Impact

The James J. Hill Reference Library opened in Saint Paul, Minnesota providing general reference library services in 1921. Over nine decades, the daily usage and focus of the library’s mission changed to meet those of the community, with its’ final physical purpose being a business reference library. In 2020, The James J. Hill Center board of directors reimagined its’ charitable purpose and activities, guided by an order of the Ramsey County District Court, allowing the library to transition away from providing free reference library services and entrepreneurial support programming into a grant-making foundation.
The mission of the private foundation is to support nonprofit organizations that spur entrepreneurship in Saint Paul and support scholarships for first- and second-generation Americans along with the studies of data science and entrepreneurship.