Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation

In 2017, the Twin Cities Theatres of Color Coalition began meeting regularly with the Racial Equity Funders Collaborative to build trust while developing new approaches to resources and new ways for nonprofit theaters and philanthropic organizations to work collaboratively. Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation Program Officer Sharon DeMark has been a part of this collaborative work between arts organizations and funders in the Twin Cities. Check out this recent essay in HowlRound Theatre Commons to read more about the coalition and the trailblazing work they've been a part of.

We're excited to welcome Maryse Birr, M.A. to the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation! Maryse has joined our Philanthropic Services team as the Statewide Partnerships Manager. Please join us in welcoming Maryse! ??

In 2009, the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation led a collaborative effort to help make Minnesota a better place by channeling philanthropy throughout the state. What started out as a one-time event has blossomed into Minnesota’s giving holiday — Give to the Max Day. Give to the Max Day 2024 is tomorrow! Learn how you can celebrate and support your favorite causes ?? https://hubs.ly/Q02YXB8t0 GiveMN #GiveToTheMaxDay #GTMD24 #philanthropy #Minnesota

?? New job opportunity! We're looking for an Administrative Assistant to join the Chisholm Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation. The Administrative Assistant will advance the mission of the Chisholm Community Foundation in several key areas including Advisory Board administration, gifts/contributions/expense processing, assistance in the grantmaking process, and marketing and events support. This is a part-time position, and employees are expected to live within a commutable driving distance to the Chisholm Community Foundation in Chisholm, MN. Learn more about the position and apply at https://hubs.ly/Q02YM5yF0 #AdministrativeAssistantJobs #FoundationJobs #NonprofitJobs #MinnesotaJobs #AdminAssistant

Earlier this year, we announced a community-informed process to redesign the application-based grant programs for our three partner foundations: The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, F. R. Bigelow Foundation and Mardag Foundation. Earlier this year, we announced a community-informed process to redesign the application-based grant programs for our three partner foundations: The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, F. R. Bigelow Foundation and Mardag Foundation. Today, we are announcing an update on that work. Beginning in 2026, each of the three Foundations will make grants using new application processes and updated funding priorities. We anticipate posting detailed guidelines and application information late in 2025. To create the capacity our staff needs to operationalize these changes, the three Foundations will each implement transitional grant rounds in 2025. More details about the grant redesign and transitional grantmaking are available at https://hubs.ly/Q02YysVn0

The bond between Maria Biagetti Cortez and her son Vladimir Garrido-Biagetti is deeply immersed in their culture and music. Together they are Ina-Yukka (“ina” meaning mother in Lakota and other languages and “yukka” meaning son in the Aymara), a mother and son duo that perform traditional folk music from South America. Since moving to the Twin Cities from Chile in 2005, the pair have been bringing together the sound of folkloric harmonies with traditional flutes, percussion, outfits and dance along activism driven lyrics from the “Nueva Cancion” movement. “For my son it’s revolution, for me it’s evolution,” said Maria about the folk music of the movement. With support from Art in This Present Moment, they will embark on making new songs, embracing the struggles of their past while looking toward brighter futures that encompass their learnings along the way. Read more about Ina-Yukka and see stunning images of their performances at https://hubs.ly/Q02X-3vf0 — ?? Art In This Present Moment is an initiative of the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation that provides grants to Minnesota-based nonprofits to fund work by BIPOC artists who are changing and challenging dominant narratives through their craft. #ArtInThisPresentMoment #BIPOCartists #ArtsNonprofit

Building on the success of the California Black Freedom Fund's LEAD initiative, Black Collective Foundation MN’s MN LEAD will provide critical resources, training and expert guidance to racial justice organizations in Minnesota. In the face of coordinated legal attacks, initiatives like MN LEAD are crucial to ensuring we have a robust racial justice ecosystem in Minnesota. The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation is proud to be an anchor funder for this initiative! Learn more about MN LEAD ?? https://hubs.ly/Q02X-mQ40

?? Here are 5 factors to consider when helping your client choose a donor advised fund (DAF) provider: ?? Anonymity — If your client chooses to set up a DAF with a community foundation like the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, their designated philanthropic advisor will work with them to ensure only the information they choose is disclosed to each nonprofit organization they support. ???????? Multiple Generations — Some donors want their family or close friends to be able to make grant requests from the fund after they’ve passed. Some providers offer this feature, while others don’t. The Foundation will work with your clients’ successors to help them continue recommending grants from that fund until the last listed advisor on the fund dies. ?? Investment Options — Donors want more than environmental, social and governance (ESG) filters. They want to be able to support mission-related investments such as program related investments and impact investing. Donors want the assets in their fund to be doing good things even before they’re granted out to favorite organizations. ?? Fees & Minimums — While fees are an important factor, they shouldn’t be the only thing people consider when choosing a provider. When you partner with the Foundation, you and your clients will receive services and advice tailored to their giving needs, including personalized care and expertise from a professional advisor. ?? Advisor Fund Management — Several providers now offer special programs that allow a donor’s personal wealth manager to manage the assets in that client’s DAF. Partnering with the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation can be beneficial for both you and your client because it allows you to continue managing your clients’ funds while establishing ways to grow your clients’ assets. Choosing a DAF provider is a very personal choice and the decision should be based on how someone wishes to engage with their fund. Dive deeper into these factors and how a community foundation like the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation can help you and your clients' with their giving goals ?? https://hubs.ly/Q02WD2sY0 #DonorAdvisedFund #DAF #ProfessionalAdvisor #philanthropy #CharitableGiving

Each year the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, along with our fundholders, supports over 3,000 nonprofit organizations across the state. One of the organizations we supported this year was Exposed Brick Theatre. For nearly 20 years, this Minnesota theater has made it their mission to provide up-and-coming Playwrights of Color with opportunities to share their stories. According to Suzy Messerole, co-founder and co-artistic director, nearly 20% of the productions put on by theater companies today are still the works of William Shakespeare, which only leaves 80% space for other playwrights and often less space for newer narratives. “Theater has been a place that hasn't always been kind to a lot of people," said Messerole. "So, we celebrate omitted narratives, allowing artists to dive into the stories they want to tell.” Read on to learn about their recent world premiere production by Karen playwright Ehkhudah (Dah) Zar ?? https://hubs.ly/Q02XLxHf0 #PerformingArts #theatre #philanthropy #Minnesota

Larry Tucker is a marriage and family therapist who believes we all hold the tools for success. He is the co-founder and executive director of Kente Circle, an African American-owned clinic in Minneapolis that offers culturally responsive therapy to children and over 600 families annually. Recognizing the need for a workforce equipped to address the mental health needs of underrepresented communities and communities of color, Larry founded the Kente Circle Training Center. For 25 years, this center has provided much-needed education to mental health providers, social workers and community partners on how to best support the racialized trauma needs of diverse communities. We're proud to honor Larry with a 2024 Facing Race Award for the great work he's doing in Minnesota! ?? Watch the full Facing Race Awards celebration video ?? https://hubs.ly/Q02Wnbnv0 #FacingRaceAwards #FacingRace #MentalHealth