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Our customized giving solutions, community connections, and dedicated team make it easy to support the issues you’re passionate about. Whether you’re ready to establish a fund or give to a collective effort, we’re here to help you make an impact.

We partner with individuals, families, and businesses to invest in creating strong, vibrant communities.
1,572
Charitable funds administered
$129M
Given in annual grants
5,708
People and organizations supported
74%
Of giving goes to Minnesota-based organizations

What causes
drive you?

Explore our Learning Hub and learn about critical local issues like education, economic mobility, and more.

Visit The Learning Hub

Testimonials

“When the focus of the OneMPLS Fund became housing, and we knew we could collaborate with others, and the money would go to local nonprofits working with people in local neighborhoods who need these services—it was just a logical thing to do.”
–Maureen Bazinet Beck
Read their story
“It frees us up to do what we want to do—which is produce the honey, produce the syrup, sell it, take those funds, and make grants.”
–Mark Poppendeck, Fundholder
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The Gulbrandsons
“One of our core values is supporting the community that supports us. ”
–Chris Gulbrandson, President, Apple Autos
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Headshot of Bink Semmer
“We know that we did our very best, and that we have served our community—locally, regionally, and internationally.”
– Bink Semmer, Longtime Member, Mizpah United Church
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Frequently Asked Questions

Meet the Advisor Team

Our Philanthropic Advisors are here to ensure your fund drives positive change for the issues you care about.

Amy Pfarr Walker headshot
Amy Pfarr Walker Philanthropic Advisor
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Amy Pfarr Walker
Philanthropic Advisor

Amy partners with the Foundation’s fundholders to bring their values to life through philanthropy. She joined the Foundation in 2022, bringing nearly 25 years of experience in nonprofit development and communications. Amy has worked with nonprofits focusing on human services, affordable housing, and mental health. Most recently, she served as Chief Advancement Officer at Washburn Center for Children. She loves connecting donors with meaningful opportunities to address challenges facing our community.

Amy holds a bachelor’s degree from Gustavus Adolphus College and completed a Masters of Business Communications Certificate at the University of St. Thomas. She currently serves on the advisory council of A Christian Ministry in the National Parks. Outside work and chauffeuring her daughter, she enjoys time outdoors, hiking in the mountains, and planning her next travel adventure. 

View Amy’s LinkedIn profile.

Andrea Cummings Vice President, Philanthropic Services
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Andrea Cummings
Vice President, Philanthropic Services

Andrea works collaboratively to cultivate the Foundation’s generous community, partnering with nonprofits and providing services to fundholders seeking to make a difference in their communities. She joined the Foundation in 2022, bringing more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She started her career as a social worker before transitioning to philanthropy and fundraising. She has worked and volunteered at organizations in the fields of human services, education, community and economic development, and healthcare. Andrea is passionate about designing systems and tools to increase operational efficiency and bring the Foundation closer to the community. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota-Duluth and a master’s degree from Arizona State University.

View Andrea’s LinkedIn profile.

Ashley Gotreau Philanthropic Advisor
Meet Ashley +
Ashley Gotreau
Philanthropic Advisor

Ashley helps fundholders achieve their giving goals in the community, leading with empathy to build positive and lasting relationships. She joined the Foundation in 2024, bringing more than 15 years of experience as a nonprofit fundraiser. Most recently, she worked for Groves Learning Organization and, prior to that, for the Center for Victims of Torture. Ashley serves on the Board of Directors of the Hopkins Education Foundation. She received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Superior.

In her free time, she enjoys reading, sitting in the sun near water, and spending time with her family and friends.

Bill Sternberg Director, Business Development & Philanthropic Advisor
Meet Bill +
Bill Sternberg
Director, Business Development & Philanthropic Advisor

Bill works actively with existing and prospective fundholders 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 bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship from Babson College. He serves on the board of Mission Animal Hospital, the first nonprofit full-service animal hospital and clinic in the nation.

View Bill’s LinkedIn profile.

Christine Headshot
Christine Barrett Manager of Engagement, Philanthropic Services
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Christine Barrett
Manager of Engagement, Philanthropic Services

Christine manages the Family Philanthropy Resource Center, connecting the Foundation’s fundholders with tools and resources to engage family members of all generations in building strong, vibrant communities. Before joining the Foundation in 2021, Christine served as the Development Officer of Northeast Minnesota for Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, supporting its robust programming to end youth homelessness.

Christine holds a bachelor’s degree in social work with a minor in early childhood studies from the University of Minnesota Duluth. She deepened her passion for social work by earning a master’s degree from Augsburg University. In her free time, Christine enjoys spending time at her family cabin, cooking new recipes, and taking long walks with her goldendoodle, Evie.

View Christine’s LinkedIn profile.

Kevin headshot
Kevin Rockwell Philanthropic Advisor
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Kevin Rockwell
Philanthropic Advisor

Kevin works with individuals, couples, and multi-generational families to achieve their charitable goals. He also partners with professional advisors to help fundholders determine which assets to give and when, which giving vehicles are most appropriate for their goals, and how best to integrate philanthropy into broader financial and estate plans. Before joining the Foundation, Kevin practiced law for six years in the estate planning group at Maslon LLP and, most recently, worked as a trust advisor at Northern Trust. He earned his B.S.B.A. from Creighton University and his J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law. He lives in Greenwood with his wife and loves to golf, ski, and spend time on the water.

Maggie McCracken headshot
Maggie McCracken Senior Director of Engagement
Meet Maggie +
Maggie McCracken
Senior Director of Engagement

Maggie brings more than 20 years of experience in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. Before joining the Foundation in 2022, she spent over a decade in marketing and strategic planning roles at Target Corporation. She then served as the CEO of The BrandLab, a nonprofit working to support talent of color by removing barriers to marketing and advertising careers in the Midwest. Maggie is passionate about connecting resources to propel missions. She’s a first-generation college graduate with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Indiana University. Maggie and her husband have two teenage daughters. Outside of work, Maggie loves being with family and friends, time outdoors, and quiet mornings with coffee.

View Maggie’s LinkedIn profile.

Paul Odegaard Philanthropic Advisor
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Paul Odegaard
Philanthropic Advisor

Paul strategizes with existing and prospective fundholders 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, Sonny.

View Paul’s LinkedIn profile.

Russell Betts Philanthropic Advisor
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Russell Betts
Philanthropic Advisor

Russell focuses on serving the charitable needs of corporate executives, their families, and the companies they lead. He joined the Foundation in 2016, bringing more than 20 years of experience in fundraising and alumni relations at major research universities. Most recently, at the University of Minnesota Foundation, 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 bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Teresa Skaar headshot
Teresa Skaar Executive Assistant to the VP of Philanthropic Services
Meet Teresa +
Teresa Skaar
Executive Assistant to the VP of Philanthropic Services

Teresa provides the Senior Vice President of Philanthropic Services and his team with project management, operations, and logistical support. She serves as a liaison between internal and external stakeholders, fundholders, and Trustees of the Minneapolis Foundation. Before joining the Foundation, she served as Operations Program Manager at the Healthy Building Network, and before that was Executive Assistant to the Vice President of Housing Development at Aeon. Teresa has over 20 years of experience in administration, information technology, and marketing in the nonprofit and for-profit sectors and is a certified Scrum Master. She considers herself a lifelong learner and is an avid knitter, dog enthusiast, and lover of the outdoors.