Fluff Free Fundraising

From Access Philanthropy

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December 2023

In this Issue:

• National Funders Workshop
• People in Philanthropy
• Grant Announcements
• Fundraising News
• Survey Says
• Fundraiser's Toolbox
• Jobs in Philanthropy

One in Three

You’ve heard it before. One in three grants to Minnesota nonprofits are awarded by grantmakers who don’t reside in Minnesota. These include mega-funders like Ford Foundation and Mackenzie Scott; corporate givers like BNSF, JPMorgan, and REI; faith funders like the Pillars Fund and the Presbyterian Hunger Fund; and family foundations that remain interested in Minnesota causes such the Barrows (Chicago), Buuck (AZ), and the Earl/Doris Bakken (HI).

$75 (less for interns) which includes a downloadable book, the PowerPoint presentation and of course, a follow up 30 minutes of individual time with AP crew members.  

BIG NOTE: People ask whether they should attend the Minnesota Council of Nonprofit’s’ workshop on Minnesota-based funders or AP’s non-resident funder workshop. NO QUESTION, you should attend the MCN in-state funders workshop. Sign up today. But don’t ignore the significant funding available from non-Minnesota funders. Questions? Email Mary Anne

PEOPLE IN PHILANTHROPY

John S. and James L. Knight Foundation named longtime Gannett executive Maribel Perez Wadsworth its next president, making the Cuban-American news veteran the foundation’s first woman leader. Ms. Perez Wadsworth is the former president of Gannett Media and publisher of USA Today, Wadsworth brings nearly three decades of experience to this role, along with a steadfast belief in journalistic excellence as a pillar of a vibrant democracy. During her time at USA Today, the Gannett Foundation dropped giving by more than half.

PeiYao Chen will be the next President & CEO of Global Fund for Women. Chen currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Global Operations at Global Fund for Women, and will take over leadership from Latanya Mapp Frett beginning January 1, 2024.

President Barack Obama's Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Julian Castro, will begin leading the Latino Community Foundation in January, as CEO

Minnesota’s Native American owned/operated and American Indian focused grantmaker, Tiwahe Foundation, has hired a new Learning and Operations Manager, Liberty Greene (Red Lake Chippewa). Liberty “is a dedicated advocate for Indigenous health, focusing on addressing the historical impacts of colonization”.

Brian Voerding has been named President of the Little Falls-based The Initiative Foundation.

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation named Meshie Knight its U.S. Racial Justice Director.

Peg Thomas has moved on from Sundance Family Foundation, back to her old stomping ground Strategeries, as a consultant. As of today, The Sundance Family Foundation website is no longer connected to the foundation, but they are answering the phone.

Mercedes Plendl left her position as a Better Way Foundation program officer to become Senior Director of Programs at Minnesota’s well-respected LGBTQIA+ PFund Foundation.

Otis Rolley is leaving Wells Fargo Foundation after only 18 months. Mr. Rolley came from the Rockefeller Foundation to WFF. No news on where Mr. Rolley goes from here. 

NOTE: Besides the WF Foundation, the corporation also sponsors the Wells Fargo Trust Philanthropic Services for Private Foundations which manages several small (and generally unknown) foundations in almost every state and every major interest area. They list 37 funders in Minnesota, including James Linsmayer, Emberg Charitable Trust, Charles and Carolyn Russell Family, The Sandcastle Foundation and several which WILL fund in Minnesota, but not as a serious priority.

Another old friend, Sonja Merrild is leaving the Blandin Foundation, after more than 15 years exploring and developing rural grant making opportunities in MN. She came from Wyoming to Blandin. No word on where she goes next. She was a great program officer who attended several AP workshops.

Need a sounding board for your development ideas? Need promising new ideas from the philanthropic sector? Need someone to think about the big picture or the day-to-day fundraising stuff? AP crew members offer 30-minute chats for free. Drop a note to 4info@accessphilanthropy.com to set up a time to chat. Email us!

