DULUTH-SUPERIOR AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

IN 2023, AS PART OF ONGOING STRATEGIC PLANNING EFFORTS, DSACF MADE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS TO GRANTMAKING DESIGNED TO BETTER ALIGN RESOURCES WITH THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES SERVED. THIS INVOLVED RESTRUCTURING COMMITTEES TO INCLUDE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE IN THE AREAS WHERE FUNDS ARE DIRECTED (E.G., CHILDHOOD POVERTY, MISSING A SENSE OF BELONGING, ETC.). THE FOCUS AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY, RESILIENCE, BELONGING AND TRANSFORMATION WERE DEVELOPED AND DEFINED THROUGH COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AND RESEARCH TO ENSURE EFFORTS ARE IMPACTFUL AND SUSTAINABLE. THE FIRST REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS UNDER THE NEW GUIDELINES WAS LAUNCHED IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2023. THESE CHANGES ARE PART OF THE BROADER STRATEGY TO ENHANCE THE EFFECTIVENESS AND REACH OF DSACF'S GRANTMAKING, ENSURING THAT NOT ONLY NEEDS ARE MET, BUT EFFORTS FOCUS ON MEANINGFUL, LASTING IMPROVEMENTS. THE FOUNDATION CONTINUED TO BE RESPONSIVE TO COMMUNITY NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES. GRANTS TO REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN DULUTH WERE MADE TO ENGAGE NATIONAL EXPERTS ALONG WITH KEY PARTNERS TO ENVISION AND ENACT PLANS FOLLOWING DOWNTURN FROM THE PANDEMIC AND ECONOMIC DECLINES. DSACF CONTINUED TO FACILITATE READY NORTH, A NETWORK OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS BUILDING DISASTER RESILIENCE. ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP SOUGHT TO FILL A GAP FOR LOCAL NONPROFITS IN RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE AS TRUSTEES. ALONG WITH COLLABORATING ORGANIZATIONS, THE FIRST BE ON BOARD TRAINING SERIES WAS HELD. THIS PROGRAMMING IS IN ADDITION TO DSACF'S ON-GOING GRANT AND SCHOLARSHIP ACTIVITY.