How to Be a Giving Heart in Grand Forks

Giving Hearts Day shows up every year as a reminder of how generous our community can be. On February 12th, 2026, we will see donation thermometers climbing, social media feeds filling with causes, and local organizations rallying support. Giving Hearts Day is also an opportunity to slow down and think more deeply about what it really means to be a giving heart, especially here in Grand Forks.

Giving Hearts Day is a 24-hour fundraising event for charities in North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota co-hosted by the Dakota Medical Foundation (DMF), the Impact Foundation, and the Alex Stern Family Foundation. It began in 2008 with a simple but powerful idea: “around Valentine’s Day, ask people to show affection to not only people they love but charities, too.” This event has grown exponentially since its beginning, becoming one of the longest-running and most successful giving days in the country.

At its core, Giving Hearts Day is about supporting charities that serve our neighbors within our community. The funds raised help keep food pantries stocked, family programs running, schools supported, and community services accessible. But the impact goes far beyond dollars. It’s about connection, care, and showing up for one another in ways that support not just survival, but well-being.

In its first year, 39 charities participated. Fast forward to Giving Hearts Day 2025, more than 40,000 donors came together to support 619 charities, making over 86,000 individual donations and raising more than $31 million overall for local organizations. On that day just last year, approximately $5,500 was donated every minute! Since its start, Giving Hearts Day has now surpassed $200 million in total donations over the lifetime of the program. This year, there are over 640 participating charities! What’s Cooler about Grand Forks? How much we care and show up for each other.

As a self-proclaimed data nerd, I appreciate how clearly the numbers reflect what many of us can already feel, that when people are given the opportunity to give in meaningful, transparent ways, they will show up again and again. What makes these numbers especially powerful is where they go. Giving Hearts Day funds stay in our region, supporting organizations that address real, everyday needs such as food insecurity, mental health, education, housing, healthcare, and community connection. The rise in amount of money raised each year represents our choice to invest in people, dignity, and long-term well-being.

There are many ways to get involved on Giving Hearts Day. You can make a financial donation to one or more participating organizations, volunteer your time, donate new or gently used items, or purchase gift cards that can be used to meet immediate needs. Whether you give money, time, or resources, each option plays an important role in supporting work happening right here in Grand Forks.

Finding organizations to support on Giving Hearts Day is simple. The Giving Hearts Day website allows you to browse participating nonprofits by name, location, or cause area, making it easy to find organizations doing work that matters to you. In the Grand Forks area, there are many organizations doing important work across a wide range of needs. Some local organizations readers may recognize include Global Friends Coalition, which supports New Americans as they settle into our community; Saint Gianna and Pietro Molla Maternity Home, providing substantial support for pregnant women and mothers; HIA Hospice, offering compassionate end-of-life care for patients and families; the Community Violence Intervention Center, serving survivors of domestic and sexual violence; Journey Home Animal Rescue, rescuing and rehoming animals in need; Northlands Rescue Mission, providing shelter and resources for individuals experiencing homelessness; and The Listen Center, providing services for people with intellectual disabilities to help them live as independently as possible.

Each of these organizations addresses a different need, but they all contribute to the health, dignity, safety, and well-being of our region. I encourage you to utilize Giving Hearts Day as an opportunity to learn about their work, and the mission of other local charities, and support the causes that resonate most with you.

In Grand Forks, generosity often looks and feels personal. It looks like families having access to food and basic needs. It looks like students having what they need to feel comfortable and confident at school. It looks like newcomers feeling welcomed and supported as they build a life here. It looks like individuals supporting causes that are deeply personal to themselves and the people they love.

Being a “giving heart” doesn’t mean giving until you’re depleted though. As a social worker, wife, and mother, I often reflect on the fact that sustainable giving must start with our own intention and care. It means choosing generosity that aligns with our values, capacity, and energy. Sometimes that looks like donating to an organization whose mission resonates with you. Sometimes it looks like volunteering your time or skills. And sometimes, it looks like quieter acts of care such as checking in on a neighbor, offering patience to someone having a hard day, or modeling kindness in everyday interactions.

However you choose to celebrate Giving Hearts Day, remember that every act of generosity, big or small, makes a difference. The impact you create supports others, strengthens relationships, and builds a more caring, connected community. Showing up for your neighbors, offering compassion, and making a positive difference in someone’s life is what truly makes Grand Forks a place where people thrive together.