About the fund
Standing with the local businesses that open the Boundary Waters to us all.
The BWCAW Legacy Fund is dedicated to protecting public access to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) by standing with the local businesses that make that access possible. The outfitters, resorts, lodges, guides, campgrounds, and family-owned shops of northeastern Minnesota are the front door to the wilderness — and the wildfires have hit them hard. We pool community support into direct assistance for the people doing that on-the-ground work.
Who we support
- Outfitters and guide services that get visitors safely into the BWCAW
- Resorts, lodges, cabins, and campgrounds near the wilderness gateways
- Restaurants, bait shops, and family businesses that keep gateway towns alive
- The seasonal jobs and livelihoods these businesses sustain
Our commitment
Every dollar is stewarded with the same care we ask of those who paddle these waters — leave it better than you found it. Assistance decisions are made by a volunteer committee with deep ties to the region, from Grand Portage to International Falls, so help reaches the businesses with the greatest need.