Vote

Whole Foods Co-op 2025 Election

September 9 – October 12

Every year, Whole Foods Co-op Owners vote to:

• Approve the previous Annual Meeting minutes
• Choose from board candidates
• Select the next year’s GIVE! Community Support Program Recipients

How-To Vote

• Your Owner number is your Elector ID
• Your password is the last name of the primary person on the Owner account

Owner numbers can only be used once. Owner equity must be paid in full to vote in the election. Those who have become Owners after Sept., 4, 2025 must vote using a paper ballot, available at customer service. Owners who attend the 2025 Community Celebration and Owner meeting may vote in person at a voting station.

This Year’s election:

• Choose two (2) Whole Foods Co-op Board Member candidates.  
• Approve Minutes from last year’s Annual Owner Meeting.
• Choose your top 9 from the list of GIVE! 2026 applicants

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Election Guide

Meet the board candidates

2026 Give! finalists

Arrowhead Regional Arts Council 

aracouncil.org 

Funding Priority: Equity & Diversity

Mission statement: To create a healthy art and cultural ecosystem by offering support and resources for artistic professional development and equitable access for arts organizations and individuals to benefit all communities. 

Community impact: The primary purpose of the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council (ARAC) is to promote the development of the arts in Minnesota’s seven-county Arrowhead Region. It does this by funding arts programs and activities, and by providing assistance and services to local artists and arts organizations. The activities of the Council members and the Council staff provide encouragement and assistance to local artists and arts experiences in communities around the mainly rural region. ARAC serves individual artists, nonprofit arts organizations, informal arts groups, community education organizations, and non-arts nonprofit organizations within the Arrowhead Region. This region includes the counties of Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis, as well as the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, and Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. This region includes Duluth at its urban center, but serves a significant rural population. The region comprises 22% of the state’s geography and serves a population of approximately 340,000 people or 6% of the state’s total population. ARAC’s primary source of programming is through grants. We currently have four major grant programs serving artists and arts organizations in the Arrowhead Region. In FY24, we awarded a total of 179 grants to artists and arts organizations totaling $615,754. In FY26-27, ARAC is seeking funding to support critical grant programming. 

Using GIVE! funds for: Due to unforeseen circumstances related to State of Minnesota budget constraints, ARAC recently had to pause one of our essential grant programs for regional artists that provides emergency funding when circumstances outside of their control arise that cause a significant impact to their creative career as well as impromptu professional development opportunities. As federal and state arts funds decrease and become less reliable, ARAC must seek out and secure additional funding for the arts. 

Chester Bowl Improvement Club 

chesterbowl.org 

Priority area: Equity & Diversity 

Mission statement: To promote sustainable, quality programs for all Chester Bowl Park users in a healthy and safe environment. 

Community impact: Chester Bowl exists to get people outside in all seasons! In the winter, we run a ski and snowboard program where generations of children and families have learned to navigate the slopes and love being outside in winter. In the summer, we run a day camp that gives kids an amazing summer in the woods- right in the middle of town- while also serving as primary child care for families. We also run community events, including the annual Fall Fest and partnering with the City of Duluth for the Music in the Park Concert Series. 

Using GIVE! funds for: All funding will directly support Chester Bowl’s scholarship fund. This year we awarded $27,250 in winter scholarships to over 100 families and $32,750 in summer camp scholarships (800 days of camp!) to 140 families. Every dollar contributed means more people skiing, snowboarding, and coming to summer camp.

Divine Konnections 

divinekonnections.org 

Priority area: Equity & Diversity 

Mission statement: Through affordable housing and a circle of support, DKI empowers BIPOC youth, young adults, and families to transform their lives. 

Community impact: Divine Konnections Inc (DKI) is a BIPOC women-led, culturally specific, and supportive housing nonprofit based in Duluth, MN. We uplift BIPOC youth, young adults, and families through stable housing, holistic wraparound services, and a circle of support. Our work is rooted in the belief that culturally responsive, community-driven care creates lasting systems of support for families that have been historically undervalued and purposely excluded. We believe that when all families are supported, the whole community thrives. Your generosity helps build a future where healing is a shared community effort, and every child and caregiver has their basic physical and human social needs met. 

