First in the Valley: Canvas Health’s Endowment of Healing

Canvas Health participants and outreach volunteers at the annual Stomp Out Suicide event.

On December 29, 1997, Human Services, Inc. of Washington County—now known as Canvas Health—took a historic step. They became the first nonprofit to establish an endowed fund at the St. Croix Valley Foundation.

What began as the “HSI Endowment Fund” was, at its heart, an investment in healing. Canvas Health’s leaders knew that people’s needs wouldn’t disappear, and their commitment to permanence ensured the organization could keep showing up for the community—then, now, and for generations to come.

A Fund that Fuels Healing

Canvas Health is a trusted provider of mental health and substance use services, helping children, teens, and adults—especially those without insurance or with limited coverage—find hope and healing close to home. For an organization that exists to walk alongside people at their most vulnerable, reliable funding can mean the difference between struggle and stability.

Over the years, the endowed fund has made that difference. It has paid for lead abatement and painting in low-income housing, beautification of buildings and grounds that welcome clients with dignity, and critical repairs like a broken water line in the Stillwater office. It has also fueled growth through staff development, evidence-based training, support for staff committees, and workshops that help ensure every client feels seen and supported.

“Every dollar from our endowed fund is a promise kept to our clients, our staff, and our community,” said Dr. Khu Thao, CEO of Canvas Health. “These investments allow us to be a mental health provider of excellence, and they also empower us to be a neighbor, a partner, and a catalyst for healing in Stillwater and the greater St. Croix Valley.”

The Power of Endowments

Canvas Health’s story illustrates the power of a nonprofit endowment. These permanent funds provide reliable annual revenue while growing over time through long-term investment. For nonprofits, they signal stability and commitment to the future. For communities, they ensure that vital services remain strong no matter what challenges come.

“Establishing an endowed fund isn’t just about today—it’s about building strength for tomorrow,” said Heather Logelin, President & CEO of the St. Croix Valley Foundation. “Canvas Health’s foresight nearly three decades ago paved the way for other nonprofits in the Valley to follow suit, ensuring that organizations at the heart of our communities can continue their essential work for generations to come.”

A Partnership with Lasting Impact

Since 1997, nearly 90 nonprofits across the six-county region have followed Canvas Health’s lead by opening their own endowed funds at the St. Croix Valley Foundation. Together, these funds create a permanent source of stability for nonprofits, strengthen the Foundation’s role as a trusted steward of generosity, and deliver long-term benefits to the community.

The endowment was just the beginning of St. Croix Valley Foundation’s partnership with Canvas Health. In recent years, that partnership has deepened through many other forms of support, including regional competitive grant programs such as the Vibrant Communities Mental Health grants, grants from the Stillwater Area local affiliate fund, and gifts from donor advised and other funds. In total, more than $530,000 has flowed to Canvas Health through these channels, expanding access to care and strengthening their ability to serve neighbors in need.

Together, the endowed fund and this ongoing support demonstrate how the St. Croix Valley Foundation and its donors walk alongside nonprofits to build resilience and lasting impact in the Valley.

Looking to Tomorrow

Nearly 30 years after Canvas Health opened the first nonprofit endowment, the impact of that decision continues to grow. Their story is one of vision, trust, and a belief in the power of permanence.

For every freshly painted clinic wall, every trained counselor, and every client who feels seen and supported, the endowment is doing its quiet work. That’s the legacy Canvas Health chose in 1997, and it’s still changing lives across the Valley today.

“Being the first nonprofit to establish an endowment in the Valley is part of our history,” said Dr. Thao. “But the real story is what it means for our future: the stability to keep showing up, the strength to keep adapting, and the resources to keep healing lives for generations to come.”