BAF MARKS 30 YEARS OF GIVING

    While they often operate quietly behind the scenes, the Britton Area Foundation (BAF) has spent the past 30 years making a lasting impact on the Britton community and surrounding areas. As the organization celebrates its milestone anniversary, it’s a chance to highlight a legacy of generosity—and to remind the public that BAF is still going strong and ready to support the community for decades to come.
    Formed in the mid-1990s through a challenge issued by South Dakota philanthropic leaders Bernie Christenson (first president of the South Dakota Community Foundation), Hugh Schilling (founder of Horton), and Britton native and former Gov. Frank Farrar, the idea was simple but ambitious: raise $200,000 locally, and it would be matched. The community rose to the occasion, and the Britton Area Foundation was born.
    It started with a few visionary men who wanted to help Britton thrive into the future, explained current BAF President Patty Roehr. “They knew it would take long-term thinking and community support to make that happen.”
    BAF was one of the earliest community savings accounts to partner with the South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF), which manages investments and ensures the fund can support local needs indefinitely. While the fund’s first grant in 1996 was just $335 for the DARE program in local schools, the impact has grown steadily ever since.
    Over the past three decades, BAF has awarded nearly 250 grants totaling more than $1 million ($1,046,696) to nonprofits and causes across Britton and Marshall County. BAF also serves surrounding communities outside of the county, including Hecla and Claremont.
    These grants have been made possible by $1.16 million in donations—most of them modest, many made in honor or memory of loved ones. Grants are made from fund interest only, allowing the principal to continue growing and sustaining future giving. Thanks to careful investment, the fund currently holds nearly $1.3 million, ensuring continued support for years to come.
    In the beginning, the concept was novel and perhaps confusing to folks. Longtime board member and past president Ralph Skare said, “People were unsure at first. They wanted their donation used immediately. But we had to help folks understand that the point was to grow a permanent resource for the area.”
    In the early years, that education often meant personal visits and informal coffee meetings to explain the Foundation’s mission. Today, BAF’s role is better understood, and its reach is broad. Funds have supported student scholarships, athletic programs, fire departments, the hospital, the American Legion, local museums, the veterans memorial, and more.
    The organization is led by a seven-member advisory council: Roehr, Skare, Connie Steiner, Morgan Kilker, Matthew Schuller, Jodi Meyer, and Sandra Gresh. Together, they oversee not only the general fund but also several specialized funds under the BAF umbrella:
    •    The Donald Naddy Fund, established in 2017, has distributed over $450,000 to a wide range of local causes.
    •    The Bertha Gronseth Pool Fund, launched in 2001, has supported pool improvements and swimming lessons for families in need.
    •    The Keith & Carolann Anderson Technical School Scholarship Fund, created in 2022, assists Britton-Hecla students attending technical colleges in South Dakota.
    Roehr and Skare emphasized that the Foundation welcomes both donors and applicants. “It’s a great place for memorials, estate gifts, or even pledges spread out over time,” Roehr said. “It’s an opportunity to see your money grow and keep giving back.” To donate or work with BAF to establish a new fund, community members can talk to any board member or send correspondence to PO Box 415.
    Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status are encouraged to apply for funding year-round at sdcommunityfoundation.org/local-impact/community-foundations/britton. Organizations that do not hold 501(c)(3) status may also be eligible for funding under special circumstances.
    “At the end of the day, we’re here to help the community,” said Skare. “We’d love nothing more than to be ‘broke’ by year’s end because we’ve given all we can.”
    As BAF celebrates 30 years, its members remain focused on the future—continuing to serve as a vital source of support for the people and projects that make Britton and Marshall County strong.