Using GIVE! funds for: Provide housing support, culturally-centered care, and basic needs resources to young BIPOC families facing housing instability. Funds will allow us to continue to provide intentionally safe and nurturing spaces where caregivers and children can grow, heal, and thrive together. 

Duluth Area Family YMCA  

duluthymca.org

Priority area: Food Access 

Mission statement: The Duluth Area Family YMCA is dedicated to putting the principles of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility into practice through programs that build a healthy mind, body, and spirit for all. 

Community impact: The Duluth Area Family YMCA is more than a gym—we are a cause-driven, nonprofit organization committed to strengthening the foundations of community. Every day, we work to ensure that all children, families, and individuals have access to the resources they need to thrive—regardless of income or background. 

Through youth development programs like summer camp and afterschool care, health and wellness initiatives, and essential services like food access and mental health support, the Y is here for all. In 2024, we provided more than $250,000 in financial assistance and free programming to meet the growing needs of our community. 

When you support the Y, you’re helping create a healthier, more connected, and more equitable northern Minnesota for everyone. 

Using GIVE! funds for: Funding will support the Y’s Food Access Program, which provides more than 34,000 nutritious snacks and meals to children in afterschool and summer programs, and will distribute healthy meal kits to families in need—helping ensure no child or family goes hungry in our community.

Duluth Center for Women and Children   

duluthcenterforwomenandchildren.org

Priority area: Food Access 

Mission statement: The Duluth Center for Women & Children (DCWC) supports community initiatives to ensure that children living in poverty have abundant opportunities to lead economically secure and productive lives, regardless of the circumstances in which they are born and raised. The focus of the Duluth Center for Women & Children is to address the impact adversity has on children and families with attention to quality childcare & education, encouraging empowerment through building economic stability, and sustaining hope through supporting community safety. 

Community impact: The mission of the DCWC is to make a meaningful impact on the lives of women and children by creating positive change in our communities. We co-create opportunities through social enterprise, adult education, and child development.  

One example of our social enterprise work is the program for which we are best known, DCWC Nourish (formerly Food Forward), which delivers partially prepared fresh meal kits to Duluth residents every Monday. This program was developed by the First Ladies of the Hillside (the DCWC Women) to ensure that their communities had access to healthy, affordable food. The families we serve primarily reside in the Hillside Neighborhood, although we also have clients in Lincoln Park and West Duluth. The families are a fair representation of the neighborhood and can be best described as low-income, SNAP beneficiaries who often lack private car ownership and struggle to access healthy foods. Additionally, most lack self-confidence in cooking at home. 

The DCWC Women run all aspects of the program from strategy to daily operations. It provides them with employment as well as opportunities to grow and lead in a supportive environment. The vision for this program is a community where everyone has access to healthy food and feels confident and comfortable preparing nutritious meals for themselves and their families. 

Using GIVE! funds for: The social enterprise is working diligently to increase its earned income, aiming to achieve full financial sustainability and sustain its mission for an extended period. During this time, we need funds to supplement the compensation for the DCWC women who plan, procure, assemble, and deliver the meal kits. Our current mix of clients, who receive free meal kits and those who pay, is designed to cover the food costs, much of which is locally sourced at a fair price. 

Duluth Children’s Museum    

duluthchildrensmuseum.org

Priority area: Food Access 

Mission statement: To engage children in hands-on learning through creative play and interactive exhibits. 

Community impact: For 95 years, the Duluth Children’s Museum has been a trusted community staple – sparking curiosity, creativity, and connection through hands-on, play-based learning. Located in Duluth’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, we serve thousands of families across the Twin Ports each year with engaging exhibits, workshops, and events that support early childhood development and family connection. 

We recognize that access to nutritious food and economic opportunity are vital to a healthy, thriving community. That’s why we offer food-focused programming – including our beloved Mini Harvest Festival, garden and pollinator education, and seasonal workshops that connect children to where food comes from and how it’s grown. This fall, we’ll expand this work through a new monthly food series that features local chefs, cultural food traditions, and hands-on cooking activities – supporting both learning and our local food economy. 

Through our Discovery for All initiative, we provide free access for families experiencing financial barriers, ensuring every child has the opportunity to participate. Whether through food, science, art, or storytelling, we help children learn and grow while strengthening the fabric of our community. 

