Community members and stakeholders invited to visit downtown Duluth space
DULUTH—The Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation invites the public as well as its donors, partners and other stakeholders to visit its new offices in downtown Duluth during an open house from 3-6 p.m. Thursday.
A highlight of the event will be a ribbon cutting officially celebrating the new offices at 4 p.m. by the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce and the Superior Chamber of Commerce.
The new offices in the Medical Arts Building, 324 W. Superior St., Suite 700, allow easier access for donors, grantees and other stakeholders as well as more room for the growing staff of the foundation. The new location also represents a homecoming for the foundation, which had offices in the Medical Arts Building from 2005 to 2011.
“Our donors and other partners always loved the central location of the Medical Arts Building, especially the great parking options nearby,” foundation President and CEO Holly C. Sampson said. “That one was one of the reasons we decided to return to this wonderful building. It’s right in the heart of downtown Duluth. Our friends know they can reach us easily for meetings or just to stop and talk.”
The foundation has grown to manage more than $78 million in assets, up 40 percent since 2011, and has more than 430 funds. It also has grown its staff, requiring more space. Since its inception in 1983, the organization has provided more than $59 million in grants and scholarships in its service area of seven counties in northeast Minnesota and three in northwest Wisconsin.
“We’re on a growth path, and this beautiful new space not only gives us more room but also enables us to upgrade our office environment and technology so we can work more efficiently for our donors and our community,” Sampson said.
The new space, identified and built specifically for the foundation’s needs, includes:
• Updated office space for employees
• A large conference room for the Board of Trustees and other meetings up to 20 people with state-of-the-art technology
• A smaller conference room for more intimate gatherings
Both meeting rooms are designed to be community resources, with other non-profit organizations invited to hold their meetings there, supporting the foundation’s ideals of generosity, inclusiveness and civic engagement.
“We look forward to making this our home and a resource for our entire community for a long time,” Sampson said. “We’re eager to show it to our donors, grantees, partners and others. Everyone is welcome to stop by.”
The foundation thanked donors, partners and vendors who helped make the move possible, including: Oneida Realty, Holm Construction, A-1 Movers, CW Technology, Lakehead Constructors, previous Community Foundation Board of Trustees chairs and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: The Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation encourages private giving for the public good. It is a permanent community endowment, built by gifts from hundreds of individuals and organizations. Guided by a volunteer Board of Trustees, it makes grants to nonprofit organizations and to individuals for scholarships while providing leadership on important community initiatives in northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. Since its inception in 1983, the Community Foundation has distributed more than $59 million and has established more than 430 funds, each with its own charitable purpose. For more information, please visit dsacommunityfoundation.com. FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES: Rob Karwath | North Coast Communications 218-343-9418 | rob@northcoastcommunications.com
