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To celebrate Dr. Eric Jolly’s legacy at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, we have compiled a list of highlights and accomplishments during his tenure.

In a time of increasing uncertainty across the nonprofit sector and in many communities, this list serves as a reflection of what we can accomplish when we come together to create an equitable, just and vibrant Minnesota.

1. Informs, Forms, Benefits Model Reshaped Our Approach

Dr. Jolly introduced the Informs, Forms, Benefits model. With this model, the communities that benefit from Foundation initiatives are also partners who inform and form the work itself.

This model has changed how we work in partnership with the community and guided our recent grantmaking redesign process, which will be fully implemented in 2026.

Grant Opportunities

Dr Jolly speaking with a group of people at an event

2. Two Foundations Merge to Form the Largest Statewide Community Foundation

In 2020 The Saint Paul Foundation and the Minnesota Community Foundation legally merged after decades of close collaboration.

By coming together as the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, we have been able to accelerate and deepen our support of communities across Minnesota.

Our History

3. A New Strategic Plan Guided Our Work

In 2020 we launched a bold, new strategic plan that codified our work and articulated our values. The plan guided the Foundation through a time of unprecedented change in the wake of the pandemic and the racial reckoning that followed the murder of George Floyd.

We recently launched our 2025-2029 strategic plan. It retains the original plan’s aspiration, strategies and values while expanding the ways we approach our work to reach ambitious new outcomes.

Aspiration: We envision an equitable, just and vibrant Minnesota where all communities and people thrive.

Strategies: Invest in Community-led Solutions, Advocate for Equity, Inspire Generosity

Values: Community is our Compass; We Listen; We Innovate and Learn; We Commit to Equity; We Nurture Philanthropy.

Our Aspiration and Purpose

Dr Jolly with Jametta Raspberry at the Facing Race Awards

4. Our Commitment to Equity Was Reinforced

Under Dr. Jolly's leadership, our long-standing commitment to equity grew stronger.

We received a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation for Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation. With this grant, we partnered with journalists, media experts and community leaders statewide for the first Truth and Transformation: Changing Racial Narratives in Media Conference.

Our annual Facing Race Awards continued to honor those fighting racism in Minnesota. We started Shariah-compliant endowment and donor advised funds. Our Board of Directors has become more diverse, better representing the communities we serve. We also introduced the idea of Operationalizing Equity, ensuring that equity is part of everything we do, inside and outside the Foundation.

These are just a fraction of our efforts to advocate for equity, which will continue beyond Dr. Jolly’s legacy.

How We Advocate for Equity

5. Achieved Grantmaking Milestones

In the last ten years, we have achieved important grantmaking milestones, including:

In 2019, we celebrated giving, with our fundholders and partners Mardag Foundation and F. R. Bigelow Foundation, a total of $1 billion to the community since the Foundation’s beginning. This number has now grown to more than $2.3 billion.
In 2024, the Foundation had our largest year ever for grantmaking, distributing $197 million to the community.
Over the past decade, our donors directed millions in grants to thousands of nonprofits. These grants reached every county in Minnesota and all 50 states, including Puerto Rico and Washington D.C.

Our Impact

6. Strengthened the Nonprofit Sector Through Endowments and Alliances

Today we work with more than 215 nonprofit organizations to support 450 nonprofit endowment funds, which creates financial stability so organizations can focus on their critical work.

Additionally, we support and partner with numerous foundations including F. R. Bigelow Foundation, Mardag Foundation, the newly launched Taylor Family Farms Foundation, Red Wing Property Fund and the Jones Family Foundation; and 13 local community affiliates.

Nonprofit Services

7. Accelerated Capacity Building

The Foundation is a place where ideas are nurtured for the good of the community.

In the last decade, we have led or have participated in numerous initiatives, programs and organizations. In 2018 the Foundation spun off GiveMN as an independent nonprofit. Since its inception, GiveMN has raised millions each year to support Minnesota nonprofits, including $37 million in 2024.

In 2016 we created the East Metro Pulse survey and report — a tool to measure community vitality and quality of life in Dakota, Ramsey and Washington counties. East Metro Pulse provides critical insights for those who serve these counties.

In 2018 we launched an initiative that provided nonprofits with a free subscription to Catchafire, which connects organizations with pro-bono talent across several functions, such as marketing, accounting and strategy consulting.

Resources Beyond the Grant

Alfonso Wenker Speaking at the East Metro Pulse Launch

The Bridge Center group of young people smiling

8. Partnerships Blossomed for Community Benefit

We united with foundations and companies, and with city, county and state officials to direct timely funding to community needs and opportunities. A sampling of these efforts and partnerships includes:

View Community Initiatives

9. Investment Innovations Took Shape

The Foundation transitioned from an outsourced investment model to a fully internal team, led by a new chief investment officer. This staffing shift allowed us to bring our investments and investment approach in alignment with the Foundation’s values. The Investments Team has also become a leading voice in the broader investment industry, encouraging more equitable practices.

Additionally, the Foundation became the first community foundation in the U.S. to sign the United Nations-supported principles for responsible investing (PRI) pledge.

Today we are preparing to launch two new investment portfolios that will offer donors and other institutional investors the opportunity to participate in market-rate investments and below market-rate loans. Both portfolios will be leveraged to support local, values-aligned companies and nonprofits.

Our Investment Approach

Giving Together event at the Wilder Foundation

10. We Came Together to Learn, Connect, Listen and Share

We have convened the community in a variety of ways over the last decade through donor appreciation events, advisor education series and nonprofit gatherings. We created the Giving+Together event series where donors gather to learn from community experts on a variety of topics; the North Star Society for donors committed to leaving their legacy; and the Cornerstone Council, where community-minded professional advisors share their time to help us meet our aspiration.

In addition to in-person gatherings, we are grateful to the numerous donors, nonprofit leaders and community members who have shared their stories on our blog to encourage more people to inspire generosity, advocate for equity and invest in community-led solutions.

View Upcoming Events

We thank Dr. Jolly for being our leader during this productive decade and look forward to many more milestones in the years to come.

Retirement Celebration for Dr. Jolly

Join us on June 4 to celebrate Dr. Jolly's incredible impact, reflect on milestones achieved under his guidance, and share our well wishes for the journey ahead.

This informal gathering will include a brief program at 4:30 p.m.

If you’re unable to attend in person on June 4, you’re welcome to share any well wishes for Dr. Jolly through the RSVP link.

RSVP for June 4 Event

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