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A Letter to the Community

Dear community partners,

The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation has long recognized that our nonprofit partners are among the most essential agents and agencies of change in service to Minnesota. You not only share our aspiration for an equitable, just and vibrant Minnesota where all communities and people thrive, but you also work tirelessly to make this vision a reality.

These are challenging times. We understand the uncertainty caused by the shifting political landscape, executive orders and interrupted federal funding, and we share your concerns for our communities' safety and future.

It is in this context that I write to assure you that the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation remains unwavering in support of your work to build a resilient and inclusive community that advances our aspirations for everyone. Together, with a strong community of donors, and in partnership with organizational, political and nonprofit leaders, we will demonstrate that Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility are common-sense principles that when accomplished, create positive outcomes for our communities, organizations and nation.

Equity is an essential component of justice in our nation and remains a long-standing value of the Foundation. In that light we will continue to stand with immigrant communities, the LGBTQIA+ community, and the many who feel threatened by unprecedented challenges to their place in our community. We join our peers and partners who are working to protect democracy, civil liberties and everyone's right to peace.

I’ve often said that: One first step toward justice is the courageous recognition of injustice. Our next step is action.

Our actions to advance diverse narratives, dismantle hierarchies of human value, accelerate racial equity and support your work and values toward building the just and vibrant Minnesota we desire will continue. Please know we will stand with you to protect the space, voice, capacity and actions needed to advance the quality of life for all Minnesotans. Below I’ve shared some of the current actions we are taking, with full awareness that the months and years ahead will necessitate many more.

Thank you for the passion and energy you harness in support of our community.

“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”
— Edward Everett Hale

Together with you,

Eric J. Jolly, Ph.D.

Foundation Commitments and Responses

Grantmaking Continuity: We are moving forward with our planned grantmaking and plans to implement a community-informed grant redesign in 2026.

Listening and Supporting: We are actively listening to nonprofit concerns and exploring new partnerships and support, especially for organizations focused on immigration, LGBTQIA+ rights, and legal defense.

Following Community Leaders: We are following timely guidance from partners, including the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN), the Minnesota Council on Foundations (MCF), the Black Collective Foundation’s MN LEAD initiative, and the national Council on Foundations (COF).

Funder Collaboration: We are collaborating with other funders to maximize impact.

Financial Support: We have allocated $100,000 to MCN for advocacy and legal efforts and are directing $2 million to organizations focused on democratic participation, legal defense, and related initiatives. Some of these funds will be distributed through funder collaboration efforts.

Advocacy Efforts: We are leveraging all our advocacy resources and have recently expanded our capacity of the new Director of Advocacy, Community Engagement and Equity position.

Staff Engagement: Staff are participating in numerous convenings and conversations with those in philanthropy, nonprofits organizations and government; we are broadly sharing information to inform actions and partnerships.

Idea sharing: We will continue to demonstrate the positive outcomes of diverse perspectives through our storytelling, advocacy, grantmaking and investing.

Fundholder Engagement: We hosted “Impact of Federal Changes to Minnesota's Nonprofits” for our fundholders, where Nonoko Sato, President and CEO of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, discussed the challenges and pressures faced by nonprofits, as well as how donors can best support organizations during this time.