Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation

The Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation was established in 1983 by visionary community leaders. We are a collection of hundreds of endowed funds established by individuals, families, private foundations, and businesses to enhance the quality of life in our region. Since our inception, we have distributed more than $40 million in grants and scholarships and currently administer over 360 different funds, each with its own charitable purpose. ***Mission The Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation promotes private giving for the public good. ***Vision The Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation will be the leading force for improving our region by fostering generosity, civic engagement and inclusiveness. ***Values Community Stewardship Integrity ***What is a community foundation? Our Community Foundation is a tax-exempt public charity serving thousands of people who share a common interest--improving the quality of life in our service area. Individuals, families, businesses, and organizations create permanent charitable funds with us that help our region meet local challenges through high-impact grants. ***Our Service Area We are committed to improving the quality of life for residents in northeast Minnesota [Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis counties] and northwest Wisconsin [Ashland, Bayfield and Douglas]. ***Our Areas of Focus Arts Community and Economic Development Education Environment Human Services ***What We Do Through our grant making, scholarships and community leadership, we strive to make the most of every dollar entrusted to us by donors like you. Click the links below to learn more about each area. If you're interested in giving a gift to the Community Foundation, click here - http://www.dsacommunityfoundation.com/give-today. ***History For an in-depth history of the Foundation, please read DSACF founding member Kay Slack's account. 1980 Duluth was cycling through one of the low points in its economic history. It had a declining population, high unemployment rates, and significant wealth leaving the area. 1981 $25,000 was raised for a formal feasibility study. DSACF’s first support came in a three-year administrative grant from the Blandin Foundation. 1982 Mission statement, bylaws and incorporation were under way. 1983 The Bush Foundation made a $750,000 challenge grant and the DSACF was born. Added Superior to the service area, and became incorporated again as the Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation. 1990 Holly C. Sampson joined the staff as president, a position she continues to hold. 1998 Two Harbors Area Fund was created as the first affiliate of DSACF, and is entrusted with the responsibility of enhancing the quality of life for the residents of Two Harbors and the surrounding areas. 2000 Apostle Islands Area Community Fund was created to serve as a resource for the Bayfield, Madeline Island, Red Cliff area. The Scott D. Anderson Leadership Foundation Fund is established with the mission of sponsoring high-quality, values-based leadership training and development opportunities for youth “for-the-common-good.” 2001 The Millennium Group is launched with the vision of finding solutions to building social capital among tomorrow’s regional leaders. 2003 DSACF launches their public educational campaign, Speak Your Peace: The Civility Project, an initiative that provides civil and respectful tools for people presenting their views and discussing community issues in a civil manner. Cook County Community Fund was created to serve as a resource for the Cook County region. 2005 Hermantown Area Fund was created as to serve as a resource for the Hermantown area. 2006 DSACF interviews 35 key informants to better understand why young adults leave this region and what can be done to keep them in the area. The Attract & Retain Young Adults Initiative is born. DSACF works will the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University to conduct the Social Capital Community Survey, reaching 500 households in the Twin Ports and 7,250 respondents nationally, measuring the degree of connectedness, interaction and trust between area residents. 2007 In collaboration with the John S. and James L. Knight Foundations, Knight Creative Communities Initiative is launched with the purpose of creating community efforts that build on technology, tolerance, territory, and talent as four driving factors of community vitality. 2008 Eveleth Area Community Fund was created to serve as a resource for the Eveleth area. 2011 Chequamegon Bay Area Community Fund was created as a resource for the communities of Washburn, Ashland and Bad River. 2012 TwinPortsConnex is launched as an initiative dedicated to linking young adults with mentors and job and internship opportunities in the Twin Ports. 2013 The Community Foundation is reaccredited by the Community Foundations National Standards Board.