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Kari Onyancha hired by the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation to support new relationship

The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation has been selected as a community grant partner by the Bush Foundation to operate two statewide grant programs that support Minnesota communities:

1) Bush Prize: Minnesota

2) A new grant program that supports community-based problem solving

This collaboration furthers the Foundation's commitment to supporting and advancing innovative community-led solutions across Minnesota.

"We're thrilled that the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation will be our community grant partner for Minnesota," says Eileen Briggs, grantmaking director at Bush Foundation. "They were selected because of their work in deep partnership with communities, experience operating grant programs and their commitment to equity. Their partnership will help support creative problem solving in more communities across the state."

Kari Onyancha to Support New Partnership

Kari Onyancha
Kari Onyancha

On February 19, Kari Onyancha will join the Foundation as the new Senior Director of Partnerships. Kari brings 14+ years of progressive project operations management and over ten years of experience managing grants administration and compliance awards.

Kari joins the Foundation from Land O’Lakes Venture37, where she served as the Director of Strategic Partnerships & Growth and Program Management where she cultivated and expanded strategic organizational relationships with international and local NGOs, private sector actors, government agencies and small business partners. In her new role, Kari will lead the Bush grant programs for the Foundation and support other community initiatives.

“This is an exciting new partnership. It reflects and expands our shared vision for a more vibrant and equitable Minnesota,” said Anne Hoyt Taff, the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation's former Vice President of Partnerships. “Kari is a great addition to the team and this work. She is a strategic thinker and passionate about convening people to shape outcomes, which will be critical as we work with the Bush Foundation and members of the community to develop a grantmaking process that is reflective of community needs and opportunities.”

"I am honored to embrace the role of Senior Director of Partnerships at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation,” said Onyancha. “I look forward to working collaboratively with the Foundation team, the Bush Foundation and the community to co-develop an impactful grantmaking process that truly responds to the diverse needs and opportunities within Minnesota. Together, this partnership will create a more inclusive and thriving future for our community.”

I look forward to working collaboratively with the Foundation team, the Bush Foundation and the community to co-develop an impactful grantmaking process that truly responds to the diverse needs and opportunities within Minnesota.

Kari Onyancha

Partnering on Programs to Support Community-based Solutions

The Foundation will operate two programs in partnership with the Bush Foundation. One of those programs is the Bush Prize: Minnesota, which celebrates organizations that are highly valued within their communities and have a track record of successful community problem solving. Bush Prize grants are flexible and can be used to build up reserves or test that next big idea or whatever else would best support the organization's ongoing good work. The grant amounts are up to 25% of an organization’s most recent fiscal year expenses, with a maximum of $500,000. Bush Prize: Minnesota will open on April 1, 2024.

The Foundation will also develop a new program, with funding from Bush, to support creative problem solving across the state of Minnesota. The goal of this program will be to develop, test and spread ideas that make the region better for everyone and to inspire, equip and connect leaders to more effectively lead equitable change. The Foundation will work in partnership with Minnesotans across the state to build this new program, which will open in late 2024 or early 2025.

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