- Our newest list of Minnesota-Relevant COVID funders. Every week there are new funding opportunities and some that are renewing. This week we added Disaster Relief funds from Walmart, PetSmart, Islamic Relief and St. Croix Valley Community Foundation. Send us a note if you know of a funder not on the list. Also, check the MN Council of Nonprofits’ list.
- Our discount offer of half-off subscriptions to our MNPlus funder list with profiles of 1500 Minnesota-relevant funders is being well-received. Even a couple of foundations have taken advantage of the opportunity to easily find funders in Minnesota. Check out our website (accessphilanthropy.com) to see how your organization can get a one-year subscription to the largest database of Minnesota funders for only $250. (Offer good through July 1, 2020.)
- Our COVID Response webinar is up and available for viewing – it’s getting good reviews. Find it on our website. Two clients shared the webinar with their board members – a good way to help board members understand how to move their organization forward.
- We’ve been doing a lot of free half-hour check-ins and conversations with all kinds of people this week. The big question we’ve heard from these conversations is: What do I do now? It’s always a good thing to chat.
From the Researchers and Our Funder Interviews
- Women donors are more than holding up their end of the philanthropy world. More than two-thirds of online giving is coming from women or non-binaries.
- An Indiana University survey found that environmental funders are hanging in there. Most are continuing to spend 75% to 80% of their funds on the environment. A few are shifting some of their funds to disaster-motivated priorities “beds, meds and eds”, (basic needs, health and education).
- From our recent interviews with 40+ funders, what’s their biggest post-Covid concern? ”The K-12 education equity gap is going to be greater, deeper and more difficult to overcome. The lack of access to computers, internet and strong teachers during Covid will make things even worse."
Funder News
Once again, while you’ve been working from home, many Metro Area funders have been hiring more people. Here’s our current list of moves:
- Frey Foundation has two announcements: First, Jim Frey, long time president, is retiring in June. His sister, Carol Frey Wolfe assumes responsibility as Vice President. Another family member, Flor Treviño Frey, starts as Senior Director.
- Pahoua Yang Hoffman, former Citizens League executive, is now the Saint Paul Minnesota Foundation’s Senior Vice President of Community Impact, (the new Ann Mulholland).
- Melissa Olson is the new Program Director of Tiwahe Foundation. She comes from KFAI Fresh Air Radio and is a tribal citizen of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe at Leech Lake, with relatives from both the White Earth and the Lac Courte Oreilles communities.
By Our Count
… that’s
seven foundation staff changes in seven days
.
How are you going to know all these folks when we emerge from the #covidlifestyle?
Two ways to keep up:
1.
Keep writing
– preferably handwritten notes – to your program officers. From our conversations with local funders, personalized notes from you to foundation friends are critical, not just nice. It’s critical that you maintain friendly lifelines. Although funders are working from home,
most say they’re still getting their work mail regularly.
2.
Buy the list
– sounds like sales pitch – and to some extent it is – but
buy the AP MNPlus which has contact information on 1500 Minnesota funders
. Walk through it every day and send a note or an email. Only $250 for a one-year subscription.
If we were together we would be celebrating International Workers Day this Friday, May 1, honoring those who produce, serve, and protect us. We can’t so, bless them in private.