GIVE! funding will help us continue delivering play-based learning rooted in real-world experiences – strengthening early childhood development while deepening community ties across the region. 

Using GIVE! funds for: Funding will support food-focused programs – like gardening, pollinator education, and nutrition exploration – and expand access for low-income families through subsidized memberships and community events. These hands-on experiences nurture curiosity, teach children where food comes from, and create inclusive spaces for early learners to grow, play, and connect.

Duluth Community Garden Program    

duluthcommunitygarden.org

Priority area: Food Access 

Mission statement: To provide land, infrastructure, and support for local communities to grow food together 

Community impact: The Duluth Community Garden Program is a non-profit organization that brings the people of Duluth together on the land; growing and sharing healthy food at urban gardens. Through its network of plots, DCGP strives to make gardening as financially and physically accessible as possible to all Duluthians.  

The program began in 1977 by neighborhood organizers who created a few community gardens on vacant lots in Duluth’s Central Hillside for low and moderate-income residents. The idea caught on, with new people joining in to create garden sites in other parts of the city. Today we steward 18 community garden sites – over 270 plots – organically gardened by over 200 families. Garden sites are made available on a sliding fee scale so that anyone, regardless of income or experience, can join a community to grow fresh fruits and vegetables. 

 We place a strong emphasis on the Community aspect of the Community Gardening Program. We encourage gardeners to interact, support one another, and share their skills. The program is much more than a ‘garden space for rent’. 

Using GIVE! funds for: Funding will improve our garden plots. Specifically, we will 1) improve our aging rainwater catchment systems, repairing or replacing tanks as needed; 2) amend our garden soils with compost, it is important to keep soils healthy to maintain productivity. 

Duluth Community School Collaborative     

duluthcsc.org

Priority area: Food Access 

Mission statement: Promote wellbeing and success for Duluth Public Schools students and families by co-creating, celebrating, and mobilizing for equitable educational experiences. 

Community impact: DCSC is a non-profit that partners with Duluth Public Schools to provide Full Service Community Schools at Denfeld High School, Lincoln Park Middle School and Myers-Wilkins Elementary School. We follow the six pillar community school model and believe that family, student and community engagement are necessary to create opportunities for all young people to reach their full potential. We coordinate with community partners, and directly provide programming that includes academic enrichment, food security, cultural opportunities, recreational activities, and more. We both create and promote the conditions that are required to make high quality engagement possible. It is our belief that students and families flourish in connected schools and communities. 

Using GIVE! funds for: We know students learn and engage when they are cared about and are not hungry. These funds will provide students access to food in our food pantries during the school day for a quick snack to keep them energized and focused. 

Duluth Folk School      

duluthfolkschool.org

Priority area: Environmental Stewardship 

Mission statement: To build community through the joyful experiences of handcrafting, art, and gathering.  

Community impact: Duluth Folk School hosts a variety of locally rooted classes in sustainable practices, food preparation and preservation, land use and conservation, traditional crafts, and contemporary skills. We provide economic opportunities for local artists, artisans, and culture bearers, collaborating with them to prioritize sustainable practices, community building, and the preservation of regional traditions through course offerings like foraging, beekeeping, beginner sewing, nature journaling, introductory woodworking, and more. 

We also partner with organizations like the UMD LandLab, Ecolibrium3, Resource Renew, the City of Duluth’s Sustainability Office, Cafe Scientifique, and the Minnesota DNR to deliver free programming in our accessible and welcoming event space. Just a few examples of our frequent programming include micro green workshops, climate future talks, invasive species consultations, and bimonthly Fix-It Clinics. 

In the heart of Lincoln Park, we offer an invaluable third space for Duluthians to form bonds through their shared and lived experiences in the heart of Lincoln Park. Our community hub creates access to countless resources and connections, deepening each person’s impact on regional sustainability and providing space to share the burden of work, process environmental grief, and collectively celebrate our many successful environmental initiatives. 

Using GIVE! funds for: Funding will ensure our ability to sustain, expand, and distribute our diversity of classes, workshops, lectures, gatherings, and demonstrations in areas such as regional food systems, culinary arts, nature, and culture. These programs contribute significantly to Duluthians’ individual and community capacity to cultivate, encourage, and celebrate a sustainable future in the Northland. 

