Three Rivers Community Foundation

A Partner Fund of the Initiative Foundation

About the Fund

The Three Rivers Community Foundation is a pay-it-forward foundation, committed to returning the proceeds of the endowment for the betterment of the local area. Serving Elk River, Otsego, Rogers, Zimmerman and surrounding areas, the mission is to recognize, encourage and strengthen local resources to continually build the foundation for successful and vibrant communities.

The foundation supports the area by awarding scholarships for seniors in the ISD 728 school district and grant to local nonprofits providing services in the four focus areas: social, cultural and leisure; public issues and information; human services; and education and lifelong learning.

The Three Rivers Community Foundation is a Partner Fund of the Initiative Foundation. As a program of the Initiative Foundation, all Three Rivers Community Foundation contributions are professionally managed and stewarded for the benefit of the community now and long into the future.

Three Rivers Community Foundation Impact

More than $1 Million

Awarded in local grants and scholarships

Engage With the Fund

Give Online: When you give to the Three Rivers Community Foundation, your gift establishes an enduring legacy that will benefit the local communities for years to come. Give now! If your employer makes matching donations for their employees, be sure to inquire on the process before making your gift. Gifts of all sizes are appreciated!

Mail a Check: To make donations and payments more secure and to streamline processes, the Initiative Foundation partners with Bremer Bank. Please write the check to Initiative Foundation-TRCF, note the purpose of your contribution on the memo line, and mail to this address:

Initiative Foundation – 446122
Attn: TRCF
P.O. Box 64182
St. Paul, MN 55164-0182

While the mailing address may be in St. Paul, the Initiative Foundation continues to maintain its headquarters in the heart of Central Minnesota at 405 First St. SE, Little Falls, MN 56345.

Give a Planned Gift: If you would like to contribute another type of gift, please contact a member of the Three Rivers Community Foundation advisory team or call the Initiative Foundation at (320) 632-9255. An Initiative Foundation staff member will be happy to answer your questions and guide you through the process.

Making a charitable bequest in your will is often the easiest way to make a significant gift and leave a lasting legacy. Gifts large and small are important. It is simpler than you might think to make a meaningful difference for future generations!

If you would like to leave Three Rivers Community Foundation in your will, make another type of planned gift, or contribute an appreciated asset, please call the Initiative Foundation at (320) 632-9255 and a staff member will be happy to answer your questions and guide you through the process.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. In partnership with the Three Rivers Community Foundation, the Initiative Foundation owns and manages financial contributions for the Three Rivers Community Foundation.

Contact us learn more about joining the advisory team or volunteering.

Engage With the Three Rivers Community Foundation

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Save the Date: 2025 Golf Tournament on Friday, June 6 at Elk River Golf Club. Watch the Three Rivers Community Foundation Facebook page for more information!

The 2024 36th Annual Golf Tournament helped raise over $22,000, these funds are used to support the ISD 728 community through grants and scholarships!

Apply for a Grant

TRCF awards grants to nonprofit organizations of all sizes, with diverse missions. The common criteria for all grants is that they improve quality of life and strengthen Three Rivers communities in at least one of these four areas:

  • Projects that improve the quality, accessibility and efficiency of health care service; to impact positively the housing, safety, employment and other needs of vulnerable youth, elderly and low-income people; or to lessen human suffering by building the ability of people to improve their lives.
  • Programs that improve the quality, scope and accessibility of educational programming to residents in the service area.
  • To enhance educational opportunities, enrich the artistic and cultural climate, increase and diversify recreational opportunities.
  • Citizen-led initiatives that enable thoughtful, non-partisan analysis of important community issues, particularly those that clarify and build consensus on resolving pressing community issues.

If you are not sure your project meets our grant qualifications, we encourage you to contact the foundation to discuss it. We are a pay-it-forward foundation, committed to returning the proceeds of our endowment for the betterment of our local community. We want to work with local service providers to help you get the funds you need.

When the grant application opens May 1, you can complete and submit your entire grant application through the Initiative Foundation Online Grant System. The grant application will not be available on the portal until the grant program opens on May 1.

Tips for Completing Your Application

Complete all questions on the application form to provide full details about your project and funding needs
Gather these required documents so they are ready to upload with your application. We can accept files in doc, docx, xlsx or PDF format.