GRANT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Opportunities

• Bush Foundation FAQ for potential applicants
• McKnight Foundation’s latest grant interest information sheet
• WCA Foundation is accepting Project Investment grant applications, through January 11. The foundation awards grants between $10,000 to $30,000 to women-focused organizations, initiatives, and projects that provide direct services in education, economic stability, shelter, safety, and health.
• Northside Funders Group's Northside Youth Enrichment Fund is accepting applications with an available pool of $140,000, now through February 9, 2024.
• Big Lots Foundation opens its Spring-Summer grant requests on January 2nd, for organizations affecting: Hunger, Housing, Healthcare, and Education
• The National Endowment for the Arts is trying hard to extend its grantmaking work to smaller and more remote communities. The Challenge America grants (deadline 4/25/24) offer support primarily to small organizations for projects to reach historically underserved communities with rich and dynamic cultural identities. --This program may be a good entry point for organizations that are new to applying for federal funding. Grants are awarded in all artistic disciplines for a wide variety of arts projects. An abbreviated application, a robust structure of technical assistance, and matching grants for a set amount of $10,000.
• The application deadline for a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Grant is January 19. They will begin posting 2025 grant programs and dates (April-July) approximately eight weeks before the application deadline.
• The Ann Bancroft Foundation awards grants for Minnesota girls. The next cycle starts February 1.
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant deadlines: Evidence for Action: Indigenous-Led Solutions to Advance Health Equity and Wellbeing: March 1; Pioneering Ideas: Exploring the Future to Build a Culture of Health: Open; Policies for Action: Policy Research to Advance the Inclusion of Immigrant Families and Children: February 16, and Systems for Action: Systems and Services Research to Address Systemic Racism: February 7

Grant Opportunities from the Gates Foundation and Partners: 

• Grand Challenges India: Catalyzing Equitable Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use to Improve Global Health (NEW)
• Grand Challenges Africa: Call for Applications to Establish Networks of Epidemic and Pandemic Sciences Research Excellence Across Africa (NEW)
• Strengthening Childcare Models that Advance Women's Economic Power
• Opportunities to Advance Women's Health Innovation
• Strengthening African National Regulatory Authorities Data Systems to Enhance and Track Performance

Announcements of 2023 grantees:

• Otto Bremer Trust awarded 190 grants totaling $20.3 million, which i Includes grants to 13 Access Philanthropy alum clients.
• Borealis announces its 2023 Disability Inclusion Fund (DIF) grants, including MN’s own Advocating Change Together!. Four million dollars went to disability-led organizations.
• Joyce Foundation awarded $23MM to 120 organizations in November, in areas including Democracy, Education & Economic Mobility, Environment, Justice Reform, and Journalism.
• The Saint Paul City Council awarded its 2023 Cultural Sales Tax Revitalization (STAR) Grants to 66 local non-profit arts and cultural organizations, totaling $1.3MM. 
• Ann Brancroft Foundation

FUNDRAISING NEWS

Where LOIs Go To Die

As you probably know, the Twin Cities U.S. Bank divisions manage the financials, and sometimes the grantmaking, of over 200 small Minnesota-based foundations. And this number is growing.

Contacting these foundations is nearly impossible, as they use a Milwaukee address in the PF990s, specifically, PO Box 634 Milwaukee, WI 53201. When you send the foundation a proposal or an LOI using this address, it goes nowhere. No response, no forwarding address, and no information about how to actually contact the foundation.

It's all legal of course and, for many of these funders, the best way to reduce outside/unsolicited proposals and requests. But, because these foundations file PF990s, they actually have an obligation to share their information with the public, including answering the question in Part XIII 2a: The name, address, and telephone number or e-mail address of the person to whom applications should be addressed.

We have a good friend who was a VP in the bank’s client foundation division. She was helpful in explaining the process (though unable to provide names of contact people).

We’ve been tracking these funders and, when possible, share with you the actual contact information for foundation trustees or staff so you can connect without spending hours to find a $5,000 donor. A few have websites, and some add their own contact information to the Trustee section of the PF990, but very rarely the name of the person at the bank managing the account. It would be much easier and much more transparent if that were so.

Here are a few newer U.S. Bank clients that you may have worked with in the past;, some very prominent small family foundations in Minnesota.

• John Larsen Foundation Management Agency 
• Noreen Family Charitable Trust (fka Roger and Violet Charitable Trust) 
• Julia and Doug Baker Jr. Foundation
• Darren and Terry Jackson Foundation

All of these funders are profiled in the AP Small Family Foundation database (subscribe by sending an email to 4info@accessphilanthropy.com) and we will continue to update you on our progress.

On the other hand, if you know anything that will help people access good information on these folks, please send it to our database manager maryanne@accessphilanthropy.com.

McKnight Foundation is Moving!