Duluth Foot Trails Alliance       

sites.google.com/view/dufta/home

Priority area: Environmental Stewardship 

Mission statement: The Duluth Foot Trails Alliance (DuFTA) works to ensure that natural surface foot trails in the Duluth area are sustainably maintained, accessible, and welcoming to a diverse and inclusive trail community. Our mission centers on advocacy, action, and education—promoting trail use for all, collaborating with other recreational groups, and engaging the public through outreach and trail stewardship. 

Community impact: We’re a new nonprofit, focusing on foot trails and their users in the Duluth area.  We were incorporated in 2021 and received our 501c3 designation in 2023. 

According to Duluth Park’s 2022 “Essential Spaces” Master Plan, walking, hiking, and running on trails is the most common activity in Duluth’s parks, with 81% of survey respondents participating in these activities, yet there was no organization that represents these foot trail users like there was for other users, such as cross country skiers, mountain bikers, or horse trail riders.  DuFTA was created to fill that gap.  Highlights of our accomplishments last year include: 

-280 volunteer hours contributed to trail work, including litter cleanup, maintenance, and trail building at Magney-Snively Park, Hartley Park, Hawk Ridge, The Incline Steps, and many sections of the Superior Hiking Trail. 

-Participated in six community festivals and events, helping people get to know our trails better. 

-Co-hosted 5 introductory hikes with Duluth Parks and Recreation on interesting topics and lesser-known trails to help get more people out hiking. 

-Worked with other trail groups to look at potential trail opportunities at the Lester Park Golf Course. 

Using GIVE! funds for: To organize trail maintenance work, we must either use board member’s personal equipment, or borrow from partners. We plan to use this funding to purchase a set of basic trail work tools, to streamline our volunteer work, help us schedule more opportunities, and focus more on the trail work itself.

Family Rise Together       

familyrisetogether.org

Priority area: Food Access 

Mission statement: Our mission revolves around crafting and executing effective strategies for holistic family well-being. We stand committed to uplifting individuals from diverse backgrounds, including the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. 

Community impact: Family Rise Together is a Black-led organization dedicated to uplifting communities through housing support, mental health and substance abuse services, kinship navigation, and microenterprise programming. With a strong focus on serving communities of color, we work to address disparities and provide culturally responsive care. Our core mission centers on empowering fathers and father figures to embrace their roles, strengthen family values, and lead within their communities. Through this work, we strive to disrupt cycles of poverty, trauma, and injustice. In addition to our direct services, we host community events year-round, fostering connection, healing, and growth. Our impact is seen in stronger families, more stable housing, and increased community engagement across generations. 

Using GIVE! funds for: Funding will help to launch the Sunshine Innovation Space—an affordable, commercial ghost kitchen in Lincoln Park for BIPOC food entrepreneurs. This project will provide shared kitchen access, job training, and business support, creating jobs and reducing startup risk for aspiring chefs and small food businesses. 

Justice North       

justicenorth.org

Priority area: Equity & Diversity 

Mission statement: Justice North is a nonprofit civil law firm dedicated to the principle that equal access to justice is a basic human right, regardless of background or circumstances. We open the doors of the justice system to the most vulnerable in our communities by providing critical legal assistance to preserve our clients’ safety, security, and stability. 

Community impact: Justice North provides free civil legal representation, limited services, advice, or information to eligible individuals with issues that fall outside of the criminal justice system. Although the Constitution guarantees the right to a lawyer in criminal matters, this is not the case for civil legal matters—but civil cases can still have a significant impact on someone’s life.  

Whether someone is at risk of being evicted from their home, has been denied public benefits they need to survive, is trying to leave an abusive relationship or to secure a better situation for their children, navigating the civil justice system without a lawyer can be nearly impossible. Justice North exists to close that gap and provide civil legal help to those who need it most. Safer, more secure, and stable individuals and families make for a safer, more secure, and stable community. 

Using GIVE! funds for: Due to lack of resources, Justice North is unable to serve everyone who comes to us for help. Additional funding gives us the capacity to serve more community members who would otherwise have to navigate the legal system alone. 

