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Blandin Foundation is all about Minnesotans imagining, leading, and growing resourceful, inclusive communities.

Foundation News

Blandin Foundation Supports Long-Term Storm Recovery in Northern Minnesota with $100,000 Grant

Recovery efforts will focus on regional coordination, community-driven rebuilding and ensuring vulnerable residents aren’t left behind.

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Blandin Foundation Awards Scholarships to 380 Local Students

Students from Deer River High School received their Blandin Foundation Scholarship awards during the school’s spring awards ceremony. Blandin Foundation trustee Sholom Blake (far left) and Jen Alger (far right), the foundation’s scholarship program manager, presented the awards.

The total amount awarded for the 2025-26 school year is $1.7 million to students from 11 Itasca-area schools or to students who attend school from home or online.

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Blandin Foundation Invests More Than $10 Million to Strengthen the Itasca Area

Blandin Foundation awarded $10.2 million to 48 organizations across Itasca County and rural northern Minnesota.

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Free Range Food Co-op Closer to Becoming Reality with Blandin Foundation Grant

“This grant supports a model of economic development that puts ownership and opportunity into the hands of the community,” said Kyle Erickson, Director of Rural Grantmaking. “This is community wealth building in action.”

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Blandin Foundation Supports Reif Performing Arts Center Expansion With $475,000 Grant

Potential new facilities would serve as additional year-round cultural and civic hubs, and extensive community input will shape the feasibility analysis.

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From Shared Meals to a Shared Vision: Marietta’s New Gathering Space

A grant from Blandin Foundation is helping the towns of Marietta, Bellingham and Madison to build a new community center.

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Latest News

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Blandin Foundation Supports Long-Term Storm Recovery in Northern Minnesota with $100,000 Grant

August 4, 2025

Grant will help impacted residents navigate insurance deductibles, home repair assistance and mental health care through disaster case managers Summary: Blandin Foundation awarded a $100,000 grant to the Northwest Minnesota Foundation (NMF) to support long-term recovery in storm-impacted counties and the White Earth Nation following the June 21 derecho. The grant will help launch a…

GroundWork Blog

Polar Cubs Childcare Center Grand Opening

Helping a Small Town Team Dream Big

August 25, 2025

A new partnership with CEDA is allowing Floodwood’s city office to fill capacity gaps When rural municipalities have limited budgets with which to accomplish a long list of vital tasks, it’s not uncommon for city staff to make difficult cuts to placemaking projects they otherwise champion. Such was true for the city of Floodwood, located…

Blandin Foundation is located in the Grand Rapids area to which it has a perpetual and primary responsibility.

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