United Way of 1000 Lakes is inviting community members to invest in a stronger future through a limited-time endowment matching opportunity that will double the impact of new gifts.

Thanks to a grant from the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation (GRACF), with support from the Blandin Foundation, the organization has been selected as one of eight regional nonprofits eligible for a dollar-for-dollar match. Contributions to the United Way of 1000 Lakes Endowment Fund will be matched up to $25,000, creating an opportunity to significantly grow a permanent resource for the community.

Established in 2015, the Endowment Fund was designed to complement the organization’s annual campaign—strengthening both current initiatives and future capacity. While annual giving supports immediate needs across the Itasca area, the endowment provides long-term financial stability, helping ensure the organization can navigate economic uncertainty, respond to emerging challenges, and expand its ability to act during times of crisis.

Gifts to the endowment are invested to generate ongoing earnings, creating a reliable source of funding that supports United Way’s work year after year. This approach helps sustain vital programs, strengthen partnerships, and ensure the organization remains responsive to evolving community needs.

“This matching opportunity is an invitation to invest in something that will outlive all of us,” said Kimberly Brink Smith, Executive Director. “Every dollar given today is doubled, creating a permanent resource that will help future generations respond to challenges, seize new opportunities, and continue building a stronger, more resilient community. It’s a chance to leave a legacy that keeps giving long after today’s needs have been met.”

Every contribution to the Endowment Fund is matched dollar for dollar, doubling its immediate impact while building a lasting source of support for the future. Together, these gifts help grow a permanent community asset that will strengthen our region for years to come.

The match is available through December 31, 2027, and donors are encouraged to act soon to maximize their impact. Credit card gifts can be made online at gracf.org. Gifts by check, IRA charitable distribution, donor-advised fund, or other giving methods may be directed to United Way of 1000 Lakes, 350 NW 1st Ave., Suite A, Grand Rapids, MN 55744. Please include “Endowment Match” in the memo line to ensure your gift is designated for the matching campaign.

Learn more about giving through IRA charitable distributions, gifts of stock and securities, donor-advised funds, and memorial or honorary gifts by visiting uwlakes.org/ways-to-give.

To discuss a transformational gift—such as a bequest, beneficiary designation, charitable trust, life insurance policy, or another planned gift—contact Kimberly Brink Smith at 218-999-7570 or kimberly@uwlakes.org. Planned gifts of all sizes help build a permanent source of support, creating a lasting impact for our community for generations to come.