Kako Foundation       

kakofoundation.com

Priority area: Equity & Diversity 

Mission statement: The Kako Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to bringing music education to underprivileged children and youth in Haiti and the United States, providing an outlet for their creativity, enabling them to achieve their full potential. 

Community impact: “I didn’t know I could sing!” exclaimed a Kako’s Choir student. During a “That’s a Rap” concert, a 1st grader asked, “How do you know what to write about?” to which the 3rd grade rapper responded, “My bars are about what is important to me…which is music!” During Hiking in Harmony, students played recorders and bucket drums, along with experiencing nature and gardening. In Haiti, despite debilitating unrest, students are learning band and orchestral instruments, with the program in DonDon thriving and offering hope. Established in 2008 in response to the violent kidnapping and murder of a young Haitian musician, the motto of the Kako Foundation is “The Arts as an Alternative to Violence.” The Kako Foundation programs create a positive, supportive educational environment for underprivileged youth, believing that art can foster self-esteem, dignity, pride, community, and civic engagement. Nurturing artistic gifts in children is essential to breaking and ending the devastating cycle of violence, exclusion, and poverty. The Kako Foundation has collaborated with Duluth Community Schools Collaborative, Mentor North, and St. Mark’s Giving Garden. Instructors have included Sara Thomsen, Daniel Olinyole, Rachael Kilgour, Regina Laroche, Terrell Grier, EPA personnel, Dudley Edmondson, and Lyz Jaakola with the Oshkii Giizhik Singers. By promoting music for all, the Kako Foundation offers a brighter future for all. 

Using GIVE! funds for: Funding will enable the Kako Foundation to purchase instruments and instructional materials, cover teacher stipends, provide snacks, and support transportation needs. Funding will allow more students to experience an alternative to violence through the arts, empowering them to become responsible citizens and future leaders. 

Mentor North        

mentornorth.org

Priority area: Equity & Diversity 

Mission statement: To celebrate youth and support their families through one-on-one mentorship and community engagement. 

Community impact: Each year, Mentor North walks alongside at least 175 young people (ages 7–18) in Duluth and Superior, carefully matching them with trusted adult mentors. These one-on-one, community-based relationships are thoughtfully supported as they grow into deep, meaningful connections. Whether sharing a favorite or new activity, or simply spending time together, mentors help youth feel valued, heard, and supported as they grow into their unique selves. 

Our individualized approach honors each youth’s strengths, interests, and needs. Nearly 80% of participants come from low-income households, 47% are youth of color, and 37% have disclosed disabilities. About 50 local businesses and organizations help us reduce barriers to a wide variety of enriching, empowering experiences. 

Among its many proven benefits, mentoring addresses an identified public health crisis: loneliness. By expanding a youth’s network of trusted adults, mentoring promotes connection, confidence, resilience, and well-being. Caregivers and volunteers benefit, too, with many reporting reduced isolation and stronger community ties. Youth waiting to be matched participate in group activities to build a sense of belonging and help us find the right mentor when the time comes. 

At the heart of our work is a commitment to creating spaces where every youth feels safe, seen, affirmed, and celebrated. 

Using GIVE! funds for: With funding, we’ll be able to say “yes” to more young people waiting for a mentor and ensure that every match is built to last. We’ll also open doors for youth and families still waiting, offering connection, enriching activities, trusted support, and a stronger sense of belonging in their community. 

Noatun Community Wooden Boat Works         

duluthfaering.org

Priority area: Environmental Stewardship 

Mission statement: To build traditional wooden boats with community volunteers to row and sail on Lake Superior and beyond. To make creative work with hand tools accessible to anyone who is interested in order to bring people together, to connect them with our local waterways, to help them build life-long creative skills, and hopefully to bring them joy. 

