Nonprofit Mission Award for
RESPONSIVE PHILANTHROPY

Nonprofit Mission Award for Responsive Philanthropy Criteria: 
This award recognizes the partnership between funders and nonprofits in mobilizing resources for public benefit. Nominated organizations should: 

  • Be responsive to citizen initiatives; 
  • Recognize public policy issues and long-term strategies to fight problems; and
  • Commit substantial resources to disadvantaged people and Minnesota communities through a process of dialogue and partnership. 

This award is intended to honor the work of private foundations, community foundations or corporate giving programs in Minnesota.

Finalists

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Read more about the finalists:

ASIAN AMERICANS/PACIFIC ISLANDERS IN PHILANTHROPY'S NATIONAL GENDER & EQUITY CAMPAIGN, Minneapolis

Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP) was founded in 1990 to advance the philanthropic sector and communities, concentrating on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. AAPIP supports and facilitates capacity building of Asian American and Pacific Islander organizations through grantmaking and new approaches to social justice philanthropy.

AAPIP’s efforts to build a more powerful community infrastructure and a social-justice movement that is inclusive of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities is achieved through their National Gender & Equity Campaign (NGEC) initiative. From the hearts and minds of Asian American women activists, AAPIP’s NGEC identified a long-term strategy to fight oppressions through significant financial support for community organizations and providing capacity building that increases community power for social change.

Through a series of conversations with community members, the National Gender & Equity Campaign initiative has created a community engagement fund, started in 2008. This fund has provided $220,000 in financial support, technical assistance and a joint learning space for 22 local Minnesota organizations to deepen community engagement. The NGEC has also designed a fellowship program, which provides general operating grants of $75,000 a year to 6 Asian American organizations in the state to increase their effectiveness, and to further sustain them as social justice organizations.

With an investment of more the $1.5 million dollars to Minnesota’s Asian American communities, NGEC has crafted an array of stories from the community that capture their needs, visions, and social change strategies. They have also developed a database of informal and formal Asian American groups and made investments in the development of culturally competent and holistic tools to support community development.

NGEC has been able to share its frameworks, approaches and tools with other philanthropic partners nationally and locally. As a result, Asian American organizations like CAPI and Center for Hmong Arts and Talent (CHAT) have been able to further their efforts in advancing social justice for their target communities.

Visit Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy: www.aapip.org



THE FREY FOUNDATION, Minneapolis

The 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, Frey Foundation hopes to promote self-sufficiency and creative change that will result in community members reaching their full potential and the quality life for all.

In February 2006, the 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. Through involvement with the Minnesota Business Plan to End Long-Term Homelessness, the Frey Foundation has allotted $50,000 for general operating expenses to the Family Housing Fund and Corporation of Supportive Housing, and $200,000 to the Partners Fund for distribution through the Partners Fund process. The Frey Foundation also distributed the remaining $700,000 per year directly to providers, primarily in the Twin Cities area.

One unique aspect to the Frey Foundation’s participation in ending homelessness is its willingness to have others decide on how and to who their funds should be distributed. 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.

In 2009, the Frey Foundation committed a second $5 million to ending homelessness. However, their contribution to eliminating long-term homelessness 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 and business leaders to the cause. By speaking at a number of events, his advocacy and the advocacy from the Frey Foundation as a whole, has provided the necessary momentum to make homelessness initiatives gain momentum.

Visit The Frey Foundation: www.freyfoundationmn.org


WOMEN'S FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA, Minneapolis

With a mission to fund and build the capacity of innovative social-change programs across Minnesota, the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota is the first statewide women’s foundation in the country. As they conduct research on the status of women and girls in the state, they hope to further inform their own grantmaking, educate opinion shapers and policymakers and raise public awareness. Overall, their mission is directed to achieving equality for all women and girls within the state.

The Women’s Foundation of Minnesota’s philanthropy can be narrowed to three core responses. First, they have committed to engaging Minnesota citizens in developing their organizational strategies. Second, they have committed to funding public policy and social change with multi-year grants that support long-term strategies. Finally, they have strengthened their partnerships in engaging grantees in on-going learning, networking and capacity building.

Focusing on five cornerstone areas, Women’s Foundation of Minnesota has been able to launch a new focus, “On the Road to Equality,” engaging potential grantees in dialogue about their plan, process, and the possibility of future partnerships. This effort represents a response to the community that followed the Foundation’s goals of: creating economic justice for women; advancing women’s safety and security; guaranteeing women’s health and reproductive rights; promoting women’s human rights; and expanding women’s political power.

In 2009, the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota announced a commitment to multi-year funding as a way to support long-term public policy and social change efforts. The Foundation believes that organizations involved in public policy are in need of long-term funding to sustain efforts that take significant time. This acknowledgement is found to be a necessary strategy to achieve the goals of both the Foundation and their grantees.

Furthermore, the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota provides support to grantees through on-going learning, networking and capacity building. They have provided trainings on board governance and fundraising, convened discussions about outcomes, provided grantees with opportunities to meet their funders, and have presented a webinar for grantees entitled “Tools and Methods to Measure Impact.” Through their on-going learning techniques, the Foundation has built organization’s capacity for serving disadvantaged people in Minnesota communities.

Visit The Women's Foundation of Minnesota: www.wfmn.org


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The Minnesota Nonprofit Awards are a joint project of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and MAP for Nonprofits.

Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
2314 University Avenue West, Suite 20
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55114
651-642-1904
info@mncn.org

MAP for Nonprofits
2314 University Avenue West, Suite 28
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55114
651-647-1216