ST. CROIX VALLEY — Mental health challenges continue to touch nearly every corner of the six-county St. Croix Valley region, and a powerful wave of collaboration is driving change.

This spring, the St. Croix Valley Foundation—together with its network of local community affiliates and generous donors—awarded more than $223,000 to 33 nonprofit organizations through its 2025 Vibrant Communities Mental Health Grant Program.

Now in its fifth year, the program has become a cornerstone of the Foundation’s regional response to one of the Valley’s most pressing issues. Since launching in 2021, it has awarded over $830,000 to strengthen mental health support—from schools and clinics to community centers and recovery programs.

“Mental health is not one community’s challenge—it’s all of ours,” said Angie Pilgrim, Vice President of Community Impact at the St. Croix Valley Foundation. “This year’s Vibrant Communities grants are a testament to what’s possible when we come together across sectors, across counties, and alongside our funding partners to support the health and vibrancy of our communities.”

This year’s program drew 44 applications requesting nearly $360,000—underscoring both the growing need and the creativity of nonprofits rising to meet it. From expanding recovery services in River Falls, to reducing social isolation among older adults in Amery, to offering mental health education in Stillwater, this year’s grant recipients represent a wide spectrum of community-driven solutions.

“We have a tremendous opportunity to change the landscape of recovery in the greater St. Croix Valley area, said Mark Turbak at Hazelden Better Ford Foundation. “Our work meets a critical need to help patients who so often fall through the cracks—those struggling with substance use disorder along with advanced mental health needs. To know we have the support of the St. Croix Valley Foundation, along with its affiliate volunteers, is a clear demonstration that the St. Croix Valley community is right by our side.”

The grants support a wide range of efforts: early intervention, trauma-informed care, suicide prevention, culturally responsive programming, and expanded access in underserved areas.

Many organizations focus on reducing barriers—such as geography, cost, stigma, and language—that can prevent people from accessing support.

“This collaboration allows us to lift up local programs that are rooted in community— and to do it in a way that is truly regional and unified across the St. Croix Valley,” said Tom McCarty of the Stillwater Area Community Foundation, a local affiliate of the St. Croix Valley Foundation.

Behind every grant is a story of generosity and shared purpose. This year’s funding came from 28 different charitable sources, including local affiliate Vibrant Communities funds, donor advised funds, and matching support from the St. Croix Valley Foundation.

To help meet the full need, St. Croix Valley staff reached out directly to individual fund advisors—raising an additional $70,000 to boost impact across the Valley.

Lester and Carol Jones of Stillwater stepped up to support the grant program without hesitation. “We knew the need was urgent and appreciated the opportunity to support such a critical issue as mental health—especially through local solutions delivered by nonprofits we know and trust. Partnering with the St. Croix Valley Foundation made it easy to have a meaningful impact.” From Amery to River Falls, Stillwater to Grantsburg, this grant cycle reflects what’s possible when a community comes together for impact. It’s a vivid example of St. Croix Valley Foundation’s mission to grow giving in the Valley, for the Valley, for good.

“I’m so grateful to our nonprofit partners who are stepping up to meet urgent mental health needs—often beyond their core missions,” Pilgrim added. “Their innovative work to combat isolation, reduce stigma, and foster healing is both inspiring and essential—and we’re honored to support them.”

Pierce County recipients include:

• Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley, $10,000 for home visiting mental health support
• Kinnic Falls Inc., $10,000 for expanding mental health therapy access for Substance Use Disorder recovery
• Lost Creek Ranch of Beldenville, $3,608 for “Ride On: Mobile Mini Equine Therapy & Pathways to Mental Wellness”
• Turningpoint for Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence, $10,000 for mental health and wellness services for victims of intimate partner violence
• United Way St. Croix and Red Cedar Valleys, $10,000 for Empowering Resilient Communities through mental health training

View the full list of 2025 grant recipients at scvfoundation.org/post/mental-health grants-2025. The St. Croix Valley Foundation serves a six-county region spanning Washington and Chisago Counties in Minnesota and Polk, Burnett, St. Croix, and Pierce Counties in Wisconsin. Partnering with donors, local community affiliates, and nonprofits, the foundation stewards and grows endowments that fuel vital programs—today and for generations to come. Through strategic grantmaking and strong community partnerships, the St. Croix Valley Foundation is helping build a more vibrant, resilient, and generous region. www.scvfoundation.org.

Submitted by St. Croix Valley Foundation