Local Roots, Lasting Change: Celebrating the Nonprofits Awarded Fall Grants Across the Valley

Stillwater, Taylors Falls, and Amery are three communities where local programs will have a lasting impact through local grants.

Strong communities are built from the ground up—through local leadership, local insight, and generosity rooted close to home.

Each fall, the St. Croix Valley Foundation’s local community affiliates put those values into action through local grantmaking that reflects the needs and priorities of their specific communities.

The Foundation is proud to announce 41 fall affiliate grants totaling $117,736, supporting local programs, creative projects, and generosity from community to community across the Valley.

Led by our nine volunteer-driven local community affiliates, these grants reflect deep local knowledge and a strong connection to community needs.

Three nonprofits received a Big Idea Grant totaling $26,000 for bold, creative projects that build community pride, reimagine public spaces, and spark connections. An additional $91,736 in general competitive grants went to 38 nonprofits that provide essential local services and programs.

Together, these 41 fall grants help strengthen communities, empower local organizations, and foster lasting generosity—place by place across the St. Croix Valley. A full list of fall affiliate grants by community follows.

2025 Grantees

Amery Area Community Foundation

Organization	Program	Amount
Northwood Homeless Shelters, Inc.		$5,000
Wild Rivers Habitat for Humanity	Housing Plus Program	$2,500
YMCA of the North	YMCA Camp Icaghowan	$2,500
Amery Area Historical Society and Museum	ADA Compliance Access Door	$2,500
Moms and Dads Against Meth, Inc.	Butterfly House Transitional Sober House for Women	$2,500
We Support Recovery	Recovery Coaching Program	$2,500
Salvation Army St. Croix County/Grace Place	Happy Kids Backpack Program - Amery Schools	$2,500
St. Croix Valley Orchestra		$2,250
Kinship of Polk County	Youth Mentoring	$2,500
Community Referral Agency		$2,500
Amery School District	The F.A.R.M. - Fostering Agricultural Responsibility through Mentorship	$2,500
Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley	Polk County Recovering Together Café Support	$2,500

Chisago Lakes Area Community Foundation Big Idea

Organization	Program	Amount
City of Taylors Falls	Riverwalk Gathering Space	$6,000
Chisago Lake Rotary	Enhancing the Swedish Immigrant Trail through Chisago Lakes Area	$10,000

Chisago Lakes Area Community Foundation

Organization	Program	Amount
Chisago Lakes Visitor's Bureau	Water Rail Website	$1,500
SAVE- Suicide Awareness Voices of Education	Preventing Suicide in Chisago Lakes Area	$2,500
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church	Chisago Lakes Community Meal	$1,000
North Branch Disc Golf Association	Wildcat Woods Disc Golf Course and Hiking Trail	$1,000
Chisago Lakes Lions Club	Hearing Testing Machine	$2,000
Chisago Lakes Parent Teacher Organization	Playground Communications Boards	$2,650

River Falls Community Foundation

Organization	Program	Amount
St. Croix Restorative Services		$2,500
Kinnickinnic River Land Trust	Kinn Explorers Family Program	$5,000
St. Croix Valley SART, Inc.	Violence Prevention Education Program	$5,000
Our Neighbors' Place	Every Need, Every Neighbor Campaign	$5,000
Turningpoint Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence		$2,500

Stillwater Area Community Foundation Big Idea

Organization	Program	Amount
Square Lake Film & Music Festival	Stillwater Film Festival	$10,000

Somerset Community Foundation

Organization	Program	Amount
Somerset School District	Garden to Give - Somerset Elementary School	$500
Salvation Army St. Croix County/Grace Place	Grace Place	$1,000
Somerset Champions Council	Somerset Village Park Community Pavillion	$1,500
Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley	ECE FAST Matching Support	$628
Somerset Community Food Pantry, Inc.	3 Door Merchandising Cooler	$1,500

New Richmond Area Community Foundation

Organization	Program	Amount
New Richmond School District	Happy Kids Backpack Program - New Richmond Schools	$2,500
New Richmond School District	F.R.E.E. Books Distribution (For Reading Excellence and Enjoyment)	$3,004
New Richmond Area Centre, Inc.	Youth Character Initiative - Afterschool Programing	$2,500
Operation HELP	Rent and Utility Assistance to Help New Richmond residents maintain housing stability	$2,500
New Richmond Senior Center		$1,500
Friend of Willow River and Kinnickinnic State Parks		$2,500
Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley	New Richmond Special Events Series	$2,500
Five Loaves Food and Clothing		$3,004
New Richmond School District	From Classroom to Livingroom: Shared Strategies for Student Well-Being	$1,200
Turningpoint Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence	Turningpoint Client Needs	$2,500