NEW ULM — New Ulm Area Foundation (NUAF) has announces a new enhanced, collaborative relationship with Leave a Legacy – New Ulm (LAL). Going forward, the Foundation will provide continuing financial support and work closer with LAL to help educate the community on ways people can leave a lasting legacy and keep the New Ulm area great.

This will allow for streamlining operations and reducing some redundant efforts. The new relationship also serves as an example for other nonprofits to look for ways to work together and become more efficient so they can focus more on their mission and not have to spend as much time and money on operations.

NUAF will work collaboratively with LAL to engage investment advisors and estate planning attorneys to help them educate their clients about local nonprofits and legacy considerations. For the past three years NUAF has been the “fiscal agent” for LAL. In that capacity the Foundation provided banking and bookkeeping support for LAL.

NUAF is a community foundation whose mission is to address the needs of the community by growing its endowment funds and providing financial grants from the earnings of those funds.

LAL is a group of people with the goal of educating the public and promoting the idea of philanthropy through bequests and estate plans, and by increasing awareness of, and interest in, charitable giving options. LAL consists of professional advisors and concerned citizens, working with nonprofit organizations including social services and arts organizations, places of worship, health agencies, educational institutions and other philanthropic associations to expand networking opportunities, continue educational efforts and collectively promote donor charitable gifts for our community.

Missy Dreckman, Chairperson of LAL, said, “Our goal is to promote philanthropy across the community through our Leave a Legacy – New Ulm Mission: We act as a collaborative resource that shares interests, challenges, goals and educational opportunities to spur others to live charitably.”

In discussing the proposal before the Board of Directors, NUAF President Gene Clark said, “NUAF and LAL have common interests and both organizational missions will be more impactful as a collaborative effort. Joining LAL’s inspiration of giving with NUAF’s commitment of providing for financial needs in the community just makes sense.”