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Resilient. Rural. Community.
Blandin Foundation is all about Minnesotans imagining, leading, and growing resourceful, inclusive communities.
Foundation News
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.
Blandin Foundation Invests in Building Community Wealth and Local Journalism to Strengthen the Itasca Area and Rural MN
$2.2 million in new investments fuel rural information access, community capacity and long-term financial resilience.
Itasca Area Grant Opportunity Opens Jan 2
Watch this overview video from our recent grantee gathering.
NOTE: Applications are now closed.
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.
Blandin Foundation Awards Scholarships to 380 Local Students
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.
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.
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.”
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
Blandin Foundation Invests $4.5 Million to Help Rural Communities Build the Future They Envision
August 21, 2026
Grants strengthen housing systems, community leadership, local capacity and welcoming places across rural Minnesota Key Points Blandin Foundation awarded 46 grants totaling $4.54 million through its 2026 Rural Minnesota competitive grant round. More than 60 percent of funded projects serve communities with fewer than 3,000 residents, and nearly half of all grant dollars support projects…
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.