Community impact: Noatun is an arts and environmental education organization which has directly engaged over 1,000 community members in hands-on learning experiences over the past seven years. Public participants of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds use axes, hammers, saws, adzes, planes, knives, scissors, spindles, needles, awls, and other tools to collaboratively create. In 2017, Noatun Community Wooden Boat Works was formed to build a Norwegian-style, wooden work boat called a “faering”–which was completed by over 300 participants and launched into Lake Superior by a crowd of over 700 supporters. We have built numerous boats and made over 100 trips on the water since then. Recently, we have fostered great relationships with experts in fiber arts, environmental sciences, agriculture, medicine, historical stonework and metallurgy, and Indigenous culture and history. In 2024, Noatun relocated its main shop to nearby Knife River, Minnesota. Here, we are creating a new space to broaden our activities and our reach. These activities engage and benefit any and all who are interested. Our programming is generally offered at no cost to participants. By building together, we learn how to share what we know, or have just learned, with others. It’s not simply about using tools, but also heightening skills in teaching and teamwork. Our goal is to integrate age-old, sustainable creative methods into contemporary life in order to bring people together, help build life-long skills, and bring joy. 

Using GIVE! funds for: Funding will help cover the organization’s basic overhead costs and material costs for several community projects next year. This additional funding will help keep our programming free to participants and will allow regular access for low-income individuals and families. 

North Country Independent Living dba indiGO          

indigowi.org

Priority area: Equity & Diversity 

Mission statement: To empower people with disabilities. 

Community impact: indiGO is an Independent Living Center serving Northwest Wisconsin. We support people with disabilities of all ages through peer support, advocacy, skills training, and assistive technology services. We also provide information and referral to other local agencies and offer a transportation and personal care program. We work to make our communities more accessible and inclusive through education and systems change. 

Our impact reaches beyond individual support. We host social and connection-focused events that bring people together, reduce isolation and celebrate disability culture. From helping people live independently in their own home to guiding youth as they transition to adulthood, we’re here to ensure people with disabilities have the tools, confidence, and support they need to live the lives they choose. 

At indiGO, we believe disability is a natural part of human diversity and everyone benefits when our communities are inclusive. Your support helps us continue this important work and reminds our neighbors with disabilities that they are seen, valued, and not alone. 

Using GIVE! funds for: Funds will support indiGO’s social and connection-focused events including peer support groups, movie nights, and community gatherings. Funding will help cover snacks, activity supplies, and other materials that foster inclusion, reduce isolation and create welcoming spaces for people with disabilities to connect, share experiences, and build community. 

North Shore AgroEcology Center (Organic Consumers Association)          

northshoreagroecology.org

Priority area: Local Food Economy 

Mission statement: To trial, demonstrate and promote bio-regionally appropriate regenerative farm designs, techniques, technology & products through on-site research/education, off-site consultation, and assisting new farmers establish in the region.  

Community impact: The North Shore AgroEcology Center is building long-term solutions to the environmental challenges of growing food in our unique northern climate. Located in Finland, MN, we’re developing and teaching permaculture and regenerative agriculture methods that protect North Shore ecosystems while adapting to climate change. Our 10-acre demonstration farm features a Deep Winter Greenhouse, perennial food forest, medicinal herb terraces, apiary, mushroom logs, market garden, and more — all designed to research and demonstrate sustainable food production in our challenging northern climate. 

We’re investing in the North Shore’s agricultural future by training farmers in climate-adaptive techniques and providing ongoing support as they establish viable operations. Through hands-on workshops, mentorship, and our sliding-scale education model, we provide accessible and collaborative education to build a flourishing local food economy rooted in regenerative principles. We’re not just growing food; we’re supporting a network of small farms and growers that strengthen regional food security. 

Every regenerative technique we demonstrate— from soil building to season extension to permaculture design—addresses both immediate food production needs and long-term environmental resilience. We know that regenerative agriculture isn’t just sustainable; it’s the foundation for a thriving North Shore food economy that protects the land and our health for future generations. 

Using GIVE! funds for: Funding will allow us to expand our farmer education and ongoing support programs, subsidizing instructor fees and materials for workshops on climate-adaptive growing techniques. This ensures we can offer free and sliding-scale training to beginning farmers while continuing upkeep of our demonstration space for hands-on learning. 

Northland Newborn Foundation          

northlandnewbornfoundation.org

Priority area: Food Access 

Mission statement: To support the health of babies and their families in our community. 

Community impact: Northland Newborn Foundation (NNF) exists to support families of newborns affected by health challenges.  The foundation does this through on-site support programs and direct financial support. The foundation also funds sponsorships to help families to attend a healing retreat to help navigate the grief journey following child loss. 

