Engaging Communities for Change Through Grantmaking
Learn how the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation is partnering with nonprofits, donors and anti-racism advocates to make a better Minnesota in this video with former President and CEO Eric J. Jolly, Ph.D.
By Chris Garner, Communications Specialist
Grantmaking continues to remain at the forefront of Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation’s work.
This summer we have remained busy, working closely with our community partners, affiliates and advocates, listening to their needs while finding innovative ways to support their work and nurture their philanthropy. This includes supporting various organizations around the state addressing animal welfare, civic engagement and the health care needs of our community and looking at new ways to approach the Foundation’s grantmaking process.
Fall is upon us, which means it is almost time for our annual Facing Race Awards, celebrating anti-racism advocates who are working to change narratives around racial equity in Minnesota.
Listen as Dr. Jolly shares highlights from our work with nonprofits, donors and community members across the state.
Responding to Community
Recently, Rainbow Health, the largest provider of HIV+ care and other critical services to the LGBTQIA+ community in Minnesota, abruptly closed.
To ensure a smooth transition of care for the patients impacted, we allocated $170,000 to local agencies and organizations to continue providing them with support and HIV+ care.
Impact Across the State
In 2023 the Foundation was named one of three community foundations in partnership with the Taylor Family Farms Foundation responsible for distribution of revenue produced from $172 million worth of farmland donated by Glen Taylor to support organizations in southern Minnesota.
One of the first grants directed by the Foundation is to Winona Health to support the Winona Community HUB, which offers support to all experiencing food insecurity, housing insecurity, mental health challenges and more. With this grant, the HUB plans to hire a new community health worker to better support their growing senior population.
Fulfilling a Legacy
For years donors have entrusted the Foundation with their legacies. Thanks to the generosity of Steve Nordberg and Betsy McDonald we were able to make over $360,000 in grants to organizations in Minnesota dedicated to animal welfare.
These donations were made possible by the couple’s planned gift. In their will, they decided to donate part of their estate to the Foundation to establish the Nordberg McDonald Fund.
Addressing Community Needs Through Grantmaking
We know that a healthy democracy depends on engaged residents during both an election year and beyond. That is why the Foundation has awarded $500,000 through our various grantmaking programs to 14 nonpartisan organizations dedicated to democracy and civic engagement.
While these recent grants demonstrate our commitment to addressing immediate community needs, we are also looking toward the future. This includes making changes to our grantmaking process to ensure we support our community.
This year we are collaborating with a Community Council composed of community members, our board and the boards of Mardag Foundation and F. R. Bigelow Foundation. This redesign work will continue into 2025.
Honoring Anti-Racism Advocates
Lastly, we are excited to announce 2024 Facing Race Award recipients: Ma Elena Gutierrez, Tish Jones, Jametta Raspberry and Larry Tucker. These four individuals are working tirelessly in their dedicated fields combat racism in Minnesota. Be it by providing services to immigrants, education through the art of Hip-Hop, entrepreneurship and food or culturally focused counseling, they are doing the work to impact change.
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