News and Events

2024 Great Idea Grant goes to Union Art Alley

[February 1, 2025] 2024 Great Idea Grant goes to Union Art Alley. Stillwater, MN—Transform a forgotten alley into visually inviting and engaging space filled with beautiful artwork… now, that’s a Great Idea! Stillwater resident, Sara Jespersen, owner of The Lumberjack, Heather Rutledge, Director of ArtReach St Croix, Kelly Nygaard, President Discover Stillwater, businesses surrounding Union Alley, and talented artists worked together to infuse the abandoned space with visual art. It is now a fun and colorful place that the community can be proud of and enjoy.

Have a great idea for Stillwater? You could win $10,000 to make it happen.

Last year’s winner is installing QR codes at Stillwater sites linking to historic photos and information

Applications are now open for the Stillwater Area Community Foundation’s annual Great Idea Competition.

The foundation will award up to $10,000 to a person, organization or business from the Stillwater area that is prepared to undertake a civic-minded project and needs funding to make it happen.

Great Idea Grant applications are open now through June 30, 2024

YOUR ‘GREAT IDEA’ COULD RECEIVE $10,000 FROM STILLWATER AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Great Idea Grant applications are open now through June 30, 2024 [STILLWATER, May 15, 2024] – Applications for Stillwater Area Community Foundation’s (SACF’s) Great Idea Grant are open now through June 30, 2024. Up to $10,000 in grant funding…

Learning about Stillwater history through QR codes is latest ‘Great Idea’

[Stillwater, Sep 2023] A postcard showing a picture of what Rattlesnake Curve near McKusick Lake in Stillwater looked like in 1908. Stillwater resident Matt Thueson was announced Sept. 14, 2023 as the winner of this year’s Stillwater Area Community Foundation’s Great Idea contest. He won a $10,000 grant…

Bayport Police Department Awarded Fall Grant for K-9 Program

[Stillwater, Dec 2022] The Stillwater Area Community Foundation awarded its Fall Grant of $5,000 to the Bayport Police department in support of the purchase, training, and initial support needs for its new K-9 dog, Blaze. This grant helps the Bayport Police Department to reinstate a K-9 program, which will assist…

Great Idea Competition winner Cimarron Community Farm Awarded Grant

[Stillwater, Oct 2022] The Stillwater Area Community Foundation awarded $8,500 through its Great Idea Competition Grant to Cimarron Community Farm. The grant will support their work in providing farm-fresh food to local residents who otherwise would not have access to healthy produce. The grant will support Cimarron Community Farm’s effort…

Racial Justice and Social Justice Grants Awarded For Vulnerable Communities

[Stillwater, May 2022] The Stillwater Area Community Foundation has provided a total of $8,000 in grant funding to two organizations serving vulnerable populations; Rise, Inc. and The Connect Center. The funding is part of the Stillwater Area Community Foundation’s initiative to support racial justice and social justice causes within the…

Tenth Annual Great Idea Competition Now Open for Applications

[STILLWATER, April 1, 2022] – What would you do if you were given up to $10,000 to make our community a better place? This year will mark a decade of community projects that have received funding through Stillwater Area Community Foundation’s Great Idea Competition….

Limitless Cycling Recipient of $15,000 Grant to Enhance Community Well-Being

[STILLWATER, Dec 08, 2021] – The Stillwater Area Community Foundation’s (SACF) 2021 Fall Grant focused on mental and physical health, and the well-being of local communities in the wake of pandemic-related hardships. The recipient of this year’s $15,000 Fall Grant is River Valley Trails for Limitless Cycling. In early…

Wild Rivers Conservancy Recipient of Great Idea Grant to Connect Area Youth with the St. Croix River

Fall 2021 The Stillwater Area Community Foundation has announced that Wild Rivers Conservancy is the winner of the 2021 Great Idea Competition. Their program Wild River Journey opens up the opportunity for area youth to St Croix River for excursions The program, in partnership with National Park Service, will bring…