Fifteen deserving non-profit organizations are awarded a total of $56,199 in grants for projects to strengthen the Cook County community.
(GRAND MARAIS, MN – June, 2025) – The Cook County Community Fund (CCCF) announced its 2025 grant recipients today with an initial $36,705 in funds being distributed to Cook County non-profit organizations for various community service initiatives. Grants are awarded through a competitive grant application process and recipients were determined as most impactful in the Cook County community by the Advisory Board of Directors of CCCF.
The 2025 grants awarded by the Cook County Community Fund include:
Great Expectations will receive a $2,500 grant to help to initiate its Specialist Instruction Program. To enrich the education of GES students, specially-skilled community members will be hired to address concepts or topics, frequently outside the regular curriculum, that faculty and staff conclude would enhance the students’ “curiosity and creativity, develop their abilities to be critical thinkers and effective problem-solvers, and spark their passion for life-long learning.”
The Gunflint Trail Historical Society will receive $5,000 to research, design, and build a new Anishinaabe exhibit at Chik-Wauk Museum. The exhibit will tell stories with a variety of media, including audio of oral histories, video, interpretive panels, and displays of art and crafts. These are stories of resilience and perseverance. The project has been Anishinaabe led, primarily by Staci Droulliard, author, and Sam Zimmerman, artist. Others have also helped along the way: Paula Powell, Grand Portage, Donnovan Dahman, Grand Portage, and Rita Walaszek, MN Historical Society.
In response to the community need for affordable housing, Hamilton Habitat Inc. will receive a $5,000 grant to provide forever homes for qualifying area residents. This organization is currently building its ninth home and has a waitlist of 20 more people. Criteria for buyers are based on their income and ability to complete the loan process with a lender. “The buyers are a part of the build from beginning to move-in day. That is success.”
The Head of the Lakes United Way will receive a $1,000 grant to support its Babysitting Class Initiative. An in-person American Red Cross babysitter training class will be offered to 20 area youth aged 11-17 in order to provide CPR and first aid skills to help young caregivers respond to emergencies, promote age-appropriate activities and learning, educate sitters about child development and behavior, and develop their confidence and professionalism. “Educated babysitters contribute to safer childcare environments and reduce the risks of injury and neglect in their communities.”
Justice North will receive a $3,000 grant to be used to support outreach and educational programming for legal aid services. These efforts will help families be aware of their legal rights relating to issues including housing, divorce, custody, domestic abuse, harassment, public benefits, and elder law.
Lutsen-based Let’s Plant Trees will receive $3,000 to promote reforestation in order to combat climate change in Northeastern Minnesota. The organization will distribute free native tree seedlings across the region, including Cook County, and provide educational materials and presentations to engage the community. This 2026 initiative will enhance forest resilience, promote species diversity, and foster long-term stewardship, resulting in healthier forests, improved tree survival, and stronger local ecosystems.
The North House Folk School (NHFS) will receive a $3,000 grant to assist in the promotion and development of its annual Unplugged Evolution. “This event will connect Cook County residents of all ages with free, high-quality musical performances while building community and highlighting local artisans and craft. The concerts will be open to the public at no cost on Friday evening and Saturday morning on our campus commons.”
A $5,000 grant will be awarded to the North Shore Music Association for its production of Bizhiki: Bridging Cultures through Music in Cook County. This collaboration between Anishinaabe culture bearers Joe Rainey Sr. and Dylan Bizhikiins Jennings and indie musician Sean Carey (Bon Iver, S. Carey) will engage area students and community members with a cross-cultural understanding through Anishinaabe music, language, and storytelling while addressing the need for Indigenous cultural representation. WTIP will document the planned student workshops and performances as well as the Nov. 8th concert in the Arrowhead Center for the Arts.
The Pincushion Ski and Run Club (PSRC) will receive $1,005 to purchase equipment needed for the maintenance of its ski supplies. The new equipment will allow the PSRC to educate and train team athletes and community members about proper maintenance, waxing, and storage of skis. These efforts will help maintain the quality and life of the ski equipment PSRC has invested in previously, and demystify the waxing and maintenance of skis for team participants and community members.
With the purpose of providing equitable and dignified food access in Cook County, Second Harvest Northland (SHN) will receive $5,000 to ensure food access for an estimated 592 food-insecure individuals and families in Cook County. “We can see at the ground level that the need for hunger relief is continuing to rise in Cook County. High inflation and the end of USDA pandemic benefits have led to a 30- to-40 percent increase in demand at many Cook County sites and programs we support.”
Wildwoods will receive a $2,500 grant for orphaned and injured wildlife in Cook County. Wildwoods is the largest wildlife rehabilitation facility in Northern Minnesota and is a regional hub for distressed wildlife and the people who find them. “We provide humane care for sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife, with the ultimate goal of returning them to the wild. We are a resource for people who find wild animals in need, and we provide public education to increase understanding of and appreciation for wildlife and natural habitats.”
This year the Cook County Community Fund was pleased to be able to provide additional grant awards from donations to the Shining Moment Fund. The donor’s mission is to provide support to programs that provide opportunities for children to feel exceptional, even for one shining moment, especially children from struggling families or ones often ignored or passed over from being exposed to an area of interest in which they can excel or shine, even on a short term basis.
The 2025 grants awarded by the CCCF using $19,494 from the Shining Moment Fund include:
The Duluth Area Family YMCA will receive a $5,000 grant to support the Cook to Camp Project, which aims to provide an enriching overnight camp experience for 30 children from Cook County at YMCA Camp Miller. This initiative is designed to foster community among children from Great Expectations Charter School, Sawtooth Elementary, Birch Grove Community School, and Oshki Ogimaag Charter School through participation in a dedicated week at camp. Children will develop friendships, build confidence, and create lasting bonds through shared experiences in a supportive and nature-focused environment.
The Good Harbor Hill Players will receive a $5,000 grant to help facilitate the creation and performance of its annual Winter Solstice Shadow Puppet Show, a seasonal celebration that explores regional and cultural themes. These monies will assist in the hiring of artists, musicians, and technical staff. This annual event helps strengthen community ties among a diverse cross-section of people.
A $4,494 grant to Grand Marais Arts will be used to increase engagement and provide scholarships for their Arts Access Program for Adults and Youth. Along with increasing arts access, the program introduces participants to well-established and high-quality artists from the local region and across the nation.
A $5,000 grant for the Grand Marais Playhouse will be used to produce its Fall Community Show. The goals of the project are to bring people together to present a story that engages, entertains, and enriches the community; build a collaborative ensemble with lasting positive relationships; and provide avenues of personal growth in self-esteem, courage, and skills that benefit the participants outside the walls of the theater.
“We’re pleased to be able to provide financial support to all of these deserving programs which will enrich our community and region,” said Virginia Detrick Palmer, Chair of the Cook County Community Fund Advisory Board. “We thank these organizations and all those who submitted grant requests for their dedication to improving Cook County.”
The Cook County Community Fund is a regional affiliate of Boreal Waters which awards grants to nonprofits, awards scholarships to individuals, and provides leadership on important initiatives in northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. Since its creation in 2003, the Community Fund has distributed more than $348,496 to Cook County non-profits. Since its start in 1983, the Community Foundation has distributed more than $75 million and holds more than 460 funds. Learn more at dsacommunityfoundation.com.
