About the Nonprofit
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Knute Nelson, a 501(c)(3) corporation, was established in 1948 through a bequest by the late U.S. Senator and Governor of Minnesota, Knute Nelson, to serve older adults in Alexandria, MN. Today, Knute Nelson offers a wide variety of services including assisted living, enhanced assisted living, home health care, private duty home care, hospice, smart home technology, senior housing, memory care assisted living, outpatient therapies, respite care, short-term rehab, skilled nursing, and wellness. The mission of Knute Nelson is to enrich the lives of everyone we serve. Our vision is to provide innovative solutions that empower individuals to thrive. Our mission and vision statements are well-known, felt, and lived by our employees.
Knute Nelson is affiliated with sixteen area churches and is governed by a nine-member corporate board of directors. In addition, a separate nine-member board of directors governs the Knute Nelson Foundation. Knute Nelson employees a total of over 965 staff, including Knute Nelson employees and staff who work at a residence or for a service managed by Knute Nelson. Additionally, more than 200 volunteers assist regularly to carry out the mission of enriching lives throughout our organization. Knute Nelson collaborates wherever possible with area referring hospitals, clinics, Area Agencies on Aging, PrimeWest Health, churches, physicians, licensed professionals, among others. In 2014, three partners (Bethany Retirement Living in Fargo, Eventide in Moorhead, and Knute Nelson in Alexandria) partnered to provide home care and hospice services to the Fargo-Moorhead, Detroit Lakes, and Grand Forks area. This partnership is known as Ethos Home Care & Hospice. In 2015, the Alexandria Area YMCA and Knute Nelson formed Community Health and Wellness, LLC, with the intent of better serving the senior population with health and wellness choices. Additionally, in 2018, Knute Nelson offered space to the Alexandria Area YMCA to open a second daycare facility to 50 infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
In 2022, Knute Nelson served 8,552 older adults in Alexandria and the surrounding areas throughout our 43 county region in Minnesota. Of those served by Knute Nelson, 88% are served by our home and community-based programs (home health care, hospice, wellness, outpatient therapy, and technology) and the remaining 12% are served through our residential programs (senior living, assisted living, enhanced assisted living, memory care, short-term rehab, and long-term care).
Gifts received by the Foundation are invested into a separate account to ensure proper reporting and stewardship. A social accountability report is published annually informing donors and volunteers of how gifts their gifts were used. Designated accounts allow for proper direction of donors’ gifts:
- Home Care
- Home Health
- Hospice
- Nelson Gables
- Grand Arbor
- Autumn Cottages
- Care Center/Short-Term Rehab
- Wellness
- Crystal Brook Senior Living
- Spiritual Care
- Scholarships
- Greatest Mission Need
We recognize the significant impact philanthropy has throughout Knute Nelson. We are grateful to the individuals and organizations who have given $10,000+ in lifetime giving to the Knute Nelson Foundation by recognizing them as part of our Voss Giving Society. Our Knute Nelson Legacy Society recognizes donors who have left Knute Nelson in their estate plans (wills/bequests) or have made a planned gift (charitable gift annuities/trusts). Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing assists with technical gift planning related to charitable remainder trusts, annuities, and other complex gifts. They also have fiduciary responsibility to ensure these gifts are funded. Since 2006, the Knute Nelson Foundation has raised over $9,700,000 in gifts (cash, pledges, grants, land donation) to further the mission of Knute Nelson.
