Well, here we are. We thought we were moving away from the virus. While Minnesota is one of 14 states where things are stable, both travel and just human interaction continues to make us cautious.
COVID-19 Funding
In the Black community, it’s getting
difficult to differentiate between the racial justice funding that’s just getting started and the ongoing Covid funding.
A study released in May indicated
45% of Black owned anticipated going out of business in 2020 due to Covid-19.
So, all the new money that’s emerging for Black and other entrepreneurs of color is really tied to Covid-19.
There are still a few Minnesota-Relevant Covid Responsive funders out there. Here's our standing list of
100+ funders
from mid-June to this letter, but things have changed since then
.
Watch for the list of Ten More Covid Relief Funders – arts, students, hunger coming next week.
What About the Empowerment Grants?
In the meantime, there are articles every day in the nonprofit and philanthropy press about the need for
new capital and new grants for African American, Latinx, Asian American and American Indian communities
.
For example, JPMorgan Chase (a new Minnesota banking presence, BTW) announced $250 million for communities of color. Janis Bowdler, president of the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, says “
the idea of an inclusive recovery guided JPMorgan’s thinking on economic stability interventions, “It is clear that Black, Latinx and Asian communities in the U.S. are being disproportionately affected (by Covid)”
Continuing Friendly Support Calls
Access Philanthropy Senior Staff continue to offer free 30-minute phone chats with fundraisers, directors and nonprofit volunteers. Topics so far have ranged from Individual Donors?, Galas? How to Connect with Funders? And Branding Post Covid. Set up a chat with Gail at
gail@accessphilanthropy.com.
What Do We Look Like Now?
One of the most common questions –
What does our organization’s brand look like now, Post Covid and Post Uprising?
Think about it. If you want some help, we have two marketing experts. Chat with one of them for 30 minutes.
Keep Connecting with Funders
Some of our friendly funders – local and national – say the number of calls, emails and newsletter they’re receiving from nonprofit partners has dropped off in the past few weeks. They (and we) are wondering
– Is it vacation time or just communication fatigue? DON’T STOP TALKING!
As you can imagine, it’s very easy for funders to get distracted and stop thinking your work is critical. Don’t let people forget about you!
Extending the MN PLUS Database Offers
We’ve extended the half-off offer for AP’s MN PLUS database 1500 Minnesota Relevant Funders -- $250. The response has been great and so we want to extending the offer through August 31.
Click here for details.
We’re thinking about also offering half off for our Small Family Foundations and Environment Funders list. If you’re interested, let us know 4info@accessphilanthropy.com.
People and Funds
Margaret Cargill Philanthropies is doing a national search for a Program Director for its Environment Program.
Ciresi Walburn Foundation for Children announced its FIRST independent annual grant cycle. August 7 deadline for LOI's with a September 8 deadline for full proposals (assuming invited to apply). All about K-12 and higher education in partnership with schools and nonprofits. You may know the foundation recently hired Dan Sellers (
dsellers@ciresiwalburnfoundation.org
) as the first Executive Director. See the priorities page
https://www.ciresiwalburnfoundation.org/aboutthefoundation
Oh yeah, McKnight Foundation is still looking for a President.
Evolving Fundraising Language
The Paul Verret Chronicles
The former Saint Paul Foundation president and St. Paul nonprofit icon, Paul Verret died last week, and we asked for reader stories. We got a bunch of great stories. See a few
here
.
If We Weren’t Social Distancing This Week...
we would raise a toast for Nelson Mandela's birthday (7/18). Even if we can't be together, raise a glass (or recyclable plastic container) to heroes who keep the vision even during the worst of times, such as pandemics or 27 years in prison.
