Minnesota Council of Nonprofits

Background

The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits traces its origins to the Philanthropy Project, a 1983 coalition of 130 nonprofit organizations that sought changes to corporate and foundation grantmaking. Led by Jon Pratt, the project issued a 1986 report documenting increased philanthropic support for low-income individuals, women, and “communities of color.” In 1986, members of the coalition officially formed the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, which launched in 1987. ¹

The council expanded after its founding. It established six regional chapters beginning in 1998 and began lobbying on state legislation in Minnesota. As of 2025, the group claimed 2,200 members, more than any other state association of nonprofits in the United States. ¹

The group is affiliated with national and Minnesota-based organizations, including the Charities Review Council, GiveMN, Legal CORPS, Minnesota Council on Foundations, National Council of Nonprofits, American Society of Association Executives, and the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy. ^{4 5}

Activities

The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits offered workshops, conferences, and research on topics including fundraising, leadership, and financial management. It produces annual reports such as the Minnesota Nonprofit Economy Report, which analyzes employment, wages, and finances in the sector using public data. ⁶

The group also recognized outstanding nonprofits through awards programs, including the Nonprofit Mission Awards for innovation, advocacy, anti-racism initiatives, and responsive philanthropy. ⁷

The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits operates the Minnesota Budget Project, which advocates left-wing fiscal policies, including higher state taxes on high earners and expanded spending on child tax credits and social programs. Specific 2024 policy priorities of the group included “Advance payments for the Child Tax Credit so families can get resources sooner to afford their expenses for raising healthy, thriving kids,” “Strengthening access to health care, through Continuous Medicaid eligibility for adults and through a MinnesotaCare public option,” and “Supporting economic policies that remove barriers that keep our Minnesota immigrant and refugee neighbors from being treated the same as other workers.” ³

Funding

The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits drew approximately 41 percent of its 2023 revenue from contributions and grants and 57 percent from program services such as membership dues and training fees. Funders included the Ford Foundation, which had awarded at least 12 grants between 2006 and 2023, and the Bush Foundation. The Park Foundation provided $50,000 in 2020 for civic participation programs. ^{8 2}

Grantmaking

The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits distributed $90,000 in grants during its 2024 fiscal year, which primarily took the form of pass-through grants for the Minnesota Budget Project. Recipients included the Children’s Defense Fund, Prepare and Prosper, Unidos MN, and Home Line. ⁹

In 2022, the group awarded voter engagement grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 to organizations such as Access Press and African Career Education and Resources. ¹⁰