2009 Recipient of the Nonprofit
Mission Award for Responsive Philanthropy
Carl
and Eloise Pohlad Family Foundation
The Carl and Eloise
Pohlad Family Foundation is committed to improving
the lives of economically disadvantaged children,
youth and adults, and participates in projects that
positively impact the quality of life in the Minneapolis/
St. Paul metropolitan area. A wide variety of more
than 100 organizations received support from the
Foundation in 2008, totaling more than $8 million
that was distributed to organizations and programs
in the Twin Cities and statewide.
In
the midst of the recent economic crisis, the Pohlad
Family Foundation has stepped up in an unprecedented
way, while most others are retrenching. Thus, they
are providing much needed assistance to those who
are most impacted by the economic downturn. The
Foundation recognized that the economic downturn
would seriously impact families, organizations and
individuals, and so they responded with a long-term
vision for the community. One of the steps they
took was to pledge $20 million in support of small
businesses, improving neighborhoods and maintaining
the nonprofit sector. This funding has enabled small
businesses to retain employees and secure capital
to continue their operations, as well as allowing
nonprofit housing organizations to assist families
who are at risk of foreclosure or are already homeless.
Other nonprofit organizations have also benefited
from the Pohlad Foundation as they believe that
nonprofits should not have to scale back their capacity
to provide services in our community at the same
time that the demand for those services is growing.
The Foundation has committed $5 million to local
nonprofits to retain or add services to meet the
growing demand for basic needs in the current economic
downturn.
The commitment of the
Pohlad Family Foundation has greatly benefited the
Minneapolis/ St. Paul metropolitan area and they
have helped save jobs and maintain services for
those in need in our community, especially during
these difficult economic times, since they are one
of the few organizations stepping forward. Their
philanthropy has provided nonprofits that serve
disadvantaged people with the tools to help them
meet their most critical needs.