DONOR
OPPORTUNITIES

Bill works actively with existing and prospective donor families and their trusted advisors to articulate and carry out their charitable intent. Before joining the Foundation in 2002, Bill spent 16 years in the financial services industry with Citicorp in New York and Los Angeles, and with Piper Jaffray in Minneapolis. Bill holds a B.S. in entrepreneurship from Babson College. He currently serves on the board of Mission Animal Hospital, the first nonprofit full-service animal hospital and clinic in the nation.

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Chris oversees the Philanthropic Services department, partnering with the Foundation’s donors to help them achieve their charitable goals and increase their positive impact in the community. Before joining the Foundation in 2019, he was the president of Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota’s Foundation and its chief development officer. As a key member of that organization’s senior leadership team, he was responsible for building financial resources to support greater organizational impact and visibility throughout Minnesota. He was also responsible for its property department and statewide volunteer program. Chris received a B.A. in English literature from Saint Mary’s University in Minnesota. A few years later, he returned to Saint Mary’s, where he earned a master’s degree in educational leadership.

Eric is committed to providing an optimal experience for individuals, families, and organizations that partner with the Foundation. His responsibilities include overseeing donor-engagement programs and services, assisting fund advisors in achieving their charitable goals, and grant screening and selection. Before joining the Foundation in 2000, Eric held positions at Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Mitchell Hamline School of Law, and Augsburg University. He believes that time with family, friends, and outdoors is time well spent.

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Jenna Berneck helps manage the Foundation’s professional advisor program as the Director of Business Development. She has experience in a variety of roles including corporate business development, being an entrepreneur, and representing a multitude of nonprofits in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. Jenna most recently managed philanthropy and informational programs for Minnesota organizations. She is very committed to equity work as an active executive team member for the Twin Cities Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Roundtable. Jenna lives in Minnetonka with her dog Olive Juice and loves to spend time at her cabin in the summers.

Jenny partners with families to bring clarity, focus, passion, and strategy to their charitable giving. She joined the Foundation in 2015, bringing 13 years of fundraising experience, most recently as vice president of resource development at Aeon. She serves on the board of the Minnesota Council on Foundations and on committees for Project for Pride in Living and Our Lady of Peace. A lifelong Midwesterner, she spends her free time chasing her kids outside in the summer and playing broomball with her husband in the winter.

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Paul strategizes with existing and prospective donors and their professional advisors to inspire impactful philanthropy. He also leads the Minneapolis Climate Action and Racial Equity Fund and Foundation partnerships related to social finance innovation and environmental justice. Before joining the Foundation in 2018, he spent seven years as a major gifts and planned giving officer at Minnesota Public Radio/American Public Media and five years in development at Macalester College, his alma mater. Outside of work, you can find him chasing his children, playing trumpet professionally, or walking his boxer, Greta.

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Russell has more than 20 years of experience in fundraising and alumni relations at major research universities. At the Foundation, he focuses on serving the charitable needs of corporate executives, their families, and the companies they lead. Russell came to the Foundation in 2016 from the University of Minnesota Foundation, where he served from 2013 to 2016 as a development officer for the university’s Department of Medicine. Prior to that, he spent a decade at the University of Wisconsin Foundation, where he served as director of development covering the Southern United States, then athletics, and eventually the Law School. He began his career as the director of diversity and assistant field representative for the Wisconsin Alumni Association. He holds a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Samuel joined the Minneapolis Foundation in 2022 as a Philanthropic Advisor. He works closely with donors to help them navigate the many causes that impact our community. Before joining the Foundation, he worked as a Business Consultant for Meda where he focused on supporting entrepreneurs of color to help them grow their businesses. Samuel then transitioned to the Center for Economic Inclusion (the Center) as the Director of Employer Inclusivity. He also served as the Director of Strategic Partnerships where he focused on maintaining and growing the Center’s relationships within both the public and private sector and within the community. Samuel is an entrepreneur himself and is very involved in the community. Samuel was born and raised in Minneapolis and is a proud Alum of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He currently lives in Brooklyn Park with his fiancée Cierra and their puppy Marley.

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