News

  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 -

Planning for the 2026–2027 school year? The Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation (GRACF) is now accepting scholarship applications and the deadline to apply is March 1, 2026, at midnight. GRACF offers more than 100 scholarships totaling over $300,000 each year, helping students of all backgrounds take the next step in their education. Whether you're a high school senior, a current college student, or a nontraditional learner pursuing vocational, technical, or certification programs, there’s likely a scholarship opportunity for you. With just one simple online application, you’ll automatically be considered for all scholarships you’re eligible for. Don’t wait until the last

Our very first e-newsletter is officially hitting inboxes. If you signed up but don’t see it yet, be sure to check your spam or junk folder—sometimes new emails like to hide there the first time around. Not on the list yet? We’d love to keep you in the loop with community updates, opportunities, and stories from our region. Sign up at: gracf.org/contact/ (scroll to bottom of page).

The Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation (GRACF) is pleased to partner with Tamarack Water Alliance through the Tamarack Water Alliance Fund, providing a charitable way for individuals to support education and advocacy focused on water and community health in northern Minnesota. Tamarack Water Alliance is a volunteer-based organization made up of Minnesota residents and landowners working together to protect water resources through public education and community outreach. The Alliance’s current work centers on increasing awareness of the risks of sulfide mining, including potential impacts to drinking water, fisheries, and regional ecosystems. They also work to counter misinformation, foster respectful dialogue,

Excitement is building in Grand Rapids for a truly one-of-a-kind musical event at the Reif Center. The Saturday, February 21, 2026, collaboration between Minnesota’s own Wild Horses and the Itasca Symphony Orchestra (ISO), the community orchestra program of the Itasca Orchestra and Strings Program (IOSP), is officially sold out, marking a milestone moment for local music. Presented with the support of Grand Rapids State Bank, which made the collaboration possible, this first-of-its-kind performance brings together Wild Horses’ high-energy, rootsy Americana sound with the rich, powerful backdrop of a full symphony orchestra. Inspired by the people and places along the great