on ways they can give back by utilizing their time, talents, and treasures helping them build strong ties to their communities and understanding that even the largest trees start from tiny seeds. 

Finally, we would be remiss if we did not take the time to recognize and reflect on the importance and generosity of our donors. It is only because of our donors that we are able to do the work that we do. It is their genuine care and desire to make an impact within the areas, organizations, and causes they are most passionate about, that allows us the capacity to make grants, create initiatives, and fund operations to continue propelling the work forward.  

As this year progresses we look forward to the many opportunities to continue stewarding those relationships so that we can better understand the desires of you, our donors, and tell your stories in hopes others will be inspired as well. 

Thank you for all that you have done for Mitchell County. Your belief in our communities has ignited possibilities and created ripples of change that resonate far beyond our immediate reach.

Here’s to another decade of purpose, progress, and making a difference. Thank you for an inspiring 10 years, and cheers for the countless possibilities that await!