Edina Community Foundation

OUR MISSION IS STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITY. Life in Edina has much to offer – beautiful homes and parks, great schools and shopping, and a convenient central location. The Edina Community Foundation adds to that mix by enhancing opportunities for people who live or work in Edina through a strong program of philanthropy.

Founded more than 35 years ago, the Edina Community Foundation works to create a better and stronger community in which people who live and work here can contribute to helping others in need, come together to participate in cultural activities and opportunities for community dialogue, and enjoy beautiful music, neighborhoods, parks, and public art.

WE PROVIDE PROGRAMS FOR THE COMMUNITY

ECF creates programs that help connect and make Edina more livable for all citizens. One popular program is the Connect Card which offers under-resourced families a one-stop application to access scholarship dollars at nine partnering organizations including Edina Parks & Recreation, Edina Basketball Association, and the Edina Girls Athletic Association. Edina Reads offers speaker programs as well as an annual writing contest and neighborhood book clubs. The new Meal with a Mentor Program links adults with youth aged 15-20 for a mentoring lunch, offering an opportunity for seasoned professionals to make a difference in the lives of young people.

WE HOST MEANINGFUL EVENTS

ECF hosts events that spread joy and celebrate members of our community. Perhaps our most well-known event is the Edina 4th of July Parade and Fireworks. The Edina Community Foundation raises funds and steers the planning committee that maps the logistics, contracts with the entertainment, registers community groups, and coordinates volunteers to make it a celebration worthy of the 20,000-25,000 enthusiastic fans who line the streets at 10 a.m. each July 4th. The night before the annual 4th of July Parade, we celebrate veterans with a special dinner, speakers, music, and companionship to honor our community’s veteran heroes and their families.

The Connecting with Kids Leadership Breakfast is another annual event where ECF recognizes Edina teens and adults who mentor or uplift local youth.

WE INCUBATE OTHER NONPROFITS

The Edina Community Foundation provides support to more than 80 local nonprofits through its Community Impact Program. This role involves providing fundraising support, tax-exempt gift acknowledgment, banking and bookkeeping services, grantmaking for the shared mission, professional auditing, and annual reporting to the IRS and State Attorney General's Office.

INVOLVING OUR RESIDENTS 

The Edina Community Foundation’s vision includes being a source of leadership in the coordination of resources and skills of our citizens. To that end, we encourage those people who live or work in Edina to get involved in our work. The most obvious way is by making a charitable donation, but there are many other ways to help. Visit our website for more details: EdinaCommunityFoundation.org