MINNDEPENDENT (formerly the Minnesota Independent School Forum) is a membership organization that aims to strengthen Minnesota’s private and independent schools through partnerships that support professional development, innovation, and advocacy. ¹

In 2023, MINNDEPENDENT was a co-signer of a letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) addressing issues of school safety in nonpublic schools. The letter asked that the Minnesota Legislature enact Governor Walz’s recommendation to spend $50 million to establish the Building and Cyber Security Grant Program and allow non-public schools to be eligible to apply for these grants. ²

Activities

MINNDEPENDENT is a nonprofit membership organization that offers programming, partnerships, and public policy advocacy aimed at supporting and strengthening Minnesota’s private and independent schools. MINNDEPENDENT offers professional development, resources, and opportunities to expand and improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs.  ¹

MINNDEPENDENT is a member of Nonpublic Education Partners, a coalition of organizations that advocates for a unified legislative agenda supporting non-public school students, including an equitable distribution of funds to support non-public students. Other members of Nonpublic Education Partners include the Minnesota Catholic Conference, the Association of Christian Schools International, the Jewish Community Relations Council, and the Aim Higher Foundation. ³

In 2023, MINNDEPENDENT, along with the Minnesota Catholic Conference, co-signed a letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) addressing issues of school safety in nonpublic schools. The letter supported Walz’s recommendation to spend $50 million to establish the Building and Cyber Security Grant Program, but claims that the exclusion of non-public schools from this program is a discriminatory act against non-public school students. The letter urged Governor Walz to pressure the Minnesota Legislature to enact the program and allow non-public schools to be eligible to apply for these grants. ²

Funding

MINNDEPENDENT is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and businesses. While MINNDEPENDENT does not disclose its donors, tax filings confirm donations from the WEM Foundation ($250,000 in 2023),  ⁴ the Schott Foundation ($100,000 in 2023),  ⁵ and the GHR Foundation ($50,000 in 2021).  ⁶

MINNDEPENDENT is also supported by membership dues. Full memberships are offered to fully accredited Minnesota K-12 private and independent schools, while non-accredited schools may join as affiliate members. For the 2024 to 2025 school year, dues were $5.25 per student. ⁷

Board of Directors

Timothy Berner is the president of MINNDEPENDENT and the executive director of Concordia Academy High School. ⁸

Michael Lamb is the chair of the board of MINNDEPENDENT and an executive vice president at Xcel Energy. Lamb sits on the boards of the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies, the SGA Natural Gas Association, and the American Gas Association. ⁹

Michael Brennan is the president of Holy Family Catholic High School. Brennan is a former director of schools for Rochester Catholic Schools and currently sits on the boards of Christian Brothers College High School and the Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota. ¹⁰

Jennifer Cassidy is a partnership director at Lake Area Discovery Center. Cassidy formerly worked as a principal at Annunciation School, St. Jude of the Lake School, and Saint Bernard’s School. ¹¹

Heidi Gallus is the principal of St. Michael Catholic School.  ⁸

Jim Hansen is a former president of Hill-Murray School and a former president of the Mahtomedi Area Educational Foundation. Hansen sits on the boards of Bootstrappers Minnesota, Premier Banks, and When I Work. ¹²

Joel Landskroener is the executive director of Mayer Lutheran High School.  ⁸

Anna Lima is the owner of Lima Law Office PLLP and an adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law. Lima is an appointed member of the Legislative Compensation Council to the Minnesota Legislature. ¹³

Brian Lynch is the treasurer of MINNDEPENDENT and the CFO of Benilde-St. Margaret’s School.  ⁸

Kate Wollan is the vice chair of the board of MINNDEPENDENT and the principal of Nativity of Our Lord School.  ⁸

Other members of the board include Dean Broadhead (secretary), Pat Callan, Pete Deavan, Shana Duininck, Josh Killian, Teri McCloughan, Blake Nelson, Kelly Regan, and Josh Schultz.  ⁸

Donor Organizations

Athwin Foundation (nonprofit)

Battenkill Foundation (nonprofit)

Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund (nonprofit)

Frels Family Foundation (nonprofit)

GHR Foundation (nonprofit)

H.B. Fuller Company Foundation (nonprofit)

Hardenbergh Foundation (nonprofit)

Helen Harrington Charitable Trust (nonprofit)

Kidsfirst Scholarship Fund of Minnesota (nonprofit)

Mark E. and Mary A. Davis Foundation (nonprofit)

Mightycause Charitable Foundation (nonprofit)

Minnesota Real Estate Foundation (nonprofit)

Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation (nonprofit)

St. Paul and Minnesota Foundation (nonprofit)

Schott Foundation (nonprofit)

Walter and Leona Schmitt Family Foundation (nonprofit)

WEM Foundation (nonprofit)

Xcel Energy Foundation (nonprofit)

Partner Organizations

CAPE (Council for American Private Education) (nonprofit)

EdChoice (nonprofit)

National School Choice Week (nonprofit)

Opportunity for All Kids (OAK) (nonprofit)

1. “About Us.” MINNDEPENDENT. Accessed October 16, 2025. https://minndependent.org/about-us/.
2. “Letter to Governor Walz: School Safety in Nonpublic Schools.” Minnesota Catholic Conference, April 14, 2023. Accessed October 19, 2025. https://www.mncatholic.org/letter_to_governor_walz_school_safety_in_nonpublic_schools.
3. “Advocacy.” MINNDEPENDENT. Accessed October 19, 2025. https://minndependent.org/advocacy/.
4. WEM Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2023, Part XV, Line 3.
5. Schott Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2023, Part XV, Line 3.
6. GHR Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2021, Part XV, Line 3.
7. “School Membership.” MINNDEPENDENT. Accessed October 16, 2025. https://minndependent.org/school-membership/.
8. “Board of Directors.” MINNDEPENDENT. Accessed October 16, 2025. https://minndependent.org/board-of-directors/.
9. “Michael Lamb.” LinkedIn. Accessed October 16, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-lamb-4115a16/.
10. “Michael Brennan.” LinkedIn. Accessed October 16, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-brennan-0a459799/.
11. “Jennifer Cassidy.” LinkedIn. Accessed October 16, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-cassidy-ba207917/.
12. “Jim Hansen.” LinkedIn. Accessed October 16, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/hansenjim/.
13. “Anna Lima.” LinkedIn. Accessed October 16, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-lima-61a2b94/.