The Minneapolis Foundation

We bring together people, ideas, and resources to improve the lives of everyone. The Foundation is more than a grantmaker. We convene, collaborate, partner, invest, and advocate — that’s how we make a donor’s giving go further! It’s a 100-year-old tradition — and we have big plans for the future.

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Mississippi Meeting: Acting Together to Protect Our Planet

Together with community leaders, donors, and subject matter experts, we’ll discuss food, water, farming, and how our choices impact the environment in Minnesota and around the world. Our goal at this event is to spark action on this critical and time-sensitive topic.

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Conversations with Chanda

This event series is hosted by Chanda Smith Baker, The Minneapolis Foundation’s Senior Vice President of Community Impact. Chanda has over 20 years of experience working in, for, and with underestimated communities.

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Climate Action and Racial Equity Fund

Support and receive funding for innovative projects that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Minneapolis.

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Investing in Our Community’s Future

We awarded nearly $4 million to 87 organizations for work in 2019. Learn more about the nonprofits we support through competitive grants to strengthen the economic vitality, education, and civic engagement of Minneapolis-St. Paul.

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Make Your Giving Go Further

We are here to help you turn your passion into action.

1,400

Charitable funds administered

$890M

Total assets under management

$70M

Annual grants to community

10.2%

Investment returns, long-term growth portfolio, FY 2018

Each year, our donors support more than 2,000 different causes and charities in Minneapolis and beyond. We offer wise investment strategies, unmatched expertise about community issues, and first-class donor services.

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Our Community Impact

Our vision is of a greater Minneapolis that is vibrant, inclusive and positioned to thrive locally and compete globally. Through donor advised funds and competitive grants, we are investing in six key focus areas to help this vision come to life:

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Arts & Culture

We are committed to sustaining our robust and diverse arts community. That commitment is reflected in the ranking of The Minneapolis Foundation as one of the largest funders of the arts in Minnesota.

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Economic Vitality

We are working toward building an inclusive workforce, reflective of our changing demographics, as well as a business climate that fosters innovation, entrepreneurship, and self-sufficiency. Creating stable, well-paying jobs is critical to the long-term vitality of our economy.

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Environment & Conservation

Preserving our city’s rich river history and reducing our carbon footprint are two cornerstones of our community’s future. That’s why, on a monthly basis, the Foundation invests a quarter of a million dollars to support environmental causes.

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Civic Engagement

We are fostering a community where everyone is encouraged and motivated to participate in the democratic process and public decision making.

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Community Health

We are committed to building a healthy community where all people have access to critical necessities including excellent medical care, social services, stable housing and livable wages.

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Education

We believe that children are our future. That’s why we are investing in systems and programs that put all children on track to compete in a global economy, participate in civic life and pursue their dreams.

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Competitive Grantmaking

We are privileged to steward and invest gifts that have been entrusted to us throughout the past century
It’s our responsibility… and we take it very seriously.

We focus these resources on promoting social, economic and racial equity. We believe in realizing our community’s full potential, rather than simply resolving problems. Funding is available through a competitive process and the opportunities are targeted toward achieving a very select set of outcomes that bring us closer toward this vision.

Grantmaking Information
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Community Buzz

Learn the latest about upcoming events, community issues, community impact, and giving opportunities right here.

Fourth Generation Awards $60,000 in Grants

Fourth Generation, a program of The Minneapolis Foundation that brings together emerging philanthropists, awarded $60,000 in grants to six local organizations working to address place-based disparities. Each organization will receive $10,000. Members of Fourth Generation work together to learn the skills of strategic giving and pool their resources to make…

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Helping Kids Grow Strong Brains

Martin and Beth Peyer have been passionate about education for a long time. For many years, they led a company that provides schools with web-based services and software. When the company was sold and they used some of the proceeds to establish a fund at The Minneapolis Foundation, they knew…

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The Minneapolis Foundation Names New Chair, Three Trustees

The Minneapolis Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of three new members to its Board of Trustees. Khadija Ali, DeAndre Cunningham and Michael Rodriguez joined the board at a meeting this month. “These new Trustees bring diverse perspectives, deep experience in their fields and a shared commitment to strengthening…

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5 Questions for Marc Freedman

The U.S. population is rapidly aging: 2019 marks the first year in history when there are more people over 60 than under 18. With so many of us living so much longer, what is the meaning of our increasing years? How can a society with more older people than younger…

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New Charitable Fund to Support Local Action on Climate Change

A new charitable fund that is accepting grant applications starting today will support local action on climate change in diverse communities throughout the City of Minneapolis. Unveiled today in Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s State of the City Address, the Minneapolis Climate Action and Racial Equity Fund is a partnership between…

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Pho the Good of All

What does a philanthropist look like? If you’re like many people, the word “philanthropist” might call up an image of businessmen in suits drinking coffee around a conference table. It probably doesn’t make you think of young children and their families slurping steaming bowls of pho in a church…

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Strategic Partnerships