The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation today announced that Kedar Hickman has joined the organization as its newest program officer. Hickman brings leadership experience in the fields of education, youth development, human and community service and economic opportunity to his new role.

Hickman joins the Foundation after having served as program manager and interim COO at Ujamaa Place, a Saint Paul-based nonprofit providing support services to formerly incarcerated African-American men. There he had responsibility for daily operations as well as partnership and program development. He also served as instructor, programming director and board member at Skills for Tomorrow Charter High School in Saint Paul. Hickman currently serves as a co-chair of the Council for Black Male Success, an initiative funded by the Foundation to bring nonprofits and people together to discuss how philanthropy can better meet community needs.

“At the Foundation we view the community as our compass, best positioned to articulate and effectively respond to today's challenges,” said Ann Mulholland, executive vice president at the Foundation. “Therefore, it is fitting to have Kedar join our team. He is a trusted community leader who will lend tremendous insight to our work. We are thrilled to welcome him.”

Hickman’s experience honed an expertise in working with individuals and organizations to realize their growth potential through education, self-empowerment, leadership, citizenship and skills building. He has guided businesses and organizations as they work together to build strategies and programs to better serve their shared communities.

“I am excited to join and contribute to the work of the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation,” said Hickman. “Today our communities need to foster a commitment to and appreciation for human value for all, a commitment demonstrated by actions that bring about justice and equitable opportunity for all. My values and experience are firmly rooted in these ideas and ideals and in alignment with those of the Foundation as they support communities, cities and regions in their realization of community-led solutions.”

Founded in Saint Paul in 1940, the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation is Minnesota’s largest community foundation and the partner of choice for thousands of donors, professional advisors, nonprofits and community organizations. The Foundation supports more than 2,000 charitable organizations and donor funds and manages nearly $1.5 billion in assets, including F. R. Bigelow Foundation and Mardag Foundation.

The Foundation's impact is broad. In 2018 alone, in partnership with its donor advised fundholders, the Foundation made nearly 8,300 grants to support community needs in 71 of 87 Minnesota counties. Additionally, the Foundation supports 17 affiliate community foundations—from Hibbing to Waseca—which provide regional granting strategies and local donor involvement opportunities.