Minnesota Community Foundation & The Saint Paul Foundation: Two Foundations One Direction

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November 20, 2009
Minnesotans Raise More Than $14 Million for Nonprofits in One Day
In just one day, more than $14 million was raised for 3,434 Minnesota nonprofits during the first Give to the Max Day on Nov. 17. More than 38,000 donors participated in the day of giving. Read the news release

November 3, 2009
Editorial: Street-level help for big projects
Pioneer Press
The Central Corridor Funders Collaborative is an effort by a group of state and national foundations that will work on street-level problems the Central Corridor light-rail project will create. The group's admirable goal is that neighborhoods, residents and businesses along the line share in the benefits of this huge infrastructure investment. Visit the new Funders Collaborative website

The second project is an experiment in what is called e-philanthropy, or online giving. A new website, GiveMN.org, seeks to bring donors, non-profits and specific projects together. The web site allows donors to search for charities in Minnesota and elsewhere that do work the donors are interested in. It creates a one-stop site for donations and allows donors to track their giving and keep their receipts for tax purposes in a single handy location. Read the complete article here

November 2, 2009
LearnMoreMN Blog
When Prometheus' Fire Isn't Enough
By Gerald Timian, Guest blogger
When Prometheus stole fire from Zeus for humans, he taught humans the arts of civilization — writing, mathematics, agriculture, medicine, and science. In today's society, Prometheus' fire is represented in the education we get by attending college.

Presumably when students have finished college, they have the knowledge and skills to begin a profession or career. But knowledge and skill are not enough to get by the gatekeepers. People must have the other trappings of the middle class to have the door opened. Read the complete article here

November 2, 2009
Star Tribune: Website in Minnesota lifts profile of e-philanthropy
By Jean Hopfensperger
First there was online shopping, then banking, then everything from utility payments to theater ticketing. Today Minnesota marks another Internet first as it launches one of the nation's most sophisticated tools to boost "e-philanthropy.'' Read the complete article

October 22, 2009
Star Tribune: Working to Make Sure Businesses Aren’t Derailed
Central Corridor Funders Collaborative
Sia Lo walked into a grocery store on University Avenue in St. Paul carrying the latest tools for surviving light-rail construction - printouts of the business's new website and other marketing tips. Lo is helping small businesses prepare for the arrival of bulldozers along the Minneapolis-St. Paul light rail line. Read more

October 2009
Central Corridor Funders Collaborative
News coverage to date

• Help for the Central Corridor residents and businesses, Twin Cities Public Television - Almanac, Oct. 23, 2009
• Central Corridor Funders Collaborative to support housing, economic projects, Finance and Commerce, Oct. 24, 2009
• Community Leaders Address Light Rail Concerns, Minnesota Daily, Oct. 23, 2009
• Downtown St. Paul Businesses nervous, angry amid early light-rail work, Pioneer Press, Oct. 23, 2009
• Funders Collaborative Announces Plans for University Avenue, Star Tribune Blog, Jon Commers, Oct. 23, 2009
• Central Corridor merchants balance hopes and fears, KARE 11 TV, Oct. 22, 2009
• Central Corridor Light Rail Business Worried, Fox 9 News, Oct. 22, 2009
• Central Corridor Brings New Vision for Prospect Park, KSTP TV, Oct. 22, 2009
• Funders Collaborative Seeks Benefits “Beyond the Rail”, Growth & Justice Blog, Oct. 22, 2009
• Working to Make Sure Businesses Aren’t Derailed, Star Tribune, Oct. 22, 2009

From MNSights | Fall 2009
Foundation News and Notes
Nonprofits and the Economic Downturn
Minnesota's nonprofit organizations continue to be seriously affected by the recession, according to the Minnesota Council on Foundations, which explores the impact in its 2009 Nonprofit Outlook at www.mncn.org/outlook.htm.

The Bridgespan Group, a consultancy that advises nonprofits, provides a national perspective with its Managing in Tough Times report at www.bridgespan.org.

From MNSights | Fall 2009
Foundation News and Notes
Philanthropy's Tremendous Return on Investment
Partnerships between foundations and nonprofit organizations really pay off for Minnesota, says the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy. This watchdog group analyzed the work of 15 Minnesota nonprofits that receive foundation funding, and concluded that every dollar invested results in a return of $138 in benefits for Minnesota communities. Read the report

MNSights | Winter 2010
Minnesota Community Foundation and The Saint Paul Foundation
Innovation in Philanthropy
The legendary innovator Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, said that innovation is what distinguishes leaders from followers. In this issue, we explore some of the Foundations' innovative ideas. Click the cover image to read more.

MNSights | Fall 2009
Minnesota Community Foundation and The Saint Paul Foundation
Coming Together for Our Communities
Our featured topic is one that continues to be on everyone’s mind: the impact that the challenging economy is having in our region. Click the cover image to read more.

MNSights | Summer 2009
Minnesota Community Foundation and The Saint Paul Foundation
Making a Difference--The Community Economic Relief Fund
Times are tough--but together we can make a difference. The Foundations are focusing our efforts on people who are most adversely affected by the economic downturn. Click the cover image to read more.

2008
Our new strategic plan served as the framework for the expansion of programs, creation of new initiatives and organizational changes, some of which we’d like to share with you. Click the image to the right to read more.

2007
The Power of GO
Creating stronger communities takes more than capital. It takes action. It takes energy. It takes collaboration. It takes get up and GO. Click the image to read more.

Minnesota Community Foundation
What's Your Vision?
Whether you want to improve your community or make an impact across the state, create a Donor Advised Fund to support projects you are passionate about, or build a Community Fund with your neighbors, Minnesota Community Foundation can help you achieve your vision. Click the image to learn more.

The Saint Paul Foundation
What Makes a Community Grow?
Created by and for local residents, a community foundation is a nonprofi t organization that focuses on the health and vitality of a geographic area. With the combination of charitable giving and capacity to foster cooperative spirit, a community foundation can bring people together around a common mission, create links between the past and the future and build bridges between varied perspectives. Click the image to learn more.