Founded in 1915, The Minneapolis Foundation is one of the nation's oldest and largest community foundations. We're also the oldest foundation in Minnesota. We've helped generations of Minnesotans create a charitable legacy and we're invested in the future of our community.
 |
| The Minneapolis Foundation is Confirmed in Compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations. |
-- We
provide a variety of charitable fund and gift
options to help Minnesotans make a difference. Families, individuals, and businesses have established more than 900 charitable funds that we invest and administer in accordance with their wishes. Together, these donors, along with our funding partners and competitive grantmaking programs, contribute more than $30 million each year to support
nonprofits in Minnesota and around the world.
-- We offer consulting services to help corporate, family, and other private and community foundations articulate their philanthropic visions and attract, invest, and distribute the resources needed to realize their goals.
-- We help professional advisors enhance their financial and estate planning services with flexible charitable tools and strategies.
-- We manage an endowment created by generations of
Minnesotans to benefit the community. These
funds are distributed through our grantmaking programs to Minnesota nonprofits working to improve the quality of life for our region and its residents.
-- We connect individual donors with nonprofits working
on the issues they care about most and provide
opportunities for donors to become a part of
broader efforts for positive change.
-- We
raise awareness, convene the community, and
initiate campaigns to improve conditions for
Minnesota's most vulnerable citizens.
Over the years, The Minneapolis Foundation has earned national honors and recognition for providing exceptional donor services and effective grantmaking, convening, and public education programs.
The Minneapolis Foundation's investment performance consistently ranks among the top-performing community foundations in the nation. VIsit Financials for information on our assets and investment performance.
The Minneapolis Foundation subscribes to the Principles for Minnesota Grantmakers.
We are a member of the Council on Foundations and the Minnesota Council on Foundations.
The Minneapolis Foundation is Confirmed in Compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations.
Our Mission
| We
believe that the well-being of
each citizen is connected to that of every
other and that the vitality of any community
is determined by the quality of those relationships. |
Our
purpose is to join with others
to strengthen our community, in measurable
and sustainable ways, for the benefit of
all citizens, especially those who are disadvantaged. |
We
are committed to be an effective
resource developer and a responsible steward
of those resources, an active grantmaker
and convener addressing crucial community
needs, and an advocate and constructive
catalyst for changing systems to better
serve people. |
Compliance with National and Local Standards
The Minneapolis Foundation is Confirmed in Compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations.
The Minneapolis Foundation was the first community foundation in Minnesota to be recognized as Compliant with the Council of Foundations' National Standards for U.S. Community Foundation.
The standards were created in 2000 to help community foundations establish and maintain legal, ethical, and effective operational practices to ensure transparency and financial responsibility. To attain recognition for compliance, community foundations undergo a rigorous evaluation process that addresses the following 43 national standards. The standards are organized in the following six areas:
- Mission, Structure, and Board Governance
- Resource Development
- Stewardship and Accountability
- Grantmaking and Community Leadership
- Donor Relations
- Communications
The Minneapolis Foundation subscribes to the Principles for Minnesota Grantmakers.
We are a member of the Council on Foundations and the Minnesota Council on Foundations.
What
Is a Community Foundation?
Community
foundations are the fastest growing segment
of philanthropy in the United States. The
first community foundation was founded in
1914 in Cleveland (The Minneapolis Foundation
soon followed in 1915). Today, more than 600
community foundations across the United States
have over $15 billion in combined assets,
and contribute more than $1 billion to nonprofit
organizations every year.
Each
community foundation is made up of a collection
of charitable funds established by various
donors, then pooled and invested together
so that the income provides a steady resource
for the community.
A
community foundation is both permanent and
flexible. Many charitable funds are set up
to address one issue; but community foundations
are set up to focus on an entire community
or region. As the community changes, the foundation
responds to the changes, and will always be
there to support the community.
Those
who do conduct their charitable giving through
a community foundation can make contributions
for the general benefit of the community,
or designate their funds for special purposes.
Donors can contribute to local, national,
and, often, even international organizations.
Investment of the funds held by a community
foundation is managed by professional institutional
investors, while grants are approved by a
group of knowledgeable citizens representing
the public interest.
|
