Nonprofit Review Day brings funding and celebration for local projects
Local nonprofits were awarded over $740,000 in December to advance mental health, food security, homelessness assistance, and more throughout central Minnesota, thanks to Sourcewell’s Impact Funding.
Each of the eight recipients presented projects for consideration at a day of review and celebration last month in Staples, Minn. Nonprofit representatives from throughout the region voted on which projects to fund, choosing these eight for their vision and potential for community impact. The event also included updates from past funding awardees.
“Review Day is a highlight of every year for our team and our region,” said Tammy Filippi, Senior Resource Development Administrator at Sourcewell.
“It’s not just about allocating funds for community impact: It’s about coming together to share and celebrate past impact, too. It’s a chance to honor the meaningful progress our nonprofit leaders have already created, while embracing the new possibilities this day will open for them — and our communities.”
To be eligible, a project had to clearly demonstrate how it would have a direct impact on communities within Sourcewell’s service region. Votes were reviewed and ratified by Sourcewell’s Nonprofit Advisory Council, comprised of local nonprofit leaders who ensure community input is at the heart of Sourcewell’s funding process.
Sourcewell’s Impact Funding is supported by revenue generated from its national cooperative purchasing program. Program service fees generated through Sourcewell contracts are reinvested in central Minnesota communities via projects like Impact Funding.
List of projects funded:
The Outreach Program of Brainerd Lakes; Lakes Area Food Shelf
Community Garden
A community garden will help The Outreach Program of Brainerd Lakes provide nutritious fruits, vegetables and herbs to the Lakes Area Food Shelf (LAFS) in Pequot Lakes, and potentially to the new food shelf that LAFS is working to establish in 2026, as well as creating a small revenue stream for the Outreach Program of Brainerd Lakes through sales of produce at area farmer's markets or food stands. This will help Outreach BLA's ability to package more meals, provide more resources to our community within the food space.
PORT of Crow Wing County, Inc. dba. PORT Group Homes; Relationship Safety Alliance
Community Connect
Community Connect, a partnership between Port Group Homes and the Relationship Safety Alliance, empowers families across Region 5 through education, support, and connection. The project provides parenting workshops, community support groups, and family events that strengthen relationships and build resilience. Together, the partners are helping families grow stronger and communities become more united.
Lakes Area Restorative Justice Project; Wellness in the Woods
Restoring Hope and Cultivating Community
Lakes Area Restorative Justice Project in collaboration with the Sacred Pathway and Wellness in the Woods programs have rolled out a project for Investing in the Next Generation that covers the spectrum of support and services for youth and families that absolutely has a 'Guaranteed Return".
Relationship Safety Alliance; Essentia Health/St. Joseph's Medical Center
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE)
Relationship Safety Alliance, in partnership with Essentia Health/St. Joseph’s Medical Center, will relaunch the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program to restore trauma-informed medical and forensic services in Region 5. The program will ensure survivors age 13 and older have timely access to compassionate care, evidence collection, and follow-up support, improving health, safety, and justice outcomes across central Minnesota.
Smiles For Jake; Lakes Area Heroes
Hero Smile Kit Program
Smiles for Jake and Lakes Area Heroes are partnering to launch the Hero Smile Kit project, an innovative initiative supporting the mental health and wellbeing of local firefighters, first responders, and law enforcement across Region 5. Together, they will distribute 1,000 kits containing mental health resources, suicide prevention tools, and encouragement to those who serve. Through this effort, both organizations aim to reduce stigma, strengthen resilience, and create a ripple effect of hope throughout our rural communities.
Emily Emergency Food Shelf; Bridges of Hope
The Bridging Service Gaps in Rural Communities Project - Resource Connection Services
The Bridging Service Gaps in Rural Communities project will provide Crow Wing County residents connection to basic needs supports like nutritional support, housing assistance, employment resources, mental health referrals, and other critical supports all in one place. In partnership with Bridges of Hope and its Resource Connection Services program, residents who visit Emily Food Shelf, Lakes Area Food Shelf, and Central Lakes College will have access to nutritional support and can meet with a Resource Specialist to connect to assistance with completing important forms required to access basic needs support.
Lakes Area Food Shelf; The Outreach Program of Brainerd Lakes
Brainerd Lakes Area Food Shelf
The Lakes Area Food Shelf and The Outreach Program of Brainerd Lakes are establishing a second food shelf in the southern portion of Crow Wing County in order to bring healthy, nutrient-rich food to the families who live and work in this area.
Bridges of Hope; Lighthouse Beginnings
The Pathways Project
The Pathways Project is a new collaborative effort led by Bridges of Hope and Lighthouse Beginnings to reduce long-term homelessness in Crow Wing County. By aligning staff and resources across local service providers such as Sharing Bread Soup Kitchen and My Neighbor to Love Coalition, the project will help residents overcome barriers to stability across a continuum of care. Through coordinated case management, transportation, and outreach, the Pathways Project helps residents access basic needs supports, employment, and stable housing.