How Midco works to be a force for good in the community

Megan Raposa -

This is a paid piece from Midco.

Simplified: The Midco Foundation works to be a force for good year-round. From encouraging employees to volunteer to offering grant funding for local nonprofits, here's a look at some of the ways the company is helping out Sioux Falls.

Why it matters

  • The Midco Foundation was established in 1987 as the nonprofit arm of Midco, and since then the organization has donated more than $5 million to nonprofit organizations, governments and schools across the Midco footprint.
  • Earlier this month, the foundation opened applications for its biannual grant program for nonprofits who benefit Midco's service area.
  • The foundation also encourages Midco team members to find ways to volunteer and positively impact their community. This year, Midco had more than 150 team members out and about volunteering at company-organized events in Sioux Falls in September alone.
  • The idea of giving back is so engrained in Midco's culture that teams will often look to volunteering as a way of not only being a force for good, but also of bonding as a team.
"Our teams actively choose to build relationships and celebrate wins by going out to volunteer at Feeding South Dakota or to help serve food at The Banquet," Foundation Executive Director Wynne Haakenstad said.

Tell me more about Midco's give back efforts

Midco's approach to encouraging giving back focuses on finding causes team members care most about.

  • The Midco Foundation has offered a gift match program for nearly 30 years, and Midco offers volunteer time off so its workers have the flexibility to help out when and where they're needed.

During this year's Midco Giving Days, teams were encouraged to find give-back opportunities that aligned with their members' values.

"We have a diverse group of team members with different interests and it's really neat to see the different ways they went out to help in the community," Haakenstad said.

It's also unique for a midsize company like Midco to have such a strong commitment to local philanthropy.

  • Many of Midco's team members give regularly to United Way or serve on a local nonprofit board.

Tell me more about grant funding

These grants typically are between $1,000 to $5,000, and are awarded to a wide variety of organizations annually.

Nonprofits who have previously received Midco Foundation grants include:

  • Breathe Bravely,
  • The Sioux Falls Education Foundation,
  • LifeScape,
  • Building Sustainable Connections,
  • REACH Literacy,
  • Embe,
  • Feeding South Dakota,
  • Journey of Hope,
  • Lutheran Social Services,
  • The Compass Center,
  • And many more.

Grants are awarded twice per year to help fund special projects, programming, equipment or facility improvements.

What happens next?

Applications for grants from the Midco Foundation will remain open until March 24, and grantees will be notified by mid-June.

Learn more about eligibility and the application process here.

"Being a force for good is a message that comes out consistently with everything we do," Haakenstad said. "I think it's been instilled that it's who we are and that's what Midco stands for."