30 Years Strong. Growing for Good.
2025 Impact Report
30 Years of Impact: Generosity Rooted in the Valley.
Growing for Good.
Thirty years ago, a group of civic leaders on both sides of the St. Croix River planted a bold idea: that the Valley’s future would be strongest if generosity stayed rooted close to home. They believed that when local people come together—sharing their time, talents, and resources—they can fuel lasting change and strengthen the places they love.
What began with the shared generosity of 14 founding board members has grown into more than $125 million in charitable assets, rooted in local giving and guided by trust. Early grants, once measured in the thousands, have grown to nearly $111 million in grants and scholarships, helping people and communities thrive across the Valley.
Thirty years later, that original vision continues to grow—for good, and for generations to come.
Impact By the Numbers
Grantmaking Across Our Region
Five Regional Grant Programs Powered by Donor Generosity
The St. Croix Valley Foundation’s regional grant programs invest in promising ideas and trusted nonprofits to build a stronger, more vibrant St. Croix Valley. Each grant program is rooted in donor generosity and powered by earnings from long-term endowed funds and contributions from other partners. Together, these grant programs focus on some of the region’s most pressing issues and inspiring opportunities.
Generosity Meets the Great Outdoors
$266,000 invested through the Environmental Grant Program
Across the St. Croix Valley, generosity rooted in a love of the outdoors has become a regional movement.
Through the Environmental Grant Fund, $266,000 invested to date is restoring prairies, protecting waterways, expanding education, and sustaining places that unite our community.
The Power of Partnership
28 Funding Sources. 33 Nonprofits. $223,000 in 2025 Grants.
Mental health touches every corner of the St. Croix Valley.
Through collective action, the Foundation awarded $223,000 in 2025 grants, with more than $830,000 invested since 2021—expanded by donors stepping up when needs exceeded resources.
Collaboration Made Real
Local Impact
Deep Local Roots. One Valley-Wide Foundation.
How Local Affiliates Grow Generosity and Impact,
Place by Place
In Amery, Interfaith Caregivers volunteers coordinated rides and errands so seniors and adults with disabilities could stay independent and connected. In New Richmond, the Bridges of Belonging program strengthened relationships among students, staff, and families. In Stillwater, Ponies Care engaged youth in service-learning that fostered kindness and leadership.
These impacts are made possible through the grantmaking of nine local community affiliates—the hometown heart of the St. Croix Valley Foundation.
Led by volunteer boards, affiliates guide grants, connect donors to local needs, and grow endowments reflecting their communities. Supported by the Foundation’s regional expertise, this locally led model builds a generous, thriving St. Croix Valley.
Spotlight on Local Impact in FY25
Donor Impact
Joy & Responsibility
For Carol & Lester Jones, paying it forward is how community endures.
Carol and Lester Jones built their lives—and their giving—around community. After raising three children in New Richmond, where Lester led a plastics facility and Carol worked in education and literacy, they chose an endowed donor advised fund at the St. Croix Valley Foundation to turn gratitude into lasting impact.
Now retired in Stillwater, they focus on education, youth development, and mental health, shaped by Carol’s volunteer work with local families.
Through the Foundation, they support local affiliates and regional programs, valuing its deep local knowledge and partnership. Their goal is simple: pay it forward and keep the Valley strong for future generations.
Metta Belisle: Her Name Meant Loving-Kindness.
Her Legacy Still Does
Metta Belisle lived the meaning of her name—loving-kindness. A retired teacher, animal rescuer, and devoted gardener, she believed caring for animals and the earth reflected our shared humanity.
Before her passing, Metta and her husband, Jon, created a Donor Advised Fund at the St. Croix Valley Foundation to carry those values forward. From adopting shelter pets to planting trees and teaching respect for all living things, Metta’s compassion shaped every choice. Through their fund, her legacy continues to grow.
“While Metta’s voice has been silenced, her kindness and environmental care live on,” Jon says—planting seeds of generosity for the future.
With Gratitude to Our Legacy Society Members
Our Legacy Society honors donors who have included the St. Croix Valley Foundation in their estate plans—ensuring their generosity will continue shaping the Valley for generations to come.
In 2025, we are deeply grateful to 94 Legacy Society members whose foresight and commitment reflect a lasting belief in this place and its people. Their planned gifts will strengthen communities, support nonprofits, and connect future generations to the causes that matter most.
We are honored to steward these legacies and thank our Legacy Society members for investing in the Valley’s future.
Nonprofit Partners' Impact
First in the Valley: Canvas Health’s Endowment of Healing
In 1997, Canvas Health—then Human Services, Inc. of Washington County—became the first nonprofit to establish an endowed fund at the St. Croix Valley Foundation, making a lasting investment in healing.
That foresight ensures the organization can meet community needs today and for generations. A trusted provider of mental health and substance use services, Canvas Health supports children, teens, and adults, especially those with limited access to care.
The endowment has funded facility improvements, critical repairs, staff training, and client-centered programs. “Every dollar is a promise kept,” says CEO Dr. Khu Thao—strengthening stability, dignity, and hope across the St. Croix Valley.
Partners in Purpose: Meet Three of Our Nonprofit Partners
Nonprofits building enduring strength.
Across the St. Croix Valley, nonprofits are building lasting strength through endowment funds at the St. Croix Valley Foundation.
Today, nearly 90 organizations have established long-term funds at the Foundation, and as a trusted partner and steward, the St. Croix Valley Foundation manages investments, provides administrative support, and helps nonprofits grow enduring resources that sustain their missions. Together, we ensure vital programs continue to serve the Valley both now and for generations to come
Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center
The center connects more than 50,000 visitors and 7,000 students each year to the natural world. Their endowed fund helps sustain free admission, environmental education, and habitat conservation—ensuring people of all ages and means can experience the Valley’s beauty for generations to come.
The Partnership Plan for Stillwater Area Schools
As the first grant recipient 16 of the St. Croix Valley Foundation, The Partnership Plan's enduring work continues to spark innovation and inspire lifelong learning—helping every student thrive through community support and shared investment in education.
St. Croix Valley Food Bank
Partnering to end hunger across western Wisconsin, the St. Croix Valley Food Bank's endowed fund helps sustain and expand vital hunger-relief efforts—supporting the Food Bank’s goal to deliver more than 5 million pounds of food in 2025 and build healthier, hunger-free communities.
Impact By the Numbers
Your Impact FY25
To see our latest financial statements and audited reports, click below.
With Gratitude to Our Partners in Impact
Thank you to the donors, professional advisors, nonprofit partners, volunteers, and community leaders who make this work possible. Together, your generosity, trust, and collaboration strengthen all communities across the St. Croix Valley region—today and for generations to come.