Nonprofit Mission Award for RESPONSIVE PHILANTHROPY
THE
FREY FOUNDATION, Minneapolis
Frey
Foundation’s mission as an independent, private,
grantmaking foundation is to act as a catalyst in
strengthening its community by investing in a statewide
plan to end homelessness. Established in 1985, the
Foundation now has the combined effort from three
generations of the Frey Family. Through direct giving
of over $48 million, Frey Foundation has promoted
self-sufficiency and creative change that has resulted
in community members reaching their full potential
and has improved the quality of life for all.
In February 2006, Frey Foundation announced they
would commit $5 million dollars over five years
to aid the end of long-term homelessness, which
was defined as more than 1 year of continuous homelessness
or 4 stints of homelessness over the course of 3
years. In 2009, Frey Foundation committed a second
$5 million to ending homelessness. Through involvement
with the Minnesota Business Plan to End Long-Term
Homelessness, Frey Foundation has allotted funds
for general operating expenses to the Family Housing
Fund, the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund and Corporation
of Supportive Housing, and additional funds to the
Partners Fund for distribution through the Partners
Fund process. Frey Foundation still continues to
allocate the bulk of the funding themselves, but
by the time $10 million is distributed by the Foundation,
$2.25 million will have been distributed through
the Partners Fund. The Partners Fund is where members
of the community decide what will work best for
their communities, ultimately opening the Foundation
to new ideas and ways to focus their funding.
Their contribution to eliminating long-term homelessness,
however, does not only exist in monetary terms.
Jim Frey, co-chair of the Steering Committee of
Heading Home Minnesota, has been instrumental in
bringing other philanthropic, faith-based and business
leaders to the cause. By speaking at a number of
events, his advocacy and the advocacy from Frey
Foundation as a whole, has provided the necessary
momentum to make homelessness initiatives gain momentum.
Their contribution to eliminating long-term homelessness,
however, does not only exist in monetary terms.
Jim Frey, co-chair of the Steering Committee of
Heading Home Minnesota, has been instrumental in
bringing other philanthropic, faith-based and business
leaders to the cause. By speaking at a number of
events, his advocacy and the advocacy from Frey
Foundation as a whole, has provided the necessary
momentum to make homelessness initiatives gain momentum.
