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Welcome to Activating in Critical Times, a four-part series from the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation.

Minnesota’s nonprofit sector is at a turning point. As demand for services soars and public funding faces serious cuts, organizations across the state are under strain and some are at risk of disappearing altogether.

This series was created to help you respond with clarity and impact. Whether you give through a donor advised fund or are just exploring your charitable goals, you’ll find practical guidance and timely insights in each article — from understanding the landscape to increasing your giving, raising your voice, and investing in long-term solutions.

Why Informed Giving Matters Now More Than Ever

Before we give, many of us pause. We reflect. We sift through the causes that call to us and weigh our capacity to help. We ask ourselves not only what to support, but how and where our giving will have the greatest impact.

Whether we’re seasoned philanthropists or just beginning to explore charitable giving, the process often starts with a simple act of curiosity: What’s happening right now in my community? Where are people experiencing the greatest strain? And where can my giving make a meaningful difference?

In this time of deepening reliance on the nonprofit sector — with unprecedented demand and federal funding cuts — understanding what’s at stake is more important than ever. Mapping the landscape is the first step toward powerful, informed generosity.

Facing Funding Cuts and Rising Demand, Nonprofits Work to Deliver

Across Minnesota, nonprofits are working harder than ever to meet rising community needs — even as federal funding diminishes or ceases and an uncertain economic environment deepens the demand for their services.

From food shelves and housing providers to arts organizations and policy advocates, nonprofits are strategically and creatively planning for what's ahead.

The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits’ 2024 Current Conditions Report paints a sobering picture of the sector:

Nearly 60% of nonprofits report an increase in demand for services.
More than half are dealing with staffing shortages.
Fundraising has become more unpredictable, especially as some pandemic-era relief programs have ended and inflation continues to shape giving behavior.

This strain isn’t limited to the East Metro or even the Twin Cities — it’s affecting communities across the state. In Greater Minnesota, where nonprofits often operate with leaner budgets and smaller teams, the impact of rising needs and limited funding is especially acute.

According to Wilder Research’s Compass Points 2024, nonprofits statewide are seeing heightened demand for mental health care, workforce development and housing support — indicators of deep and widespread challenges across Minnesota.

Nonprofits are innovating and adapting, but many are reaching their limits, stretching the sector’s resilience and ability to serve equitably, sustainably and at scale.

What Our Local and Statewide Community Is Telling Us

The East Metro Pulse survey, conducted by the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, is a powerful tool for hearing directly from residents in Dakota, Ramsey and Washington counties. The latest report, built from the input of nearly 4,000 residents, spotlights the lived experience of our community and where support is most urgently needed.

Key themes from the most recent findings include:

A growing mental health crisis. Many residents reported struggles with anxiety, stress and depression, and noted difficulty accessing timely, affordable care.
Persistent economic insecurity. Affordable housing, reliable childcare and equitable access to good jobs continue to be major hurdles.
Barriers to belonging. While many feel connected in their communities, disparities persist, especially for residents of color and LGBTQIA+ individuals.

These concerns are echoed across Minnesota. Wilder Research and the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits have both reported similar trends in rural and urban communities statewide, particularly in the areas of food insecurity, educational equity and access to culturally responsive healthcare.

The needs are broad, and so too are the opportunities for donors to engage meaningfully across regions.

What Informed Giving Looks Like

When the needs are many, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But giving doesn’t have to start big — it just has to start smart. That’s where informed giving comes in.

Here are four ways to make sure your giving is rooted in both heart and insight:

1. Explore Statewide Data

Widen your lens by looking at Minnesota-wide reports from trusted sources like Minnesota Compass, Wilder Research or the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits.

These tools can help you identify broader regional needs, from rural to urban communities, and guide your giving to meet needs that go beyond your immediate geography.

2. Explore Local Data

Use tools like the East Metro Pulse interactive data book to learn what your neighbors are experiencing.

Which issues resonate with your values? Where do you see persistent disparities? Look at both the challenges and the community strengths — because your giving can amplify both.

3. Use the Nonprofits We Fund Tool

The Foundation’s Nonprofits We Fund tool gives you a window into organizations that are actively addressing local needs.

Whether your passion is youth development, affordable housing, mental health or the arts, you’ll find groups doing impactful work in those spaces. Use the filters to match your interests with trusted organizations.

4. Ask Strategic Questions

When considering where to give, ask:

What issue or population does this organization serve?
How is it addressing a need identified in recent community data?
Is the organization led by or deeply connected to the communities it serves?
Can I support both immediate relief and long-term resilience?

These questions help ensure your gifts go beyond good intentions — they become part of a thoughtful, strategic response to what’s actually happening on the ground.

Urgent Needs Call for Action

While every donor's journey is different, a few urgent themes have emerged across recent reports and surveys.

These are high-impact areas where informed giving is especially needed:

Affordable housing and homelessness prevention
Food security and basic needs access
Independent media and journalism
Capacity building and nonprofit infrastructure support
Civil rights and liberties
Mental health and trauma-informed care
The arts and cultural expression
Youth development and education equity

Giving to these causes not only supports individuals and families, it also helps entire systems function more equitably and benefits the entire community.

Use the Activating in Critical Times: Worksheet to Reflect and Act

To support you in moving from insight to action, the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation has created a simple, printable worksheet to accompany this series. It’s a personal tool to help you reflect on the issues that matter most to you, take inventory of your giving capacity, and identify concrete steps for engagement — whether that’s recommending a grant, increasing your giving, exploring a new giving strategy or raising your voice for change.

You can download the worksheet and use it alongside each article in the series as a guided space to deepen your thinking and your impact.

Download the Worksheet

From Awareness to Action: Your Role in Strengthening Our Community

The landscape is shifting, nonprofits are adapting as best they can, and your giving can be a powerful force for stability, equity and hope.

Start by:

Completing and using the Activating in Critical Times: Worksheet
Exploring the East Metro Pulse Report
Using our Nonprofits We Fund tool to discover aligned organizations

You don’t have to figure it all out alone. Join us for a reflective morning conversation related to this blog series. This virtual gathering is designed for fundholders and others who want to engage more deeply with their giving during this time of heightened need in our communities.

Morning Conversations: Activating in Critical Times
8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
August 25

Register today

And don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Our team can help you clarify your goals, explore giving strategies and connect your generosity to the needs that matter most in our community, now and into the future.

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