The Britton Area Foundation is expanding its board of directors as it looks for new ways to connect with the community and bring additional perspectives into its work.
The foundation recently increased its adult board from seven members to nine, adding Emily Van Lith and Rose Kraft. It also created two student board positions for Britton-Hecla High School students. Senior Carter Chapin and junior Ruthie Moeckly have been selected to fill the first two positions.
The changes are part of an effort to reach more people throughout Britton and the surrounding communities and ensure the foundation continues to evolve with the community it serves.
“We are trying to reach deeper into the community for the different age groups,” said BAF President Patty Roehr.
The Britton Area Foundation was formed in the mid 1990s following a challenge from South Dakota philanthropic leaders Bernie Christenson, Hugh Schilling and Britton native and former Gov. Frank Farrar. The community raised $200,000, which was matched, creating a permanent community fund.
Since its first $335 grant in 1996, the foundation has awarded over 250 grants totaling more than $1 million to organizations and causes throughout Britton, Marshall County and surrounding communities.
The foundation works with the South Dakota Community Foundation to invest its funds, allowing grants to be made from investment earnings while the principal continues to grow.
The foundation had previously been governed by a seven member board. The bylaws allow for up to nine adult board members, and Roehr said the additional positions will bring more opinions and different backgrounds to the board.
About a year ago, the foundation put out a call on Facebook asking community members who were interested in serving to contact the organization and explain why they wanted to be involved. About 10 to 12 people responded.
The board spoke with the interested candidates and ultimately selected Van Lith and Kraft.
Roehr said the foundation was looking for people who could bring different experiences and connections to the board and help the organization reach groups it may not currently be reaching.
“We want to make sure people know what we are,” Roehr said.
The foundation has not had difficulty receiving grant applications, she said, but wants to continue building awareness of the organization and encouraging donations so the fund can continue keeping pace with rising costs and inflation.
The student board positions are another part of that effort. Juniors and seniors at Britton-Hecla High School were invited to apply, with Chapin and Moeckly selected for the inaugural positions.
The senior will serve for one year and the junior will serve for two years. Each student will receive a $1,000 scholarship at the completion of their term. The students are full voting members of the board. Going forward, one junior will be elected each year to serve a two year term.
Roehr said the students bring a perspective that is different from the foundation’s other board members and noted that the board was impressed by the students’ willingness to share their opinions.
“We’re interested in their outlook,” she said, noting that a younger perspective could be particularly valuable when the board considers areas such as teacher grants and other community needs.
Chapin said he was interested in serving because he wanted to give back to the community that has supported him.
“I think the foundation plays an important role in making sure those same opportunities continue to be available for others in our area,” Chapin said. “As a young person, I also think it’s important that we have a voice in the decisions that affect our community’s future.”
Kraft said her decision to join the board came from a desire to give back to the community as she begins a new chapter in her life.
“It has always been a blessing to have been on the receiving end of such a generous community,” Kraft said. “Now, as I begin to transition into a new life after retirement, I saw being on the Britton Area Foundation Board as an opportunity to serve this community and help in making the decisions on how to disperse the fund to serve the youth, schools and our community in the best manner.”
Kraft said she is excited to see how the foundation can help area communities grow.
Roehr said the board’s expansion is part of a broader effort to keep the foundation fresh while retaining the experience of longtime members.
“I used to think that we should replace the older board members, but I’ve learned that we need to keep the experience and passion, but we also need younger, fresher outlooks,” Roehr emphasized.
The goal, she said, is not to simply continue doing things the way they have always been done, but to consider what works for the community today. The foundation is also working on refreshing its logo as part of its effort to increase awareness of its role in the community.
“We can’t keep doing things the same way,” Roehr said. “This is an effort to do better, stay relevant and keep helping Britton and the surrounding communities.”
