The Foundation was officially launched in 1990 for the dual purposes of (a) making grant funds available to help support local community-based initiatives and (b) to provide a permanent local option for community-minded individuals interested in targeting their charitable giving for the benefit of future generations. A 12 member Board of Directors provides oversight to Foundation activities.

Although locally governed, TRCF is an operating division of the Initiative Foundation (Little Falls), formerly The Central Minnesota Initiative Fund. The partnership with the Initiative Foundation enables TRCF to save administration costs and to provide a variety of services to prospective donors. The TRCF endowment is professionally managed as a component of the Initiative Foundation's investment portfolio. Only the interest from the endowment is used to support the grants program and other activities of the TRCF.

A partial list of organizations funded by the Three Rivers Community Foundation includes: Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Elk River, Boys and Girls Club of Elk River, City of Rogers, City of Zimmerman, Elk River Area Arts Council, Elk River Area Citizen's League, Elk River Area Schools, Elk River Chamber of Commerce, Elk River Community Theatre, 2001 Arts Alliance, Greater Zimmerman Area Chamber of Commerce, Land of Lakes Choirboys, Opportunity Partners, Rivers of Hope, Sherburne County Health Services, Sherburne County Historical Society, St. Andrew's Catholic School, St. John's Lutheran School, Village Family Service Center.

Since 1994, $239,773 in grants have been given by TRCF to community organizations and raised $485,000 through golf events and local contributions.

Click Here for a capsule history of TRCF