The Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation (GRACF) is pleased to announce a new matching opportunity designed to strengthen six local Community Funds and ensure long-term support for the communities they serve.

Participating funds include the Deer River Area Community Fund, Greater Itasca Area Community Fund, Greenway Area Community Fund, Hill City Area Community Fund, Nashwauk Area Community Fund, and the newly established Remer Area Community Fund.

Through a recent grant from the Blandin Foundation, each participating Community Fund has the opportunity to raise up to $50,000 over the next two years. Every dollar raised will be matched dollar-for-dollar – up to $50,000 – by the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation, permanently increasing each fund’s endowment and the annual grants it can provide to local projects and nonprofits.

The match period runs from now through December 31, 2027, and all gifts received during that timeframe will count toward the goal.

Why do Community Funds matter?  Community Funds are permanent endowments created by and for the people of a specific community. Gifts are invested for long-term growth, and a portion of the earnings is granted out each year to support local needs—parks and playgrounds, youth programs, community events, emergency needs, arts and culture, and more. The five existing Community Funds have granted back almost $900,000 in grants to their communities since many were established in 2017, and increasing their endowments will allow them to increase this annual granting.

These funds are guided by local advisory committees who understand their community’s priorities and help recommend grants annually. Because the funds are endowed, they provide a steady, reliable source of support – forever.

Over time, even modest gifts can grow into meaningful community impact. What often begins with neighbors asking, “What can we do to make our community more vibrant?” can become a permanent source of local pride and possibility.

This matching opportunity comes at a significant moment. Research from the University of Minnesota Extension shows that $539 million is expected to be transferred between generations in Itasca County over the next 10 years and $2.85 billion over the next 50 years. This “transfer of wealth” represents one of the greatest opportunities in our lifetime to ensure that local assets remain invested in the communities where they were earned.  Capturing just 5% of the 10-year transfer of wealth would create over $26.9 million in new endowments.  Over 20 years, this endowment creation could support grantmaking of over $32.1 million.

Community Funds provide a simple and powerful way for community members – past and present – to leave a lasting legacy. Whether through current gifts, memorials and honorariums, or estate plans, donors can help ensure their hometown continues to thrive for generations to come.

“This is a significant opportunity for our communities,” said Mindy Nuhring, Executive Director of the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation. “With the match in place, every gift made to a participating Community Fund will be doubled, immediately increasing the long-term impact for that community.”

How to Give

Community members are encouraged to begin contributing now to help their local Community Fund reach its $50,000 goal. Gifts of all sizes are welcome and will be matched during the two-year period.

To learn more about the Community Funds, visit the Area Funds page at gracf.org/area-funds through the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation website. There, you can view Advisory Committee members and learn more about each fund’s impact. You can also visit greenwayareacommunityfund.com or nashwaukfund.org websites directly. Or you can email info@gracf.org or call 218-999-9100.

To make a gift to any of the Community Funds, simply go to gracf.org and select the name of the fund you wish to support. Donations may also be mailed or delivered to: GRACF, 350 NW 1st Avenue, Suite E, Grand Rapids, MN 55744 – please mention the specific Community Fund on your donation.  You can also deliver donations directly to a specific Community Fund Advisory Committee.  More information will be coming on each Community Fund so watch for that!