Boreal Waters Community Foundation has awarded $689,705 in grants to 88 community organizations across northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. The awards include both regional affiliate community fund grants and area-of-interest grants.
“These grants reflect what’s possible when local leadership and regional resources come together. Our role is to support communities in directing resources where they matter most.” Shaun Floerke, CEO & President of Boreal Waters
Nearly half of the awards made were guided by Boreal Waters’ regional affiliate community funds, which are locally led funds supported by volunteer advisory committees made up of residents who live and work in the communities they serve.
The affiliate partners play a central role in the grantmaking process by reviewing applications, identifying local priorities, and recommending funding decisions. Boreal Waters provides administrative, financial, and grantmaking support, creating a model that combines regional resources with local insight.
This spring, affiliate-led grantmaking included
Together, these funds ensure that grant decisions are locally informed, community-driven, and responsive to the unique needs of each place.
In addition to affiliate-led grants, the remaining awards were made from area-of-interest funds, which are established by generous community members who are passionate about specific issues and committed to creating lasting impact.
These funds enable Boreal Waters to direct resources toward priorities that affect communities across the entire region. From environmental stewardship and expanding opportunity to supporting health and well-being and strengthening community resilience, these investments reflect the values and vision of the donors who created them.
Across all funding areas, these grants support work that is shaping communities in real and lasting ways.
“Grant award decisions are being made by people who live in and care deeply about these communities. Our volunteer grant committees take this responsibility very seriously. They review each request with care and make tough decisions as the level of need continues to rise.” Amber Burns, Director of Community Impact & Partnerships at Boreal Waters
From small towns to Tribal communities to regional hubs, this funding reflects the power of collective giving and local leadership. Each grant represents an investment not just in a project, but in the people, partnerships, and ideas that continue to shape the future of our region.
Beginning in 2027, Boreal Waters will be adjusting the timing of its competitive grant cycles to better align resources and streamline the application process. The Spring Grant Cycle will continue to include regional affiliate community fund grants, while all area-of-interest fund grants will shift to the Fall Grant Cycle.
This change means that grants from funds such as the Fund for Women and Girls and the Four Cedars Environmental Fund will be awarded in the fall moving forward. The updated structure is designed to create greater clarity for applicants and allow for more focused review and decision-making across funding areas.