921 S. Washington Avenue in Minneapolis, down the block from Open Book and across the street from Aloft Hotel. It’s just a few blocks from their old joint in the Mill City Museum building on 2nd Street. No doubt, they’ll miss the great views from their back porch.

Better Way Foundation Redoing Grantmaking Priorities

By 2026, 100% of Better Way Foundation grants will support Indigenous communities. This shift includes opportunities right now for the development and expansion of Indigenous early childhood development programs across the U.S. and Tribal Nations (up to $250K/year, with 6-9 years of partnership).

Bush Foundation Publishes a Great Community Questions Section

Recently, the Foundation committed itself to greater community transparency and engagement. In other words, they want to work more with BIPOC and other unserved groups. Last summer they did an evaluation and it turned out very positive for the Foundation. But still, transparency and outreach to smaller groups was (and historically has been) a big issue. 

Now the Foundation has redoubled its efforts to reach out to you and answer your questions before you get confused and frustrated with their website. It’s well done, but of course you’ll still have more questions. While you’re there, look over their evaluation; there’s some great info about who they’ve been funding and for how much.



New Reports from Indiana University’s

Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

1.Giving Trends by Race and Ethnicity

The Giving Environment: Giving Trends by Race and Ethnicity report is part of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy’s Everyday Donors of Color and The Giving Environment research series, which looks at the numerous factors that help explain the charitable behavior of donors of color. 

The “declining donors” phenomenon:

The report found that, over an 18-year span, giving rates to all types of charities decreased among all the groups studied- American Indian, Asian American, Black Americans, and Hispanic Americans. But the timing and extent of the decline varied, with the year 2000 showing the start of the decline and the Great Recession marking another shift.

Amanda L. Cole, Editor-in-Chief of NonProfit PRO, shared her key takeaways on this report:

1. Black Americans give the largest percentage of their wealth to charity
2. More white American households are expected to benefit from the wealth transfer
3. Trust among most racial groups has been slowly declining

2.Study of Philanthropy

Bank of America Private Bank (not the foundation, the place where wealthy people go to set up foundations, DAFs and other charitable instruments) partnered with the school of philanthropy on their biennial series: Study of Philanthropy.

Key takeaways: 

• Volunteering is on the rebound. 
• Affluent women are a force for change. 
• Millennials and Gen Z are more passionate about climate change. 
• Beyond financial gifts and volunteering, 79% overall say they buy from companies that prioritize positive social impact.
• Religious organizations receive the largest share of giving dollars.  

Other Reports from Lilly

“The Speed of Trust: An experiment examining the effect of trust on giving among members of diverse racial/ethnic groups." Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy report 11/14/2023.

“New report examines differences in charitable giving patterns, practices among communities of color." Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy press release 11/14/2023.



Philanthropy Power Couple – Ellen and Bill George – Profiled in Star Tribune

Tell Your Story Of Changemaking

Narrative Initiative supports an emerging field of narrative change practitioners, researchers, and trainers. Their Field Notes is a commissioned content series for narrative organizers that lifts up stories about them: the organizers, cultural producers, activists, and other changemakers whose work is shifting harmful, dominant narratives in powerful, creative, and unexpected ways. 

Submit your pitch story by December 22, to be selected for Vol II.  They are looking for deep dives into organizing efforts or arts/cultural initiatives, interviews, and essays, including photo essays, with these three content themes: 

• Care is the Antidote to Violence
• Surviving Supremacy
• democracy, tbd “show us what democracy looks like”

If you’re new to the idea of narrative change, they have an online resource library of guides, worksheets, webinars, and training for the field.



New Foundation Aimed At Strengthening Tribal Nations 

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) launched its philanthropic arm last month.  The NCAI Foundation will follow an equity and sovereignty framework, which they say involves Tribal Nations in decision making and honors Native wisdom: center connection and respect.

The Foundation’s four core areas include:

• Upholding Tribal Sovereignty
• Empowering Tribal Leadership
• Cultivating Youth Leadership
• Fortifying Tribal Nations

On a related note, last year, The Bush Foundation surpassed its averaged grant payments to Native nations and people last year, from 24% to 68%. Funds included $50 million for a community trust fund for Native people in the region (sharing the geography of MN, ND, and SD).  Bush is regularly listed in national reports as a top funder supporting Native communities and issues, and is challenging other national funders to “knock them down the list.”

Let Youth-Led Organizations Lead

Alejandro Daly, Transforming Philanthropic Fellow at Hispanics in Philanthropy, makes a case for funding youth-led organization:

• They often represent marginalized communities and bring those unique perspectives to the forefront. 
• They tend to be more diverse and inclusive in their approach, helping transform traditional philanthropy. 
• They play a fundamental role in thinking out of the box,  using technology and grassroot mobilization to solve critical issues.

He offers some direction in how to go about supporting them: 1) Give space for innovation - and with it - failure. 2) Build trusting relationships across the organization, not just with the leader. 3) Ask yourself: are you doing this to be part of a bigger trend toward change, or to be trendy? It will influence the way you build those relationships (this last one is to both funders and organizations).

Rural Communities Still at Disadvantage When Competing for Government Grants

Headwaters Economics (no relation to Headwaters Foundation for Justice) recently released a study that indicates applying for government funding remains a tougher challenge for rural communities. They analyzed the most recent round of grants made through FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. They found low-capacity communities that did not fare well in the competition lack the staff and expertise necessary to create competitive proposals for federal grant programs.

Five Key Findings

• The geographic distribution was very uneven. Half of the awarded states collectively received less than 5% of this year’s BRIC funding.
• 78% of this year’s BRIC funding went to East and West Coast states, compared to 22% that went to interior and Gulf Coast states.
• One-quarter of the projects selected in this year’s national competition were in counties that had received a BRIC grant in previous years.
• Over the three years of the BRIC program, only 13% of counties (18 of the 138 counties) with funded projects have Rural Capacity Index scores below the national median.
• In this year’s national competition, 3% of funding ($50 million) went to projects in low-capacity counties, and 83% ($1.5 billion) went to projects in high-capacity counties.

Evolving Language

New Word of the Month

Trustwashing

The Trust-Based Philanthropy Project* says the rise of trust-based philanthropy has led to a dramatic increase in funders referring to themselves as “trust-based ” and, in some cases, much too loosely. They offer the following examples of “trustwashing”:

When funders:

• Say they’re trust-based because they fund organizations and people they trust.
• Consider themselves trust-based because they give unrestricted grants. 
• Only trust organizations that meet their lengthy and burdensome due diligence requirements. 
• May use the phrase because they don’t want to admit that conventional philanthropy operates from a place of inherent distrust. 

*The Trust-Based Philanthropy Project defines ‘trust-based philanthropy’ as a  movement where “there is mutual accountability between funders and nonprofits, and wherein philanthropic systems and structures reflect the needs and dreams of communities. To get there, funders are working to change the power dynamics and structural barriers that too often get in the way of nonprofits achieving their intended impact.”



Two Great Tools from the Nonprofit Finance Fund 

The Nonprofit Finance Fund is a NYC-based national nonprofit finance organization, awarding loans, making investments, offering consulting services and workshops, and occasionally offering grant opportunities via other grantmakers. Recently, the Fund published two great grant/loan tools:

• First, How to Craft Your Organization’s Financial Story. These days, your financial story is probably the most important document you can get a funder who’s not familiar with your work. It’s critical messaging in a way a funder can understand you.

• Second, Cashflow Projection Template:. Cashflow projections are essential documents for determining how much working capital an organization needs to maintain or build to manage the low cash points in the year.

JOBS in PHILANTHROPY

This is a completely free job board. Our intent is to help great Minnesota nonprofit professionals find jobs in national and local funding organizations.

(Quick story, when I was teaching at NYU, students would ask if I came from Minneapolis-St. Louis. Thus our desire to get Minnesotans funding jobs.)

Other Philanthropic sector Job Boards: MINNESOTA COUNCIL ON FOUNDATIONS, FUNDERS FOR LGBTQ, EMERGING PRACTITIONERS IN PHILANTHROPY, & PEAK GRANTMAKING

AMALGAMATED FOUNDATION is hiring for two remote positions: Director of Community Stewardship and Director of Growth and Impact. The bank-operated foundation and DAF based in Washington has become one of the most influential and interesting social justice funders in the US, mostly across Eastern states.

One of our favorite social justice/wildlife conservation funders, ARCUS FOUNDATION is hiring a Senior Accountant (NYC) and a Grants Manager (NYC or Cambridge, UK ) 

The most prominent and well-respected LGBTQIA+ funder in America, THE ASTRAEA LESBIAN FOUNDATION FOR JUSTICE (NY) needs a Program Officer to sustain their Intersex Human Rights Fund

BETTER WAY FOUNDATION (MN/Remote) which recently shifted its funding to more support for Native American communities, is hiring a Program Officer. Better Way is one of the Rauenhorst family foundations.