NNF was built by a Board of Directors who are deeply committed to our community and passionate about supporting families in our community with newborn babies. Our board is made up of locally based doctors, nurses, and people that are personally connected to our mission. Being entirely volunteer based, the funds we raise support local families – Our babies. Our community.  

In addition to the direct financial support & services for families of medically fragile newborns, NNF has made it a priority to make financial contributions in support of existing local programs and/or creation of new programs that align with NNF’s mission. Examples of community support funded inc: gas cards distributed to families in the NICU; ongoing NICU pantry donations; toys/books/games for sibling area in NICU; newborn packs for families in need (diapers, wipes, etc.); and other community resource wish lists. 

Our ultimate goal is to provide hope, comfort, and love to families during one of the most challenging times in their lives. 

Using GIVE! funds for: NNF has recently contributed matching funds to help support a Bridge Bag Program locally in the Duluth NICU, and we would like to continue to support this local program. 
 
The Bridge Bag program, in partnership with the Minnesota Milk Bank for Babies (MMBB), provides free donor human milk to families in need, particularly those with premature or medically vulnerable infants. 

Recovery Alliance Duluth           

recoveryallianceduluth.org

Priority area: Equity & Diversity 

Mission statement: To build and mobilize a compassionate community to support individuals seeking, maintaining, and thriving in recovery to inspire hope, create connection and eliminate stigma. 

Community impact: RAD is a Recovery Community Organization that provides free, low-barrier peer recovery support and works to support a thriving recovery community through regular family friendly events. We host 2-4 free community events every month- anyone in the community can attend. In 2024, we hosted over 40 family-friendly events, bringing people together to connect and spread sunshine not stigma. RAD builds a compassionate community where recovery isn’t just possible, it’s celebrated. Together, we break barriers, reduce stigma, and inspire hope. It is time to thrive in recovery. 

Using GIVE! funds for: RAD will use funding to host free family friendly recovery community events all year, with 2-4 events per month. Our events are in many locations: community-based organizations, parks, bowling alleys, etc. Funding will allow us to purchase food and supplies to provide accessible and free opportunities for connection and community. 

Safe Haven Shelter and Resource Center            

safehavenshelter.org

Priority area: Food Access 

Mission statement: To provide safety, space to heal, advocacy, and empowerment to women, children, and all survivors of domestic violence. 

Community impact: Safe Haven operates a 24/7 crisis Shelter that provides survivors of domestic violence with safety and all their basic needs, along with advocacy and community resources to begin healing from trauma. We also operate a drop-in Resource Center downtown that offers legal advocacy, safety planning, and self-sufficiency support including housing and employment resources – as well as support groups for adults and youth. On average it takes seven attempts for a survivor to successfully leave their abusive partner, and thousands of survivors of domestic violence access Safe Haven’s services every year. It is with the generosity of our community partners that we are able to meet their individual needs, no matter how many times it takes, with the same kindness and unconditional support each and every time. For 47 years, Safe Haven has served a seven-county region of northeastern Minnesota and the demand for our services continues to grow. Each gift we receive is a message to our clients that someone believes in them, and that is a powerful message of hope. 

Using GIVE! funds for: Funding will be applied directly toward our crisis Shelter and Resource Center programs. This would mean providing for basic needs like food and bedding at the Shelter for the 600+ survivors we house annually,  and advocacy support at our Resource Center for the 1,500+ clients who access our services there. 

Star of the North Maternity Home             

starofthenorthmaternityhome.org

Priority area: Food Access 

Mission statement: SON’s program decreases homelessness, reduces Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), improves maternal and child health outcomes, keeps families intact and promotes long-term independence for mothers and their children. Our trauma-informed, person-centered approach is designed to disrupt intergenerational cycles of poverty and increase connections while restoring dignity and opportunity. 

Community impact: Rooted in the key areas of Opportunity and Resilience, Star of the North Maternity Homes (SON Twin Ports) provides 24/7 safe, supportive housing, programming and care coordination for pregnant women and mothers with young children experiencing homelessness or instability. We are celebrating our 5 year anniversary here in Duluth and we opened our home in Hibbing (SON Iron Range) in 2022. We have been able to serve 68 mothers and 69 infants/children with over 70% success rate to independent housing.  Our Resident population reflects significant racial and ethnic diversity: 37% African American, 25% American Indian, 5% Multiracial, and 33% Caucasian. Approximately 30% of new Residents are pregnant upon arrival, and 20% arrive with more than one child. 

