Special Initiatives
The Latest
How Public Media Cuts Hit Northern Minnesota
Public media is under fire. KAXE, like many local stations, is confronting a triple threat: federal funding cuts, state-level reductions, and unexpected operational costs — all converging at once. In this video, we explore what these cuts mean for KAXE and the future of public media in rural Minnesota
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Keeping Public Media Strong in Minnesota
Recognizing the importance of public and community media in our state, we are granting $75,000 from our OneMPLS Fund to Save the Signal Minnesota, a new statewide effort to protect the future of public media.
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The State of Public Media
Following the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s loss of $1.1 billion in federal funding, hear what leaders are doing to not only to protect these critical resources, but to brace and prepare for an uncertain future in a discussion moderated by Minneapolis Foundation President and CEO R.T. Rybak.
In addition to our core issues, we take on projects where we see opportunities to fuel community engagement and action on emerging local issues. Explore our recent efforts.
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Minnesota Meeting: Next in News
Join us as we bring together innovators working locally and nationally to reimagine the future of journalism and bring our community together to ensure our news ecosystem continues to thrive.
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The State of Nonprofits
In January, we hosted a webinar called The State of Minnesota Nonprofits. To keep that conversation going, we’ve launched a follow-up video series hosted by our Senior Director of Special Initiatives, Tom Weber. Check out this playlist where we continue to add new videos.
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Advancing Equity Through Advocacy
In 2025, our legislative agenda focuses on critical issues such as education, economic mobility, and protecting our democracy. Read this story to learn more.
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The State of Minnesota Nonprofits
Watch this video to learn about new insights into Minnesota's nonprofit landscape.
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A Message from Our CEO
We can’t know what we will face over the next century, or even the next few years. What we do know is that none of us can, or should, shoulder the challenges alone, which means we need to continue to grow our generous community.
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Responding to Local Needs in 2024
In addition to our annual grant rounds and the guidance we provide to support our fundholders’ giving, we make special investments to address community needs as they arise.
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The importance of rural-urban interdependence in Minnesota
Listen to this podcast from Side by Side, where Tuleah Palmer & our President, R.T. Rybak, delve into personal stories, economic insights, historical context, and the shared commitments needed to foster cohesive policy developments that encompass all of Minnesota.
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Fostering Voter Engagement in 2024
Nine community organizations doing nonpartisan voter outreach are getting a boost from the Foundation.
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GRAZE 4 GOOD TO SPOTLIGHT LOCAL NONPROFITS FOCUSED ON HOUSING EQUITY
Fourth Generation fundraiser will be held April 18 at La Doña Cervecería. Grab your tickets now for Graze 4 Good, the annual fundraiser of the Minneapolis Foundation’s Fourth Generation giving circle.
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This event series provides a space where people across the region can come together to learn, share ideas, and get inspired to act on our community’s greatest needs. Relaunched in 2024 with a convening focused on the environment, the Minnesota Meeting returns in October 2025 with a conversation about the future of journalism. Join us at the Minnesota Meeting: Next in News!
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