Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation
The Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation, now named Boreal Waters Community Foundation, is a public charity based in Duluth, Minnesota. Formed in 1982, it supports community grantmaking and scholarships across the region.
Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation at a glance
In short: Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation gave $4.2M across 136 grants in 2024 (avg $31K), mostly in Minnesota. 36% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,226,669
- +174.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 136
- +46.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $31,078
- +87.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $19,771
- Total assets
- $118,006,182
- +11.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (49 of 136, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (82% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 324 W Superior Street 700, Duluth, MN 55802
Phone: (218) 726-0232
Website: https://dsacommunityfoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
71 open opportunities from Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation
Aaron Thomas Gelineau Fund for Educational Opportunity Grant
Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation
Amount
US $1,400
Deadline
Deadline not published
Alexandra Smith Fund-In Support of Native American Treaty Rights
Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Allen Butler Minority Law Enforcement Scholarship Temporary Fund Grant
Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation
Amount
US $1,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Chum ($256K). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
552 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 492 grants of 552 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 82% of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota, 17% to Wisconsin, and 1% to Iowa. The listed recipients include organizations in Duluth and other Minnesota communities, as well as recipients in Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 136 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 49 of 136 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $28K; repeat grants $33K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $18K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.5M (2023) to $4.2M (2024). In 2024 it made 136 grants totaling $4.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chum Duluth, MN | Human Services | $256,361 |
| University of Minnesota Foundation Minneapolis, MN | Human Services | $243,678 |
| YWCA of Duluth Duluth, MN | Comm Econ Dev | $152,539 |
| Divine Konnections Inc Duluth, MN | Human Services | $115,000 |
| Bad River Band of Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians Odanah, WI | Comm Econ Dev | $103,943 |
| Congregations Caring for Creation DBA Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light Minneapolis, MN | Comm Econ Dev | $100,000 |
| One Roof Community Housing Duluth, MN | Human Services | $94,726 |
| Family Freedom Center Duluth, MN | Comm Econ Dev | $92,500 |
| Duluth Children's Museum Inc Duluth, MN | Education | $85,118 |
| Northwoods Women Inc DBA New Day Advocacy Center Ashland, WI | Human Services | $79,575 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $118,006,182 | $6,417,532 | $7,065,045 | $4,226,669 | 136 | $4,058,785 |
| 2023 | $106,281,568 | $-3,259,349 | $3,953,430 | $1,538,780 | 93 | $-9,217,383 |
| 2022 | $89,696,300 | $8,134,379 | $5,435,857 | $2,580,367 | 98 | $3,522,499 |
| 2021 | $108,779,368 | $11,039,912 | $3,990,376 | $1,946,453 | 92 | $4,574,195 |
| 2020 | $93,106,016 | $5,605,705 | $4,210,634 | $2,040,382 | 133 | $2,054,170 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is “to unite people and resources, driving bold action to create lasting impact for a brighter tomorrow.”
In its 2024 filing, the foundation reported that human services received 38% of grant funds, followed by community economic development at 20%, education at 15%, scholarships at 13%, environment at 10%, and arts at 4%.
Among the 2024 grantees, CHUM describes its mission as providing basic necessities, fostering stable lives, and organizing for a just and compassionate community. The YWCA of Duluth says its mission is to eliminate racism and empower women and girls. One Roof Community Housing describes its work as providing housing services and building and sustaining affordable homes and healthy neighborhoods. The Duluth Children’s Museum says its mission is to engage children in hands-on learning through creative play and interactive exhibits.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the filing’s itemized grant data lists 136 grants totaling $4,226,669. Grants ranged from $5,055 to $256,361, with a median of $19,771. Separately, the foundation reported awarding $4,597,558 in grants and $819,906 in scholarships during the year; total grants awarded including interfund grants were $5,417,464.
