The St. Paul and Minnesota Foundation is a left-of-center grantmaking organization that focuses on “operationalizing” the critical race theory-influenced concept of equity. 1 The community foundation is the largest in the state of Minnesota and manages over $1.8 billion in assets as of 2023. 2
The St. Paul and Minnesota Foundation was founded in 1940. The community foundation is the largest in Minnesota and was formed from a merger of the Saint Paul Foundation and the Minnesota Foundation in 2008. The F.R. Bigelow Foundation and the Mardag Foundation partner with the St. Paul and Minnesota Foundation, and their grants are managed by the St. Paul & Minnesota Foundation. 3
Giving Strategy and Projects
The St. Paul and Minnesota Foundation stewards over $1.8 billion in assets. 2 The community foundation states that it is “committed to investing in Minnesota and creating an equitable, just and vibrant state.” 4
The St. Paul and Minnesota Foundation partners with the F.R. Bigelow Foundation and Mardag Foundation, as well as a statewide network of over 2,000 nonprofits and donor advised funds across Minnesota. 2
The investment strategy of the St. Paul and Minnesota Foundation is focused on the critical race theory influenced diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as the controversial Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investment methodology. 5
Racial Equity
The St. Paul and Minnesota Foundation states it is “committed to dismantling a belief in a hierarchy of human value, with a focus on racial equity.” 6 To promote this goal, the foundation undertakes projects to advocate for equity, especially regarding grantmaking. 7 The foundation also prioritizes “operationalizing equity” in all aspects of their work, including its investment strategy. 1
The community foundation sponsors the “Facing Race Awards,” annual awards given to individuals that “push for justice and equity.” 8
Additionally, the community foundation runs “Art in this Present Moment,” a project that provides “financial support to artists who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color who are changing and challenging dominant narratives.” 9
In 2023, the community foundation granted $9 million to over 40 businesses as part of the East Metro Main Street Economic Revitalization Program; over 85% of the business were owned or led by racial minorities according to the community foundation’s 2023 annual report. 10
Countering Hate
Countering Hate is an annual meeting that is hosted by the St. Paul and Minnesota Foundation, the Muslim American Society of Minnesota, and the Minnesota Council of Churches. 11 The purpose of the project is bringing religious communities together, particularly for the goal of countering “white supremacy.” 1
In 2023, the St. Paul and Minnesota Foundation held over $1.8 billion in assets, and the community foundation granted $106 million to 3,253 organizations. The community foundation also offers donor advised funds, through which fundholders can direct their own donations. 10
Leadership
Since 2015, Eric J. Jolly has been the president and chief executive officer of the Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation. Before joining the community foundation, Jolly worked for a decade as president of the Science Museum of Minnesota and before that as vice president and senior scientist at the Education Development Center in Massachusetts. He has also worked in successive academic roles at several colleges and universities, including professor, dean, assistant chancellor and director for Affirmative Action and Diversity. He is a life member of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science, a life fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and former member of the board of the National Museum of the American Indian. 2
SUPPORT FOR A DONOR ADVISED FUND AT THE MINNESOTA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$7,000,000
2022
Margaret A Cargill Foundation
This project will support one-time gifts to local, regional, and national organizations from the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation Donor Advised Fund at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation.
To operate two grant programs with the purpose of inspiring and supporting creative problem-solving across Minnesota and the Native nations that share that geography.
$5,350,000
2021
Margaret a Cargill Foundation
SUPPORT FOR A DONOR ADVISED FUND AT THE MINNESOTA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation (SPMF) will manage the Archibald Bush Legacy Fund, an endowed fund to make post-secondary education accessible for high school students in St. Paul. As administrator of the fund, SMPF will partner with a scholarship provider to award scholarships and other services to St. Paul students seeking to pursue higher education opportunities, with an emphasis on students from underrepresented communities. The Archibald Bush Legacy Fund expands the Foundation's long-term commitment established by Archie Bush to education and the cities of St, Paul and Granite Falls, MN.
$3,550,000
2024
Margaret a Cargill Foundation
SUPPORT FOR A DONOR ADVISED FUND AT THE MN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$2,500,000
2023
Margaret A Cargill Foundation
This project will support one-time gifts to local, regional, and national organizations from the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation Donor Advised Fund at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation.
$2,500,000
2023
Margaret A Cargill Foundation
This project will support one-time gifts to local, regional, and national organizations from the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation Donor Advised Fund at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation.
$1,900,000
2021
Margaret a Cargill Foundation
SUPPORT FOR EMPLOYEE MATCHING PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY MINNESOTA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$1,850,000
2023
Margaret A Cargill Foundation
This project will support one-time gifts to local, regional, and national organizations from the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation Donor Advised Fund at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation.
$1,250,000
2023
Margaret A Cargill Foundation
This project will support one-time gifts to local, regional, and national organizations from the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation Donor Advised Fund at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation.
$1,200,000
2024
Margaret a Cargill Foundation
SUPPORT FOR EMPLOYEE MATCHING PROGRAM AT THE MN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$1,200,000
2023
Margaret A Cargill Foundation
This project will fund the execution of the MACF Employee Matching Gift Program by Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation (SPMF), as outlined in the Employee Matching Gift Program Policy, in order to reduce MACF workload and deepen the relationship with SPMF.
$1,200,000
2022
Margaret A Cargill Foundation
This project will fund the execution of the MACF Employee Matching Gift Program by Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation (SPMF), as outlined in the Employee Matching Gift Program Policy, in order to reduce MACF workload and deepen the relationship with SPMF.
The purpose of this grant is to support the Human Services and Detroit Programs’ continued partnership with The City of Saint Paul, and the Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation to develop a policy prototype for the nation around advancing income + asset strategies.
Bush Prize: Minnesota celebrates organizations that are highly valued within their communities and have a track record of successful community problem solving. The 2024 Bush Prize: Minnesota winners are Mni Sota Fund, Green Card Voices, and Minnesota Education Equity Partners. Each of these organizations will receive a flexible grant that can be used to build reserves, test a big idea or for anything else that would best support the organization's ongoing good work. The organizations selected as finalists are Epimonia (fiscal sponsor: Young Mens Christian Association of the North), ISAIAH, Keystone Community Services, Open Cupboard, Way to Grow, and Youthprise. Each of these organizations will receive a $10,000 grant. Bush Prize: Minnesota winners and finalists were identified and selected by a community selection panel through a partnership with our community grant partner, the St. Paul and Minnesota Foundation.
All-time grants given statistics from Candid dataset:
Total Grant Value:$1,124,073,627
Number of Grants:44,795
Number of Recipients:6,892
Selection of highest value grants given from the last seven years:
To be distributed to the following endowed funds at the Catholic Community Foundation, ST. Paul, MN: Shakopee Area Catholic School Endowment Fund (80%) and The Parish of Saints Joachim and Anne Religious Education Endowment Fund (20%)
