What is the Eagan Community Foundation?
Image Credit:
Kent Landerholm
The Eagan Community Foundation is your local community partner: connecting people, ideas, and resources to build a stronger Eagan together. Since our founding in 1990, we’ve acted as a catalyst for positive change by awarding scholarships to local students, partnering with nonprofits through community grants, and serving as a fiscal home for projects that enrich our city.
Our Mission
Our mission is simple yet powerful: Investing together in Eagan’s future through community connections, grants, and scholarships. We believe the best ideas begin with the community, from neighbors helping neighbors to youth-led initiatives, and we help bring those ideas to life.
Whether you’re a donor looking to make an impact, a nonprofit gearing up for your next project, or a high-school senior planning for college, the Eagan Community Foundation provides a bridge — with opportunities to give, apply, volunteer, or lead. We’re proud to serve the people of Eagan, and we invite you to join us in making our city a place where everyone can live, learn, work, and play.
We partner. We empower. We invest. Together.
Our Vision
At ECF, we imagine a future where every resident of Eagan thrives — where opportunity is accessible, connections are strong, and community resources empower all to live, learn, work, and play with dignity and purpose.
We envision a city where:
Ideas that spark local change find support and momentum;
Young people of all backgrounds access education and experiences that open doors;
Nonprofit and civic partners collaborate seamlessly to address real community needs;
Philanthropic investment stays rooted locally, amplifying the unique strengths of Eagan.
Together, we commit to: investing in our future, together — building a resilient, inclusive Eagan for generations to come.
Our Impact
Since our founding, the Eagan Community Foundation has helped shape a stronger and more connected community by supporting students, local projects, and nonprofit initiatives that make a meaningful difference.
Over $3 million reinvested into the community through scholarships, grants, and local initiatives
Annual scholarships awarded to graduating Eagan seniors as they take their next steps in education or career pathways
Grants supporting organizations focused on youth development, food access, housing and homelessness, community arts, and more
A Youth Philanthropy Initiative that empowers high school students to serve as grantmakers, learning leadership and civic engagement through hands-on development
For us, impact isn’t just measured in dollars. It’s measured in stronger connections, opportunity, empowerment, and the shared belief that Eagan’s future is built by all of us.
More than $1.7 million in scholarships awarded to over 1,700 students.
The Eagan Community Foundation grew out of discussions in 1990 by educators and business people in Eagan interested in creating a scholarship program for graduating seniors at the newly created Eagan High School. Since then, more than $1.7 million in scholarships has been distributed to over 1,700 students. Additionally, the Foundation has been involved in many community programs and charitable initiatives for the Eagan community.
Investing $1 million to empower creativity with the Art Works Legacy Fund.
With the Art Works Legacy Fund, we’re investing $1 million today to empower creativity and distribute approximately $40,000 annually to local arts nonprofits tomorrow. Through this fund, the Eagan Community Foundation is establishing a permanent endowment dedicated to supporting small- and medium-sized arts organizations in Eagan and the South Metro. This means consistent, reliable funding for nonprofits that often don’t get the spotlight — so they can plan ahead, deepen their impact, and keep our community’s culture vibrant, inclusive, and thriving.
Our History
A Community-Driven Beginning
The Eagan Community Foundation began in 1990, created by local residents who wanted to invest directly in Eagan’s future, starting with scholarships and funding for community-driven ideas.
Growth & Expansion
Over the following decades, the Foundation expanded its reach by increasing scholarship offerings, launching community grants, forming partnerships with local organizations, and becoming a trusted philanthropic resources in Eagan.
Today
Today, ECF continues to bridge generosity and action — supporting educational pathways, funding community impact, and empowering local leaders. With continued support from our community, our next chapter will deepen our impact and help Eagan thrive for generations to come.
Eagan Civic Arena, 1994-95
In 1993, the Eagan Community Foundation was asked by interested groups, to assist in raising the $600,000 in matching funds designated by the City Council to build a new ice arena/recreational facility. As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, the Eagan Community Foundation agreed to serve as an “umbrella” charitable organization to handle contributions, distributions and accounting and audits. Our board members also participated in the promotion, fundraising, and marketing needs to open the arena in October of 1995.
“Eagan Forever Green” Tree Replanting Project, 1998-99
In 1998, eighth grader, Kate Munson from Black Hawk Middle School, won an Eagan Community Foundation essay contest suggesting a community-wide effort to plant trees as a way to improve Eagan in a cross-generational approach. Given the heavy damage and loss to trees in spring storms, the City Council, the Eagan Community Foundation and other community volunteers set up the “Eagan Forever Green” Committee making available 5,000 trees at a reduced cost to residents.
Eagan Residents Flood Relief, 2000
In the early design stage for a new central park in Eagan, the City discovered that a lone burr oak tree — symbolic of the City’s heritage– stood in the place of a planned roadway. Community residents developed a plan to move the tree to a new location in the park. The Eagan Community Foundation served as the fiduciary for the funds raised and brought the community together at informational gatherings to watch the tree’s progress during the move.
A Few Other Milestones:
2012 — 2014
Eagan-Wide Talent Show
2016
New Annual Community Happy Hour
2018
Youth Philanthropy Initiative Launched
2019
Extraordinary Eagan Board Member Award Nonprofit Board Leadership Workshop
Our name changed from the Eagan Foundation to the Eagan Community Foundation. The COVID-19 Response Fund and the Racial Equity Fund were added.
2020
