All Thriving Is Mutual: Our 2024 Impact at Boreal Waters
In 2024, our community showed what’s possible when we come together.
At Boreal Waters Community Foundation, we witnessed generosity flow across 25,000 square miles of northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin—opening doors, fueling dreams, and building resilience in the place we all call home.
This year marked a bold new chapter: our rebrand from the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation to Boreal Waters. Inspired by the resilient boreal forest and the waters that define life in our region, our new name reflects the strength, diversity, and deep-rooted relationships that shape our communities.
What hasn’t changed is our commitment to this place and its people.
View Our Full 2024 Impact Report »
With your generosity and our shared commitment, we have the vision, resources, and resolve to shape a strong and hopeful future. Shaun Floerke, CEO & President
2024 by the Numbers
- $5.2 million granted and awarded in scholarships
- 282 organizations received support
- 149 students awarded scholarships
- 9 new funds created
- $116.7 million in total assets stewarded for long-term impact
Behind each of the 470 funds we manage is a story of generosity and hope—families honoring loved ones, businesses giving back, neighbors shaping a stronger future.
Spotlight:
The Community Opportunity Fund
The Community Opportunity Fund, our region’s permanent civic endowment, is powered by collective giving. Together, we granted $2.1 million in 2024 to projects that advance opportunity, resilience, belonging, and transformation. Grants ranging from $25,000 - $50,000 supported a diverse range of projects including:
- Fresh meals delivered to neighbors on the East Hillside from Duluth Center for Women and Children's Nourish Program.
- New child care facility at the Ely Community Hub, giving parents peace of mind
- Fostering belonging while cooking pasties at the Hibbing Tourist Senior Center
- Cultural preservation with the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
- Healing and hope through 23rd Veteran’s trauma recovery programs
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Each gift is a drop that sends ripples of change outward, building a stronger, more connected future.
Rooted in Local Communities
In 2024, our regional affiliate partners granted $259,929 back into their communities.
- Cook County Community Fund
- South Shore Community Fund
- Eveleth Community Foundation Fund
- Two Harbors Area Community Fund
These local leaders ensure giving stays close to home, funding local ideas and building a brighter future from the ground up.
A Future We Build Together
Our work is only possible because of the trust and generosity of donors who care deeply about this region’s future. Because of you, students pursue education, families find stability, artists create, leaders grow, and communities thrive. Thank you.