The largest listed 2024 grants included $256,361 to CHUM for human services; $243,678 to the University of Minnesota Foundation for human services; $152,539 to the YWCA of Duluth for community economic development; $115,000 to Divine Konnections Inc. for human services; and $103,943 to the Bad River Band of an individual recipient Tribe of Chippewa Indians for community economic development. Other large grants included $100,000 to Congregations Caring for Creation, $94,726 to One Roof Community Housing, and $92,500 to Family Freedom Center.
The foundation reported changes to its grantmaking in 2024, including committees with community members who have lived experience and expertise in the areas supported. It also introduced a letter-of-intent process for its second request for proposals to improve accessibility and response time. Grant agreements require grantees to use funds for designated purposes, keep separate records of grant funds and expenditures, permit access to records, return unused funds, and submit a final project report. Foundation staff monitor compliance through report reviews, random field visits, required progress reports, and other work as needed.
The foundation’s website lists scholarship opportunities, including awards for students pursuing STEM careers, construction careers, and outdoor experiential education. These are scholarships for individual recipients rather than grants to outside organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Shaun Floerke as president and CEO and Paige Freese as finance director. Listed board leaders include Kerstyn Hendricks, chair; Katelyn Baumann, vice chair; Matt Vaillant, treasurer; and Patrick Heffernan, secretary. The filing also lists Joscelyn Skandel as chair through March, David Montgomery as treasurer through November, Moira Villiard as secretary through June, and Aileen Beard as trustee.
Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation is led by Shaun Floerke, President & CEO on every filing since 2021; 2 of 20 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Shaun Floerke
President & CEO
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$159K (2021) → $161K (2024)
Joscelyn Skandel
Chair
Trustee → Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kerstyn Hendricks
Chair
Secretary → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paige Freese
Finance Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$75K (2023) → $80K (2024)
Brenda Brannan
Trustee
Interim Treasurer → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sandra Wright
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Fred Friedman
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Corey
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lee Jensen Bujold
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sakib Mahmud
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aileen Beard
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Angela Gilbertson
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heidi Sigfrids
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julian Zebot
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter Pfankuch
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Montgomery
Treasurer
Treasurer & Interim President → Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$92K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Patrick Heffernan
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katelyn Baumann
Vice Chair
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Moira Villiard
Secretary
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matt Vaillant
Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (12)
- Former: Koresh Lakhan (2020–2023) — Vice Chair
- Former: Nels Ojard (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Jane Vogt (2023) — Trustee
- Former: Daniel Lew (2020–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Michele Wallerstein (2020–2022) — Finance Director
- Former: Wendy Meierhoff-Aldrich (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: James Zastrow (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Paige Bramstedt (2022) — Interim Finance Director
- Former: Bethany Owen (2020–2021) — Secretary & Vice Chair
- Former: Bhupesh Pattni (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: David Kropid (2020–2021) — Chair
- Former: Holly Sampson (2020) — President -
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $161K, to Shaun Floerke (President/CEO). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation
How much does Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation give each year?
Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation gave $4.2M across 136 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.5M across 93 grants.
What is Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation's typical grant size?
Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $19,771, and its average grant was $31,078, across 136 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation that year got $28K on average.
Where does Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation give grants?
Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 82% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Wisconsin (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Duluth, MN (57 grants), Bayfield, WI (9 grants), Ashland, WI (8 grants) and Minneapolis, MN (5 grants).
Does Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 136 grants with a stated purpose on Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Human Services" (54 grants), "Education" (32 grants) and "Comm Econ Dev" (22 grants).
Who are Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation's largest grantees?
Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Chum ($256,361), University of Minnesota Foundation ($243,678) and YWCA of Duluth ($152,539), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 15% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation?
Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation reported $118.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $6.4M.
What does Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is “to unite people and resources, driving bold action to create lasting impact for a brighter tomorrow.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation?
Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check dsacommunityfoundation.com for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation's EIN?
Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1429402. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 3, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 3, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/duluth-superior-area-community-foundation-morg_ea91fd2a66824cd294d9a3953103025f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_411429402_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/duluth-superior-area-community-foundation-morg_ea91fd2a66824cd294d9a3953103025f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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