The Minneapolis Foundation

Congratulations to NACCE's 2024 award winners, especially our President and CEO, R.T. Rybak! R.T. received NACCE's 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award, which honors a person who has played a pivotal role in philanthropy and civic life. NACCE paid special recognition to R.T.'s decades of work to expand equitable career pathways for young people. From Step Up and Urban Scholars to ConnextMSP and Generation Next, the programs to which he has dedicated his time and talent over the years have made a difference for thousands of youth in Minnesota and beyond. It was an honor to connect with the many local and national leaders at NACCE's conference, including Sharon Pierce and Dr. Rebecca Corbin (pictured below), and Minnesota Sen. Zaynab Mohamed, who among many other things is a Step Up alum. Read NACCE's full announcement: https://lnkd.in/e3NNCDTs

"Literacy matters and merits maximum investment." In today's Star Tribune, editorial columnist Denise Johnson dives into our recent commitment of more than $1 million for Minneapolis Public Schools' work to strengthen student literacy. She writes, "Minneapolis school leaders wisely intend to use the new funding to support 10 reading specialists in 16 elementary schools this school year. Those additional educators can help accelerate implementation of Minnesota’s new required phonics-based approach to reading." We are honored to partner with the school district on this important work, and we are deeply grateful to the donors with charitable funds at the Minneapolis Foundation who have joined us in supporting it. Read the full column:

Thanks to everyone who joined us this week as we relaunched the Minnesota Meeting! At this convening focused on the environment, we heard from local and national leaders in the environmental justice movement, learned more about a new initiative to protect Minnesota’s water, and discovered how unprecedented public funding to address human health and environmental challenges could be a game-changer for communities across the Great Lakes region. We hope all our guests came away as energized as we are by the work being done to meet today's environmental challenges and opportunities. We are especially grateful to the speakers who shared their expertise and wisdom, including Minneapolis poet laureate Heid E. Erdrich, Ryan Alaniz, PhD of the RE-AMP Network, Eartha Borer-Bell of the Midwest Environmental Justice Network, Davis Price of NDN Collective, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Marcus Star of Minnesotans for our Great Outdoors, Lorna Benson and Kirsti Marohn of MPR News, Monica Cruz Zorrilla of Imagine Deliver, and Paul Austin of Conservation Minnesota. Special thanks to MPR News for their partnership on this event, and to our hosts at Nicollet Island Pavilion.

We are delighted to announce our 2024 Reimagine Education grants! These investments fuel school and community programs that are shaped and led by the Minnesotans with most at stake in our education system: Teachers, school leaders, families, and the students who are our state’s future. Congratulations to all 29 of these schools, school districts, and nonprofits – we are proud to partner with you! 826 MSP, Advancing Equity Coalition, American Friends Service Committee,?American Indian OIC, Coalition of Asian American Leaders, EdAllies, Education Evolving, Educators for Excellence, Elevate Teaching, GOOD TROUBLE, Great MN Schools, Groves Learning Organization, Illusion Theater, Islamic Civil Society of America,?La Oportunidad, Legal Rights Center, MIGIZI, Minnesota Education Equity Partnership, Minnesota Humanities Center, MN Zej Zog, OutFront Minnesota, Project for Pride in Living (PPL), Richfield Public Schools, Solutions Not Suspensions Coalition, Spark-Y Youth Action Labs, Unidos MN , UpLiFT Movement, U??í Wi?hóiye Ahókiphapi Omá?keki?hiyapi

Please help us welcome our newest team member, Kyla Rathjen! As a Grants Accountant, Kyla will support the Great Lakes Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program, which will soon begin distributing $40 million in grants to communities throughout a six-state region. Kyla is passionate about facilitating high-impact, community-led investments. She brings experience in nonprofit program management and community-led development spanning Minnesota, East Africa, and Central America. She holds a master's degree in Human Rights from the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs and College of Liberal Arts and a bachelor's degree in Sociology/Anthropology from St. Olaf College. Welcome, Kyla!

We're hiring! We are growing our team of passionate community-builders and are currently welcoming candidates for these positions: - Finance Associate - Grants Associate - Grants Administrator Spread the word and apply today!

Today, we are excited to announce a commitment of more than $1.3 million to Minneapolis Public Schools to support literacy and leadership during the 2024-2025 school year. This investment includes $1,077,000 for MPS to hire 10 literacy specialists and $244,500 to support the district’s Grow Your Own programs, which are designed to address the district’s teacher shortage and increase teacher diversity. We are proud to partner with the district and support the critical work that teachers, school leaders, and students are doing every day. Read our full announcement:

As more immigrant families arrive in the Twin Cities, schools in Minneapolis and around the metro are welcoming their children into local classrooms. Many of these new students will spend years in these schools while their immigration status is worked out in an overwhelmed court system. As our colleague Joel Luedtke writes, "Regardless of your views on the wedge political issues around immigration, a few facts should unite us all: These children are wonderful humans who already have hopes and dreams that we should help flourish. And during what will be an uncertain time for these families, our schools should be a place where they can feel at home. This last part is already happening, thanks to the great people who work in Minneapolis schools. But there are more things the rest of us can do to help." Read his essay:

Great to see so many new and old friends at Fourth Generation's kickoff event last night! This year, the giving circle's grantmaking will focus on youth-led initiatives. Fourth Generation welcomes new members, and fall is the perfect time to join. Come to their October meeting and see what it's all about: https://lnkd.in/gkEDYEm7

Calling all Minnesota K-12 educators! If you're planning lessons about Native American culture and history this school year or could use resources to support you in doing so, don't miss this funding opportunity. We're accepting grant applications until 6 p.m. on September 26. Learn more: