Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation

06/18/2026

Tomorrow is Juneteenth 🎉

From celebrations and exhibits to festivals and performances, there are many great ways to celebrate in community across the Twin Cities this weekend. Check out Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder's Juneteenth guide to find an event near you ⬇️

Juneteenth 2026 events Minnesota guide covers festivals concerts block parties and celebrations across the Twin Cities and outstate Minnesota.

06/17/2026

Today we’re excited to release The Power of Possible: Leadership Edition, a brand new, binge-worthy content series on all things leadership. 🤝

In this 8-episode series, Foundation President and CEO Chanda Smith Baker joins Dr. Tashion Macon for an honest exploration of leadership as a daily practice — one shaped by values, lived experience and courageous decision-making.

Drawing from her journey as a seasoned executive and nationally recognized thought leader, Chanda examines how leaders hold vision in uncertainty, stay anchored to purpose and expand what’s possible for the people they serve.

All episodes streaming now! ➡️ https://na2.hubs.ly/H069SPj0

06/15/2026

In Minnesota, generosity shows up in many forms. From supporting a neighborhood food shelf to volunteering at a school, place of worship or community organization, people across our state care deeply about one another. And if you’re new to charitable giving or even if you’ve been giving for years, you’ve likely discovered there’s no single “right” way to make a difference. And guess what? That’s a strength.

Philanthropy reflects who we are, and each donor brings their own experiences, priorities and hopes for the future.

In our latest blog post, Director of Philanthropic Advising Aurea Gerard explores ways to shape your approach to charitable giving — no matter what kind of donor you are.

📖 Identify your giving style at https://na2.hubs.ly/H064Ylm0

06/12/2026

📣 We're hiring!

We have an exciting opportunity for an Associate Director of Investments to join the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation on our Investments team.

A sound investment strategy is crucial in our work to create an equitable and just Minnesota where all communities and people thrive. Our Investments team seeks to realize strong returns while minimizing volatility, ensuring that the Foundation and our donors are able to support community-led solutions for years to come.

The Associate Director of Investments plays a critical role in the stewardship and long-term growth of the Foundation’s multi-asset investment portfolio. Working in close partnership with the Managing Director of Investments, this position contributes across all facets of investment oversight, including manager sourcing, due diligence, portfolio monitoring, research, implementation and governance.

The Foundation has partnered with Doran Leadership Partners to lead this search. Interested candidates can send a resume and cover letter to [email protected]. Review of applications will begin immediately.

📄 See the full position description at https://na2.hubs.ly/H065PVq0

06/11/2026

For more than 40 years, Valley Outreach has been a place where people can find stability in uncertain times. What began as a small food shelf in a church basement has grown into a comprehensive, community-powered organization serving more than 31,000 people each year across Washington County and the East Metro.

At its core, the mission is to meet people where they are, help meet basic needs and offer a welcoming place to start again.

“This is a basic needs nonprofit, in the simplest terms,” said Chief Executive Officer of Valley Outreach, Tracy Maki. “We are community-led and operated. We literally do not open our doors without community support.”

We recently visited Valley Outreach to learn more about their community-powered approach to food accessibility in the East Metro. Read more in our latest blog post ➡️ https://na2.hubs.ly/H063h570

Photos by Storyboard Films

06/10/2026

The State of the Nation Project just released a study finding that Minnesota is the top state in the country for quality of life. Among other categories, Minnesota ranked in the top five states for citizenship and democracy, and received a high score in social capital.

We're proud of the state we call home — and we know that there is still a lot more to do as we work toward an equitable, just and vibrant Minnesota where all communities and people thrive. Our Senior Vice President of Community Impact Alfonso Wenker notes in a Star Tribune article about the report that quality of life can unfairly differ among residents.

“I’m part of the fan club of Minnesota,” Wenker said. “But I can’t pretend that there’s not a lack of access to opportunity. I want to celebrate the wins, and I want to make sure that we’re bringing people along with us.”

Wenker said he hopes the state can use the study to “dig deeper” so populations of color, renters and people with low incomes “experience some of the benefits we see lifted up in this new report.”

📖 Read more at https://na2.hubs.ly/H063krM0

[Photo by Elizabeth Flores/The Minnesota Star Tribune]

06/09/2026

"The case for non-cash gifts isn't just about diversifying revenue streams. It changes what's possible in a donor conversation. 'It's not that donors are unwilling to give these gifts,' Wells said. 'It's that most donors have never been asked for them, and they don't inherently think of using these different types of things as gifts themselves for nonprofit organizations.'”

Our Senior Vice President of Philanthropic Services Jeremy Wells was recently featured in a NonProfit PRO article about unlocking the power of non-cash assets in philanthropy.

Interested in learning more about donating non-cash assets to support your favorite causes? See Jeremy's tips for getting started ➡️ https://na2.hubs.ly/H061_0h0

06/04/2026

Happy Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈

Today is Give OUT Day, a national outpouring of support for hundreds of LGBTQIA+ nonprofits and schools across the country. This national giving holiday is a great way to kick off Pride Month and show your support for organizations providing accessible health care, creating community events, protecting LGBTQIA+ rights and so much more.

See participating organizations and give OUT ➡️ https://na2.hubs.ly/H05VnGg0

06/03/2026

Did you know that Minnesota currently ranks third in volunteerism according to the AmeriCorps Civic Engagement and Volunteerism Dashboard? That’s 40.5% of Minnesotans engaged in some form of public, formal volunteering! 🌱

From neighborhood food shelves in Saint Paul to rural fire departments, arts organizations and youth programs, nonprofit professionals have long understood that today’s volunteers are deeply motivated by purpose.

This is especially true of younger generations. Many teens and young adults see service as a natural part of everyday life — things like organizing donation drives, showing up for community cleanups, mentoring younger students or helping neighbors in times of need.

Many of these individuals proudly identify as helpers, advocates and community builders, but may not see themselves yet as financial supporters. And that’s where thoughtful engagement matters most, because volunteers are one of your strongest pipelines for future donors.

In our latest blog post, Nonprofit Strategies Manager Tod Herskovitz shares about the vital importance of volunteerism in our state and what nonprofits can do to engage with their volunteers at a deeper level ➡️ https://na2.hubs.ly/H05Vh-90

06/01/2026

On November 11, 2004, Jeff and Janet von Gillern’s daughter Katie was born with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). To survive, she needed immediate attention and surgery.

Luckily, Janet gave birth at Abbott Northwestern, so Katie was able to be quickly transferred to Children's Minnesota next door. She was treated in the NICU for more than a month before heading home. Katie would require even more care in the year that followed.

“Twice she was in Children’s, and they saved her life,” said Janet.

The care they received during such a challenging time inspired them to give back, both with their time and their resources. The whole family volunteers in a variety of ways, including Katie, who joined the Children's Youth Advisory Council in high school. Moved by their experience, Jeff even joined the Children's board of directors.

The von Gillern family opened a donor advised fund at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation as a way to be more intentional in giving back to their community. From supporting causes like housing affordability to supporting our Community Sharing Fund, Jeff and Janet have made a deeply meaningful impact.

📖 Read more of Jeff & Janet's story and see their health & human services impact in action at https://na2.hubs.ly/H05QndX0