Our results for the ‘24-’25 fiscal year include: 

97% attendance at medical and dental appointments 

96% attendance at in-house educational programming 

90% attendance at Life Coaching 

83% of babies delivered at full-term babies 

100% of babies born without substance exposure (excluding prescription medications) 

1791 rides provided within the last fiscal year 

Residents average completion of Phase 2 of the 3 Phase program 

Using GIVE! funds for: We will use the funds towards buying healthy food and our “Residents Garden project”. We currently purchase the food for our evening “family meal” as we work with the Residents to develop their healthy cooking skills. The Residents use their government food funding for breakfast, lunch and snacks. We also would have it support our Moms’ Garden and use any remaining funds for Resident Supplies, such as baby monitors and other items as needed to support our moms.

Twin Ports APIDA (Asian Pacific Islander Desi American) Collective            

twinportsapidacollective.org

Priority area: Equity & Diversity 

Mission statement: To build solidarity among, awareness in the community around, and equity for all APIDA members in the Twin Ports. 

Community impact: The Twin Ports Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Collective’s core mission is to build solidarity among, awareness in the community around, and equity for all APIDA members in the greater Duluth/Superior area. The Twin Ports APIDA Collective’s (TPAC) values center on inclusion, diversity, equity, awareness, leadership, and solidarity to work toward embracing difference and dismantling systems of oppression. At TPAC, we cultivate a thriving space where APIDA members and allies can connect, where culture can be celebrated, and where advocacy can lead to meaningful change. Through vibrant community gatherings, food sharings, cultural education, and active advocacy, we amplify APIDA voices, foster belonging, and create opportunities for collective growth. 

TPAC’s activities include giving educational presentations (e.g., at local conferences, in classrooms, with organizations, at libraries); outreach to the greater Twin Ports community (e.g., free art exhibits, cultural tents with food samplings, event tablings); providing resources for the APIDA community (e.g., anti-APIDA violence support services, bystander training); connecting the APIDA community to the larger Northland (e.g., Boundary Waters Canoe Area grant, collaboration with BIPOC Outdoors group); and organizing cultural and community-building events for APIDA members and allies (e.g., Mid-Autumn/Harvest Moon Festival, Lunar New Year). 

Using GIVE! funds for: Funding will increase cultural representation in the local food economy and scene by supporting APIDA restaurants and individuals (e.g., subsidizing fees, costs) to preserve oral history of recipes into written form and to participate in historically-significant cultural events that lack APIDA presence (e.g., Lake Superior Dragon Boat Festival). 

Union Gospel Mission 

duluth-ugm.org

Priority area: Food Access 

Mission statement: Union Gospel Mission Duluth is a welcoming nonprofit organization that serves as a refuge and is committed to nourishing peoples’ physical and social needs.  Through our on-site meal program, housing, and supportive services, we provide a safe, caring environment for building up, with dignity and compassion, hope for our neighbors in need. 

Community impact: Union Gospel Mission has been serving Duluth for over 100 years, offering meals, housing, basic needs, and compassionate support to people experiencing homelessness, poverty, or crisis. Every day, we provide hot meals, hygiene supplies, and a welcoming space for hundreds of our neighbors—no questions asked. We help people find stability, connect to housing and healthcare, and take the next step toward a better future. 

As a locally rooted nonprofit, we believe everyone deserves dignity, safety, and hope. We’re working to build a stronger, more connected response to homelessness in the Northland—one that prioritizes humanity and long-term solutions. 

Round-up donations from Whole Foods Co-op shoppers will help us meet urgent needs today, while investing in a healthier, more compassionate community for tomorrow. 

Using GIVE! funds for: Funding will help provide hot, nutritious meals—just $0.93 each—to people experiencing homelessness in the Northland. Your support meets urgent needs, offers dignity and care, and connects neighbors to housing, healthcare, and hope. Every dollar goes directly to frontline services that make a real difference every day.