RIVER FALLS — The St. Croix Valley Foundation has awarded nearly $440,000 in Capacity Building Grants to 22 nonprofit organizations across the six counties that border the St. Croix River, marking the first round of funding through its new Nonprofit Capacity Building Grant Program.

In this inaugural round, 53 nonprofits applied for funding requesting nearly $2.5 million, underscoring the urgency nonprofit leaders are facing and the strong demand for investments that strengthen leadership, systems, and long-term sustainability.

Following a rigorous review process, the Foundation intentionally funded proposals that demonstrated clarity, readiness, and a focused approach to capacity building, setting a clear standard for the initiatives this new program is designed to support.

“What stood out to us was not just the number of applications in this first round, but what it reveals about the challenges nonprofits face today,” said Angie Pilgrim, Vice President of Community Impact at the St. Croix Valley Foundation.

“Nonprofit leaders are under real pressure right now—facing growing community needs, funding uncertainty, and limited capacity. This program was created to respond to that reality, investing in strategic, long-term work that helps organizations become more resilient and better positioned to serve their communities. As this work moves forward, we’re learning alongside our nonprofit partners and will continue to refine the program based on what we’re hearing.”

Among the organizations receiving first-round awards is Our Neighbors’ Place, which serves Pierce and St. Croix counties. It received an Implementation Grant to support the organization’s transition from paper-based client files to a fully integrated electronic case management and records system. The project is designed to streamline workflows, strengthen data tracking and reporting, improve compliance, and allow staff to spend more time supporting individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

“This funding allows us to finally move forward on systems changes we’ve been planning for years,” said Shelly Smith, Executive Director of Our Neighbors’ Place. “By modernizing how we manage client information, we can reduce administrative burden on staff, strengthen accountability, and ultimately provide better, more responsive support to the people we serve.”

Hope for Earth, A River Falls-based nonprofit dedicated to creating a hopeful, ecologically sustainable future through collaboration, education, partnerships, advocacy, and action, received $8,000 toward planning a sustainable future.

Other funded projects include organizations strengthening operational systems, investing in leadership and financial capacity during periods of transition, and engaging in thoughtful planning that positions them for collaboration and long-term sustainability.

Together, these projects illustrate how capacity-building investments translate into meaningful, behind-the-scenes improvements that strengthen how organizations develop staff, plan for the future, manage information, and deliver programs and services.

The Nonprofit Capacity Building Grant Program is made possible through the Nonprofit Stability Collaborative Fund—a bold, $3.5 million investment in the strength and sustainability of St. Croix Valley nonprofits.

Established at the St. Croix Valley Foundation in 2025 by regional philanthropic partners, the Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen Foundation and the Hugh J. Andersen Foundation, the Fund was created in direct response to an unprecedented moment for the nonprofit sector.

The Nonprofit Capacity Building Grant Program offers quarterly review cycles and funding across four avenues: Experiences, Planning, Implementation, and System-Wide Infrastructure. Applications received by Feb. 28, 2026, will be reviewed in March 2026. 

More information about the program and application process is available at scvfoundation.org.