Our impact

Over 40 years of growing - together

Our journey began in 1982 as the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation, rooted in a commitment to invest in the people, ideas, and places that make our region strong.

In 2025, we became Boreal Waters Community Foundation—a new name that better reflects the depth, reach, and evolving story of our work across the North. Our purpose hasn’t changed, but our impact continues to grow.
About our name change
Girl Scouts Lakes and Pines

1982

For more than four decades, we’ve partnered with local leaders, donors, organizations, and Tribal Nations to support bold ideas and grassroots solutions.

2025

From scholarships and small-town projects to regional initiatives and long-term giving, we’re here to support lasting change—rooted in place and guided by community.

By the numbers

In the past year alone:

Over $2.5 M

distributed in grants and scholarships

345

community organizations supported

266

local students awarded scholarships
Explore our latest annual report

Over the past four decades:

$52.9 M

in community grants

$22.2 M

in local scholarships

$117 M

in total assets
stewarded with care

Stories of Impact

Behind every number is a story worth telling.

Explore how our work is showing up in real lives and local communities—from food sovereignty to youth leadership, environmental stewardship to cultural renewal.

From Wall Street to Main Street: Investing in Solutions That Hit Home

May 19, 2025
We’re in the middle of a housing crisis. Families are struggling to find stable, affordable places to live. Employers are losing talent. Communities are feeling the strain.
May 19, 2025
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$1.5 Million Awarded: Celebrating Our Spring 2025 Scholarship Recipients

April 29, 2025
Behind every award is a story of hard work and community belief, and since 1982 we’ve proudly granted more than $27 million in scholarships to help students pursue their dreams.
April 29, 2025
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Cast Outdoor Adventures is Reimagining Accessibility & Leadership in the Wilderness

April 3, 2025
Cast Outdoor Adventures enlists adaptive dog sledding to empower people with disabilities as mushers in Ely’s wilderness. Supported by COA grants, this inclusive program builds confidence, leadership, and community in primal outdoor adventure.
April 3, 2025
Read
Discover More Impact Stories

Help Grow Our Impact

Our work is possible because of people like you—neighbors, donors, and partners who believe in the strength of community and the power of local action.

When you give to Boreal Waters, you’re investing in our communities with care and intention—creating ripples of impact that reach far beyond what we can see.
Make a gift