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Resilient. Rural. Community.
Blandin Foundation is all about Minnesotans imagining, leading, and growing resourceful, inclusive communities.
Foundation News
Grant funds upgrades to Beefy Lawson rink
The $100,000 grant from Blandin Foundation honors a gathering place, the memory of Beefy Lawson and his son’s decades of community giving.
Blandin Foundation grant helps Greenway community fund top $1 million
A $250,000 investment honors area leaders and expands local giving for generations to come.
Blandin Foundation Receives Ubuntu Leadership Award
The Minnesota Council on Foundations selected Blandin Foundation as one of three organizational recipients of its 2026 Ubuntu Leadership Award.
Blandin Foundation Invests $4.5 Million to Help Rural Communities Build the Future They Envision
Grants strengthen housing systems, community leadership, local capacity and welcoming places across rural Minnesota.
Remembering Gene Radecki
It is with sadness that we share the news of the passing of Gene Radecki, who passed away July 1, 2026.
Blandin Foundation Invests in Itasca-Area Community Connection Spaces, Workforce and Nonprofit Leadership Supports
$2.64 million in grants support 33 projects across the Itasca area, 20 of those in small communities, highlighting strong community-driven ideas and demand.
Constructing New Spaces Leads to Improved Community Connection
Blandin Foundation has contributed to the expansion of North House, which has grown into a global resource for community and human connection.
Lake Country Journal Spotlights Dragonfly Coffee
“Dragonfly Coffee is a truly a breath of fresh air for Central Square Mall and the community of Grand Rapids.”
Leech Lake Financial Services helps build credit scores and builds houses to buy
Star Tribune’s Evan Ramstad writes about an innovative approach to add much needed housing for members of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and other local residents.
Keep the History, Boost the Accessibility
A grant from Blandin Foundation helps make the Two Harbors Public Library available to all.
Spot Us
Blandin Foundation stands with communities as they design and claim their futures. That’s thousands of partnerships in hundreds of communities over more than 85 years.
Latest News
Grant funds upgrades to Beefy Lawson rink
October 29, 2026
The $100,000 grant from Blandin Foundation honors a gathering place, the memory of Beefy Lawson and his son’s decades of community giving Key Points Blandin Foundation awarded $100,000 to improve Taconite’s Beefy Lawson & Vince Saleture Memorial Rink, with work planned for summer 2027. The grant preserves a gathering place for children and families…
GroundWork Blog
More Than a Building: How The YES! House Is Creating Places of Possibility in Rural Minnesota
August 12, 2026
On any given day, the doors of The YES! House in downtown Granite Falls, Minnesota, are open. Someone might be grabbing a cup of coffee before work. A group of artists could be preparing for an evening workshop. Neighbors linger in conversation after a community meeting. Down the hall, volunteers are planning the next event,…
Blandin Foundation is located in the Grand Rapids area to which it has a perpetual and primary responsibility.