Feature F “By making homes
RAF has a rich history of putting philanthropy into action in the Rochester community.
available for low income home buyers, First Homes is addressing a vital need for affordable housing in our area,” says Sara Batzlaff, president of Rochester Title & Minnesota Secured Title. “Because First Homes often rehabilitates houses that are in need of repair before making them available to qualified buyers, the entire community benefits from improved housing stock that is designed to require little upfront maintenance by the home owner. New construction homes in the program add to the inventory of affordable housing. In either case,
a property often stays in the program even after the current homeowner sells it, offering continuing benefits to individuals and families with lower incomes as well as to the community at large.” Rochester Area Foundation is also a leader in convening stakeholders and thought leaders around opportunities within the community. As a partner in several community initiatives including Cradle to Career, Nonprofit Consortium, and the Coalition for Rochester Area Housing, RAF provides not only expertise, but fiscal oversight, as well as opportunities to bring diverse voices together to create successful outcomes. “The Foundation partners with the business community as a philanthropic partner, providing a vehicle for community charitable investments, and by being a liaison between the nonprofit sector and business sector,” Woodford says. “We are proud of the diversity within our community work, from affordable housing to charitable giving, and we regularly engage our business partners in our work of building better communities for all. We are grateful for the gift of time and talents from our volunteer leadership, many of whom are leaders from the business community.”
Jennifer Woodford, president of the Rochester Area Foundation.
Looking ahead, the Rochester Area Foundation Board of Trustees and staff will continue to support putting philanthropy into action to invest resources in the community. “Charitable giving through the Foundation provides direct service to nonprofit organizations the opportunity to improve outcomes for families and individuals throughout our community,” Woodford says.
| Advantage Magazine 6
March 2023
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