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Community Initiatives

In addition to our grantmaking, we take an active role in many community initiatives that make the East Metro and Minnesota better for all who call them home.

Our role varies in each initiative, ranging from fiscal sponsorship and administrative support to staffing and strategic leadership. Below is a partial list of our current and past initiatives.

Current Initiatives

Center for Economic Inclusion
Center for Economic Inclusion

The Center for Economic Inclusion works across the public- and private-sector to strengthen the Minneapolis-Saint Paul region’s civic infrastructure and advance an inclusive economy.

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CFLeads Coalition for Inclusive Communities
CFLeads Coalition for Inclusive Communities

The Coalition for Inclusive Communities learning network aims to advance equity in the workplace and build community cohesion while serving as an interactive learning lab for participants.

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CollegeBound Saint Paul
CollegeBound Saint Paul

This Saint Paul pilot program was designed by and for the community to help families send their children to educational opportunities after high school, by establishing college savings accounts for every child born in Saint Paul.

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Community Sharing Fund
Community Sharing Fund

The Community Sharing Fund partners with more than 100 community organizations to identify and provide small emergency grants to families and individuals facing short-term financial setbacks.

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Council for Black Male Success
Council for Black Male Success

The Council for Black Male Success, a collective group of community organization leaders, seeks to make the opportunity landscape easier to navigate for young Black men ages 11-32 in Saint Paul.

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East Metro Main Street Economic Revitalization Program
East Metro Main Street Economic Revitalization Program

Our East Metro Main Street Economic Revitalization Program supports businesses and nonprofit organizations in the Snelling-University-Rice Cultural District, the East Side community and along West Seventh Street.

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East Side Funders Group Collaborative
East Side Funders Group Collaborative

This collaborative is focused on increasing economic vitality for residents on the East Side of Saint Paul, particularly the Dayton’s Bluff and Payne-Phalen neighborhoods.

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GroundBreak Coalition
GroundBreak Coalition

GroundBreak Coalition is a group of corporate, civic and philanthropic leaders committed to demonstrating that with enough resources, a racially equitable and carbon-neutral future is possible now.

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GenNext
GenNext

GenNext is a coalition of civic, business and education leaders from across Minneapolis and Saint Paul dedicated to closing achievement and opportunity gaps to ensure that every child can thrive.

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Heading Home Minnesota Funders Collaborative
Heading Home Minnesota Funders Collaborative

The Heading Home Minnesota collaborative is a member organization comprised of grantmakers and intermediaries committed to working together to prevent and end homelessness in Minnesota.

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Justice for All
Justice for All

This multi-year collaboration among the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, Greater Twin Cities United Way and The Minneapolis Foundations seeks to transform the criminal justice system in Greater MSP.

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Partnership for a ConnectedMN
Partnership for a ConnectedMN

ConnectedMN is a public-private partnership to ensure students from high-need and underserved communities have the tools and support they need to participate in digital learning, including tech devices and internet access.

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People's Prosperity Guaranteed Income Pilot
People's Prosperity Guaranteed Income Pilot

This pilot program by the City of Saint Paul will provide up to 150 Saint Paul families with $500 per month in guaranteed income for a period of up to 18 months.

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Ramsey County Public Safety Fund
Ramsey County Public Safety Fund

As part of our support for criminal justice reform, this fund supports Ramsey County’s initiative to reduce non-public safety-related traffic stops.

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Saint Paul Promise Neighborhood
Saint Paul Promise Neighborhood

This transformative education collaborative brings together families, schools and the community to put children on the pathway to college and career.

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Start Early Funders Coalition
Start Early Funders Coalition

This collaboration of more than 20 members of Minnesota’s philanthropic community provides leadership and funding for research, program development, public policy and grantmaking to improve early childhood efforts in Minnesota.

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3M Community Fund
3M Community Fund

This fund invests in systems change initiatives and grants to organizations providing culturally-specific support of Saint Paul families.

Community Leadership Fund

Community initiatives connect to our purpose of inspiring generosity, advocating for equity and investing in community-led solutions. Our leadership team makes it a priority to participate in broader initiatives like the ones above, as well as others, to invest our time in meaningful dialogue and collaborations.

If you’re interested in supporting this type of work with the Foundation, please consider a donation to our Community Leadership Fund.

Email our Philanthropic Services team to learn more.

Past Initiatives

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