Tending The Soil Minnesota

Background

Tending the Soil MN was formed in 2018 to act as an organizing hub for several local activist groups including Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha (CTUL), Inquilinxs Unidxs por Justicia (Renters United for Justice), the New Justice Project, SEIU Local 26, and Unidos MN. ¹

Tending the Soil MN has a sister 501(c)(4) advocacy arm that reported no income in 2023 and 2024 despite spending almost $350,000 in 2024. ⁶

Activity

In 2024, Tending the Soil MN issued $378,000 in grants, totaling roughly 22 percent of its total expenditures. The largest grant that year was $248,250 to coalition member Unidos MN, an organization that focuses on issues related to immigration, Latino identity politics, and “climate justice.” ^{7 8} In February 2026, Unidos MN and its sister-group Monarca organized protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement operations in Minneapolis. ²

Also in 2024, Tending the Soil donated to additional coalition members including $83,250 to the New Justice Project, $23,250 to Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha (CTUL), and $23,250 to Inquilinxs Unidxs por Justicia (Renters United for Justice). ⁷ In 2026, Tending the Soil organized a fundraiser to support protestors against ICE-related activities in the state of Minnesota with the goal of raising $2 million, but reaching roughly $1.8 million. ⁹

Leadership

Cat Salonek is the executive director for Tending the Soil, serving in the role since 2021. Salonek previously worked for LGBT advocacy group OutFront Minnesota as well as the lead campaign manager for the Communication Workers of America. Salonek also worked in positions for Occupy Homes MN, MN Neighborhoods Organizing for Change, and the Project for Pride in Living. ¹⁰ In 2024, Salonek received a salary of $94,760 from Tending the Soil. ⁷

Funding

In 2024, Tending the Soil earned $1,330,506 in revenues, with all funding coming from charitable grants. ⁷

In 2025, Tending the Soil received a $175,000 grant from the Ford Foundation. ¹¹

Tending the Soil has previously received funding from left-of-center organizations including the McKnight Foundation, the New Venture Fund, and the Amalgamated Charitable Foundation. ^{2 3 5}

In 2023, Tending the Soil received a $100,000 “pre-development forgivable loan” from the City of Minneapolis, which was followed by a similar $150,000 payment in 2024. The funds were intended for developing the Rise Up Center, an “office and community space for several organizations,” including its coalition members as well as Unite Here Local 17, the Minnesota Training Partnership, the AFL-CIO, and the Building Dignity and Respect Standards Council. ^{12 4}

Prior to the 2023 loan, Tending the Soil received a $1.5 million grant by the Minnesota legislature to purchase and “pre-design” the Rise Up Center. ⁴ Tending the Soil had raised $4.25 million to build the Rise Up Center as of 2024. ¹³