Description:
Morgan Fund gives priority to projects that foster community pride or economically impact the Twin Ports in general, with a goal of making grants equally to Superior and Duluth

Maximum Award:
$10,000.00

Deadline:
April 1
October 1

Fund Use:
Competitive Grantmaking

Fund Type:
Field of Interest

Program Service Areas:
Community & Economic Development

Geographic Service Areas:
Duluth
Superior

Application Instructions:
Potential applicants should first submit an inquiry. Based on that inquiry, organizations may be encouraged to submit a grant proposal. All organizations should submit grant proposals and materials electronically. Organizations submitting grant request of $3,000 or less should use the DSACF Short Form Application. For greater amounts, please use the DSACF Grant Application Form. Complete grant proposals are due by 5:00 p.m. on the deadline date. For more details, see the Grants Section of this website.

Selection Criteria:
Applications are screened for completeness and clarity. The 2-3 month review process may include phone discussions, a meeting at the Community Foundation’s office or a site visit. Proposals will be reviewed for match with the fund priorities, the potential benefit to the community and the capacity of the organization to achieve results. Proposals are reviewed by staff, committees and donor advisors. Final funding decisions rest with the President and the Board of Trustees. The process is competitive as the Community Foundation always receives many more requests than it can possibly fill.

Awards Given from the Fund:
$2000, North End Arts Council, Community Garden Sculpture
$1,575, Arts District Planning Team
$10,000, Duluth Heritage Sports Center, signage
$5,000, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, to support video production of "Fresh Duluth"
$6,300, Minnesota Council for Quality, establish a forum for leaders in the Duluth-Superior region
$10,000, Northspan Group, program development and improved adminstration tools for business expansion
$4,000, University of Wisconsin - Extension for "Superior, A Community for Youth", developing student and citizen pride in our schools and the city of Superior.

Fund Story:
Duluth + Superior = Morgan Fund

Richard Burns and Elizabeth Murphy Burns have been committed to improving the quality of life on both sides of the bridge in the Twin Ports for most of their life.

“Liz represents the Superior side and I represent the Duluth side,” Richard says. “What many people don’t know is our parents shared the same middle name and that’s what the fund we set-up is named after.”

The fund he’s referring to is the Morgan Fund. One of the first field of interest funds established at the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation, the Morgan Fund supports projects that foster community pride or economically in impact the Twin Ports, with particular emphasis on projects that benefit both sides of the bridge.

Grant recipients have included a number of regional development organizations, such as the Northeast Entrepreneur Fund, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), the Northspan Group, Great Lakes Aquarium, North End Arts Council, Heritage Sports Center and a variety of other entities.

Grants to the Morgan Fund are not ultimately decided by Richard and Elizabeth, but they feel the grantees of the fund accurately represent their mission in improving collaboration between Duluth and Superior.

“We’ve always felt that Duluth and Superior should have a more cooperative attitude,” says Richard. “We’re always happy when we see a project that has a long term impact and supports both Duluth and Superior get funded.”

By establishing the fund and slowly growing it over time, the Burns hope they are setting an example for others interested in making a difference in this community.

“So often people feel they can’t create a fund, but what they don’t realize is that you can start relatively small and grow it over time,” Richard says. “Each year we invest in our fund and over time the fund has really grown to point where it can make a real difference in the Twin Ports. In addition, we’ve been really blessed that during major milestones in our lives, people have made contributions to that fund.”

How to contribute to the fund:
Click on the Donate Now button at left to contribute online or contact us by phone at 218-726-0232.