For Immediate Release
March 30, 2023
MCF Approves Merger with MCDC
Mobridge, SD--The Mobridge Community Fund (MCF) began in March 1999 when twelve community members formed a corporation to promote and maintain a fund to benefit charitable causes. Every spring for the last 24 years, they have organized a capital campaign and distributed proceeds to local nonprofits for projects and programs beneficial to the community. This year, the MCF Board recognized an opportunity to increase their impact through a merger with a new local nonprofit, the Mobridge Community Development Corporation (MCDC).
MCDC, like MCF, is a 501c3 tax-deductible non-profit organization with a focus on helping Mobridge non-profits fund projects and programs that benefit local residents. MCF has created a well-known annual fund drive that makes it easy for local donors to contribute to many different causes at one time, while MCDC has focused on writing grants and providing technical support for partner organizations. Upon merging, the MCF will become a MCDC program and a portion of funds raised through the annual campaign will be used by MCDC to meet match requirements for grants that benefit local community organizations.
“This merger is going to allow us to apply for larger matching grants on behalf of our partner organizations,” said Haden Merkel, Board President of MCDC. MCDC recently applied for a $10,000 matching grant to help Mobridge Youth Organization fund improvements at American Legion Park. The foundation was so impressed with Mobridge Youth Organization and their project that they offered to match up to $17,600. “Suddenly, we were awarded even more than we had hoped,” recalls Merkel, “but how could we raise the additional funds to meet the match requirement?” It was a great problem to have, but MCDC realized that without building their own capital fund, they might miss out on larger matching grant opportunities in the future.
Meanwhile, the Board of the Mobridge Community Fund was following the young nonprofit’s work and recognized a strategic way to help both organizations further their missions. By leveraging annual campaign dollars as matching funds for grants, the MCF Board could double or triple their donors’ positive impact. They reached out to MCDC about the possibility of joining forces. “We have built great relationships with donors and nonprofit partners over the years,” said Sue Aman, MCF Treasurer, “we view this step as a win-win situation for everyone involved and are excited for the future of MCDC and the Mobridge Community Fund.”
There will be very little change to how the fund is operated this year. Applications for assistance have already been received for 2023, and the MCF and MCDC Boards will work together through the process to make sure the merger is as smooth as possible for donors and partner organizations. The merger will be explained on the brochures that are mailed out to regular donors and on the new online MCF donation platform, www.bit.ly/MobridgeCommunityFund. Information on how local nonprofits can partner with MCDC and continue to benefit from the Mobridge Community Fund will be mailed out with donations and is available on MCDC’s website at www.mobridgecdc.org/partners/become-a-partner.