Minnesota-based BOREALIS PHILANTHROPY FUND (Remote) is hiring for a Trans Generations Program Associate. They are a linked fund for several national funders. It would be great to have a few Minnesotans on staff.

The higher education support foundation ECMC FOUNDATION (CA/ Hybrid)  is looking for a Program Officer. They have four locations, including downtown Minneapolis.

FORD FOUNDATION needs an International Security, Safety and Risk Mitigation Manager. Visit their Careers page for other opportunities. 

One of the largest and most influential foundation affinity groups, GRANTMAKERS IN HEALTH (DC) is searching for a Senior Program Director – Health Equity. Lots of GIH staff go on to work in major health foundations.

Fast-growing, new era-style funder GROUNDSWELL FUND(CA) is hiring for a Grants Management Associate. They have a new, very interesting CEO. 

One of the premier diversity-focused funders in the US, W.K KELLOGG FOUNDATION (NM) needs a Program Officer for their New Mexico office. Like Ford and others, Kellogg often has several job openings.

A sister fund of Headwaters Foundation for Justice, Los Angeles’ LIBERTY HILL FOUNDATION (CA)has three open positions: Chief Program Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Director of Housing Justice

MCKNIGHT FOUNDATION (MN) is looking for its next Program Director, Vibrant and Equitable Communities. Stepping in after David Nicholson left his inaugural position, this Program Director will play a pivotal role in communities by forging cooperation with diverse stakeholders, locally and nationally, that strengthens McKnight’s ability to advance durable, people-centered systems change.

McKnight also needs a cross-programming person: Senior Program Officer, Strengthening Democratic Participation

MEDTRONIC (MN) Senior Medtronic Philanthropy Specialist This role supports the development of scalable programs to engage Medtronic employees globally through meaningful volunteer experiences, giving initiatives, and awareness of the impact of philanthropy.

METLIFE FOUNDATION (NY) is searching for a Grants & Knowledge Management Associate. They don’t fund much in Minnesota since they closed their local shop a few years ago. But it’s an interesting grantmaker.

Another new era-style grantmaker, NEW VENTURE FUND (DC) is hiring an experienced, self-directed Program Officer on behalf of a new $30M philanthropic project which focuses on food security, equity, and food systems reform in the US and abroad.

DAVID AND LUCILE PACKARD FOUNDATION (CA) which has a new US Racial Justice Program Officer (see above) also needs a Program Analyst, Civil Society and Leadership in the Just Societies program, as well as  two Operations Associates. 

Note the spelling of “Lucile”. Years ago, the foundation rejected any proposals in which Mrs. Packard’s first name was misspelled. That’s changed, but don’t take chances.

THE PERENCHIO FOUNDATION (CA) needs a new Program Officer. The foundation supports the Arts in Los Angeles, so it might have some fierce competition. But sometimes local funders like fresh new, apolitical staff.

The NYC-based THIRD WAVE FUND (Remote) needs a Director of Programs, which is a  new position responsible for the overall success of its six grantmaking programs focused on BIPOC gender justice. They’re great, but would be much better with a couple of Midwestern program officers.

Steve Biko, born on December 18 is not just a South African apartheid martyr, Biko restructured the student anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. 

In the 1960s-70s, white people led most of the student anti-apartheid movement in South African (SA). As an emerging leader, Biko insisted the movement be owned and operated by Black students, a pretty radical idea at the time. But Biko’s inspirational leadership and his hard work convinced his fellow students and other Black leaders to take back the movement. 

Many historians and SA leaders (including Nelson Mandela) credit Biko’s insistence on Black leadership as a primary reason other nations, mega-corporations, and faith groups eventually agreed to get involved in the anti-apartheid movement.

Next time you’re with friends or with eager-to-learn children, lift a glass of eggnog to the young student who led the transformations in South Africa.

BUT just as important, lift a glass to the young man who led justice movements across the world to really consider WHO we choose as our gender, LGBTQI, BIPOC, disability, neighborhood and other movement leaders.

SO, WHAT EXACTLY DOES ACCESS PHILANTHROPY

DO FOR A LIVING? 

THANKS FOR SPENDING TIME WITH US.

Need some ideas, someone to talk to about fundraising, or just a fabulous listener/chatter?

4info@accessphilanthropy.com

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