  • Project Budget
  • IRS 501(c)(3) Tax Determination Letter OR
  • If utilizing a fiscal host, attach both the IRS 501(c)(3) Tax Determination Letter AND a letter from the fiscal host accepting responsibility for this grant

Complete and review your proposal. If you can’t complete the entire application at one time, you can save your work to finish it later. Select “Save & Finish Later” before exiting the system. When your application is complete, select “Review & Submit.” This will take you to the “Review Application” page.
Submit your proposal. Review your proposal carefully. If everything is correct, click the “Submit” button at the bottom of the page. Remember to upload all required documents first. You will not be able to retrieve or edit your application once it has been submitted. A copy also will be included in your confirmation email.

You will receive a confirmation email that your proposal was received. Please ensure grants@ifound.org is on your safe list.

For technical issues or questions about the Initiative Foundation online grant application system, email: Kthoma@ifound.org

Student Scholarships

The Three Rivers Community Foundation believes that developing future leaders is vital to growing a strong, vibrant community. Each year, the foundation awards scholarships to students in every high school in District 728. It is one of the many ways the foundation seeks to recognize and inspire the next generation of leaders to reach for greatness—and join in the mission to improve quality of life in our area.

Contact your school counselors for application forms and deadlines.

Advisory Team

The Three Rivers Community Foundation advisory team is committed to improving the quality of life in the service area.

Angie Rasmussen

Chair Zimmerman

Alec Plaisted

Vice Chair Elk River

Gina Artisensi-Skime

Vice Chair Elect Zimmerman

Dustin Norton

Zimmerman

Terry Bizal

Elk River

Michelle Eder

Elk River

Julie Fish

Elk River

Bonnie Koste

Elk River

Ben Bauman

Ostego

Dan Weber

Elk River

Abby Newland

Zimmerman

Brandon Hanson

Elk River

Kelli Swart

Elk River

Past Grants

2023

  • Every Meal—Weekend Meal Program: $1,500
  • Options, Inc.—Outside Options: $2,500
  • A Spark of Possibilities—More Green Time Instead of Screen Time: $2,000
  • Senior Community Services—Enabling Independence and Housing Choice for Seniors: $1,000
  • Faith in Action in Sherburne County—Furniture for Families Program: $1,000
  • Community Aid of Elk River—Kids Weekend Package Program: $5,000
  • Main Street Family Services—Programing and Staff Development: $4,000
  • Elk River Timber Bay—Mentorship for At-risk Youth: $2,500
  • Elk River YMCA—Childcare Scholarships: $2,500
  • Granny’s Closet—Good Nights From Granny’s: $2,500
  • Sherburne County Area United Way—Community Connect: $1,000
  • Open Doors For Youth—Connecting Youth Experiencing Homelessness to a Brighter Future: $2,000
  • Magnus Veterans Foundation—Sponsor a Vet: $2,000
  • Sherburne County Health & Human Services—Child Foster Care and Kinship Provider Support: $3,000
  • Thumbs Up High 5K—Thumbs Up for Youth Mental Health: $2,500
  • Christians Reaching Out In Social Service—Food Rescue Truck: $3,000
  • Young Life—Great River Young Life Area Growth Project—Young Adult Emerging Leader Program: $1,500
  • Rivers of Hope—Domestic Violence Advocacy and Education for Youth: $2,500
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota—Youth Mentoring: $2,000
  • Gifts Anonymous—Gifts Anonymous 2023: $1,000
  • Elk River School District (ISD #728)—Three Rivers Community Foundation Scholarships: $22,500
  • Spectrum High School—Three Rivers Community Foundation Scholarship: $1,500

2024 Corporate Partners

We are proud to partner with area businesses that want to build the local community and demonstrate your corporate citizenship by supporting local services that benefit your employees and their families.

Contact the Three Rivers Community Foundation

Have a question about the Three Rivers Community Foundation? Want to be a corporate sponsor or give a planned gift? Contact Courtney Wirz, administrative assistant.

Administrative Assistant

Courtney Wirz

Administrative Assistant

Start a Fund

Looking to leave a legacy in Central Minnesota? Start a Partner Fund with the Initiative Foundation and maximize your tax benefits while supporting important causes and organizations.