Fargo Nonprofit Wins $25,000 Donation on Giving Hearts Day

Heart-n-Soul Café receives major boost from Gate City Bank's community contest

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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A Fargo, North Dakota nonprofit called Heart-n-Soul Community Café has received a $25,000 donation from regional bank Gate City Bank as part of the bank's annual Giving Hearts Day community contest. The café addresses food insecurity by donating food to those in need while operating on a pay-what-you-can model.

Why it matters

The donation will allow Heart-n-Soul Café to expand its reach and continue providing nourishment and community connection to more people in the Fargo area who are facing food insecurity. Giving Hearts Day is an annual fundraising event that has generated over $1 million for local nonprofits since 2017.

The details

Gate City Bank announced that Heart-n-Soul Café was the winner of its $25,000 donation contest as part of the Giving Hearts Day festivities at the Dakota Medical Foundation in Fargo. The bank received a strong response from community members during the nomination period for the contest, which has been a Giving Hearts Day tradition since 2014.

  • On February 13, 2026, Gate City Bank announced the $25,000 donation to Heart-n-Soul Café.
  • Giving Hearts Day has been an annual fundraising event since 2017.

The players

Gate City Bank

A regional bank that runs an annual $25,000 donation contest as part of the Giving Hearts Day community fundraising event.

Heart-n-Soul Community Café

A Fargo, North Dakota nonprofit that addresses food insecurity by donating food to those in need and operating on a pay-what-you-can model.

Leola Daul

The Founder and Executive Director of Heart-n-Soul Community Café.

Amanda Torok

The Senior Vice President of Culture at Gate City Bank.

Dakota Medical Foundation

The organization that hosted the Giving Hearts Day festivities where the $25,000 donation was announced.

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What they’re saying

“This really reflects the heart of our communities. People want to help, and we love giving people a simple yet impactful way to support the causes that matter most to them.”

— Amanda Torok, Senior Vice President of Culture, Gate City Bank

“It means so much to know that Gate City Bank is investing so much into the community. It takes all of us to make a community strong. This gift keeps the food truck rolling into neighborhoods that need connection just as much as they need nourishment. It strengthens our capacity to reach more people, more often and in more places throughout our community.”

— Leola Daul, Founder and Executive Director, Heart-n-Soul Community Café

What’s next

Heart-n-Soul Café plans to use the $25,000 donation to expand its food distribution efforts and reach more people facing food insecurity in the Fargo area.

The takeaway

The $25,000 donation from Gate City Bank to Heart-n-Soul Café demonstrates the power of community-driven philanthropy and the impact that local businesses can have in supporting nonprofits that are addressing critical needs like food insecurity.