Hello Everyone, I’m Dr. Eric Jolly.

As we close the book on 2023 and eagerly move into 2024, I’d like to share my appreciation for a year of triumphs, challenges, and moments of deep connection.

Yes, our communities have faced rising costs, changing needs, and the ongoing struggle for racial equity. But amidst these complexities, our network of partners – the passionate leaders of our nonprofit community and our committed donors – never lost sight of the positive change we can bring together.

As I traveled the state, I saw that in communities, large and small, rural and urban, generosity wasn't just a number on a page – it was the fuel that propelled us forward together building sustainable solutions to our challenges. Generosity isn’t just about money, it is also about sharing insights, lending expertise, building bridges across differences, and listening to all perspectives.

And listening was a key component of our work in 2023.

We listened as we designed the East Metro Main Street Economic Revitalization Program with community input; as I speak, with support of this program, organizations and businesses in the east metro are stabilizing, some even expanding after these challenging years.

We listened to who was making a difference in people’s lives and celebrated four community changemakers with our Facing Race Awards.

We listened to the needs of nonprofits as we granted, along with our partners at the Mardag Foundation and F. R. Bigelow Foundation, over 20 million dollars through our Building Community Capacity grants.

And this is just one of our many grant making programs—not to mention the millions of dollars directed by our fundholders.

Speaking of our donors, we listened to and captured several of their moving stories. So many people have established funds with the Foundation so that they can focus on tackling the often deeply personal issues that they want to impact.

There is so much more to share, and I invite you to spend time with our 2023 Impact Report, to reflect on the work we’ve done together this year.

In the year ahead, we will not shy away from the many critical issues that are challenging the unity and well-being of our community. We will increase the use of our investments for public good and our voice to strengthen and support the many agents and agencies of change that deliver a better life for all Minnesotans

We continue to invest today, with all of our energy, resources, and an abiding faith, that our collective efforts will transform the future for generations we have not met.