Duluth-superior Area Community
The Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation (now operating as Boreal Waters Community Foundation) is a public charity and community foundation based in Duluth, Minnesota. Established in 1982, the organization promotes private giving for the public good by uniting people and resources to drive bold action and create lasting impact in the region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$118.0M
+11.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.2M
+174.7% YoY
Grant Count
136
+46.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$31K
+87.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To unite people and resources, driving bold action to create lasting impact for a brighter tomorrow.
Vision: A vibrant and resilient community where every person is valued, supported and empowered to thrive—together.
The foundation funds local efforts across the following areas:
- Arts & Culture
- Community and Economic Development
- Education
- Environment
- Human Services
- Philanthropy and Voluntarism
Grantmaking
The foundation organizes grants into three seasonal cycles:
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $5,036 to $256,981.
How to Apply
** The foundation offers an accessible online application process.
Ready to take the next step with Duluth-superior Area Community?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation serves seven counties in northeastern Minnesota (Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis) and three counties in northwestern Wisconsin (Ashland, Douglas, and Bayfield). The foundation also serves seven sovereign tribal nations in the region.
Approximately 83% of grants remain in Minnesota.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $118,006,182 (as of 2024)
Total Liabilities: $7.74 million (2024)
Annual Revenue: $6.42 million (2024)
Annual Expenses: $7.07 million (2024)
Cumulative Community Grants: $52.9 million since 1982
Cumulative Scholarship Awards: $22.2 million
2022 Grant Distribution: $2,946,903 in grants and $846,450 in scholarships (combined allocation of $3,889,892)
Staff: 14 employees
Donor-Advised Funds: The foundation operates a donor-advised fund through which donors can direct the distribution or investment of funds.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $118,006,182 | $106,281,568 | $89,696,300 |
| Revenue | $6,417,532 | $-3,259,349 | $8,134,379 |
| Expenses | $7,065,045 | $3,953,430 | $5,435,857 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $4,058,785 | $-9,217,383 | $3,522,499 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
71 open opportunities from Duluth-superior Area Community
Aaron Thomas Gelineau Fund for Educational Opportunity Grant
DULUTH-SUPERIOR AREA COMMUNITY
Amount
US $1,400
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Alexandra Smith Fund-In Support of Native American Treaty Rights
DULUTH-SUPERIOR AREA COMMUNITY
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Allen Butler Minority Law Enforcement Scholarship Temporary Fund Grant
DULUTH-SUPERIOR AREA COMMUNITY
Amount
US $1,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHAUN FLOERKE | PRESIDENT/CEO | 40 | $160,958 |
| PAIGE FREESE | FINANCE DIRECTOR | 40 | $80,404 |
| KERSTYN HENDRICKS | CHAIR | 1 | — |
| JOSCELYN SKANDEL | CHAIR (THRU MARCH) | 1 | — |
| KATELYN BAUMANN | VICE CHAIR | 1 | — |
| MATT VAILLANT | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| DAVID MONTGOMERY | TREASURER (THRU NOVEMBER) | 1 | — |
| PATRICK HEFFERNAN | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| MOIRA VILLIARD | SECRETARY (THRU JUNE) | 1 | — |
| AILEEN BEARD | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| BRENDA BRANNAN | TRUSTEE (THRU MARCH) | 1 | — |
| LEE JENSEN BUJOLD | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JEFF COREY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| FRED FRIEDMAN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ANGELA GILBERTSON | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| SAKIB MAHMUD | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| PETER PFANKUCH | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| HEIDI SIGFRIDS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| SANDRA WRIGHT | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JULIAN ZEBOT | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has distributed over $1 million in fall grant awards to strengthen local organizations. Recent grant recipients have included organizations such as the Young Women's Christian Association, Project Renewal of Davenport, Damiano of Duluth, Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota, University of Minnesota Foundation, Marshall School, Independent School District 709, Head of the Lakes United Way, Landmark Conservancy, and Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin.
Over $2 Million in Grants Awarded from the Minnesota Disaster ...The foundation recently underwent a rebrand, adopting the name Boreal Waters Community Foundation to reflect its deep connection to the northern region and the interconnected nature of its work.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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