Planting the Seeds of Philanthropy in the Valley

Thirty years ago, a group of civic leaders came together to build something lasting. Guided by a vision and rooted in community, they created a foundation that would span the river, connect the Valley, and grow generosity for generations. St. Croix Valley Foundation founding members David Brandt, Sarah Andersen, and Orv Johnson reflect on how it all began.

Three of the fifteen founding members of the St. Croix Valley Foundation share their reflections. From left to right: Orv Johnson, Sarah Andersen, David Brandt.

It began, as many great things do, with a conversation.

In 1988, David Brandt—a Stillwater orthodontist, community leader, and founding board member of the St. Croix Valley Foundation—joined JC Pfeiffer, then executive director of the St. Croix Area United Way, in ongoing conversations about giving.

They initially explored the idea of forming a “Pillars Club” at the United Way to recognize major donors, but their focus quickly shifted.

They saw a generational transfer of wealth underway in Washington County—and with it, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. What if they could keep that wealth rooted in the Valley and use it to benefit the community, now and for generations to come?

That conversation planted the seed. And David Brandt helped water it—writing a $5,000 check to help launch what would become the St. Croix Valley Foundation.

He remembers, “We saw a community foundation as the perfect vehicle for the transferring of wealth for the whole community, and the idea blossomed.” 

Bridging the River

Early on, there was a vision: this had to be bigger than one town, one riverbank. The Foundation would span borders—geographic and otherwise.

“We said, there are common problems, common desires,” fellow founding board member Orv Johnson recalled. “We’re bound together by the river, not separated by it.”When it came time to open an office, it was intentionally placed in Wisconsin—to prove the point: this belonged to everyone, on both sides of the river.

Humble Beginnings

The groundwork didn’t come without hurdles. There were questions, doubts, and no road map. Some were skeptical—including local nonprofits unsure how this new foundation would fit into the landscape, or if it might compete for support.

They hosted community gatherings in living rooms and borrowed space wherever they could.

“The Foundation didn’t have any money,” fellow founding board member, Sarah Andersen, said with a laugh. “So Lynn [Schaefer] and I made the food, and our daughters served.”

In 1997, the Foundation rented its first official office—an old bank vault in the basement of the Bank of Somerset, Wisconsin. The founders later recalled a memorable moment when a colleague accidentally got locked inside after hours. No one knew he was down there. He had to call the bank staff to come let him out.

Taking Root

Over time, momentum quietly grew. The founders weren’t just pitching philanthropy—they were building relationships, shaping a shared vision, and laying roots on both sides of the river.

“There were always two kinds of people at those early meetings,” Orv said. “Those who wanted to give the money away. And those trying to figure out how we’d get the money to give away.”

“We celebrated every $10,000,” Sarah said. “It was about generating excitement and getting people to believe in something bigger than themselves.”

Growing the Vision

Eventually, the vision took shape. One of the Foundation’s earliest strategies was to create endowment funds for local nonprofits—permanent resources designed to offer organizations long-term financial stability.

The first of these was created in December 1997 by Human Services, Inc. (now Canvas Health) with a $100,000 gift. Others, like FamilyMeans and Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center, followed in the years to come—each one helping to root generosity in place.

Around the same time, the Foundation began making community grants. One early example was guided by the wishes of a former music teacher who wanted to leave a legacy—during her lifetime and beyond.

Through an endowed field of interest fund, she helped launch what would become a regional music education grant program—now one of five regional competitive grant programs the Foundation manages today.

“One time they bought a tuba,” Orv remembered. “She just wanted kids to have what they didn’t.”

Charter Members of the St. Croix Valley Foundation left to right: Front Row: David Brandt, John Baird, Linda Jacobson, Lynn Shafer, Marilyn McCarty, Jean Scheuerman MacDonald for Tom Scheuerman (deceased). Back Row: Jim Bradshaw, JC Pfeiffer, Erv Neff, Ron Kroese, John Coughlin, Sarah Andersen. Not Pictured: Orv Johnson, Lou Fuller (deceased), Rod Hofland, Larry Severson, John Tunheim.

From Planted Seeds to Lasting Legacy

In August 1995, the St. Croix Valley Foundation was officially incorporated with 15 founding signers, representing civic, business, and nonprofit leadership from both Minnesota and Wisconsin. Sarah Andersen, John Baird, James Bradshaw, David Brandt, John M. Coughlin, Lou Fuller, Rod Hofland, Orv Johnson, Marilyn McCarty, Ervin Neff, JC Pfeiffer, Thomas J. Scheuerman, Larry Severson, Lynn Shafer, and John R. Tunheim imagined a lasting legacy— a community where generosity could take root and every gift had the power to impact the quality of life in the St. Croix Valley.

Just four years later, through their commitment to the vision, the Foundation surpassed $1 million in assets. By 2006, it had reached $10 million. Today, it stewards more than $120 million and grants over $5 million annually across six counties in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The values the Foundation was built on—community, generosity, impact, and trust—still guide it today. And it all began with a conversation, a commitment, and the belief that generosity could be a bridge and flow across any boundary.

“You plant seeds,” said Orv. “You don’t know when they’ll sprout—but they will.”