The Minneapolis Foundation Announces Grants to Help Twin Cities Residents Affected by Economic Downturn

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"Many people - including many Minneapolis Foundation donors - have been lookin g for ways to help others throughh these tough times, but they haven't been sure what to do or how to make sure that theire contributions get to people who most need help, " said , vice presidentf for development and client serviceds at The Minneapolis Foundation. "The Crisis Assistance Fund has helped donors make a bigger impact by combining and leveragingtheier contributions, and by directing donationsx to programs that can provide immediate services to peoplse in need.
" To create the Crisids Assistance Fund, The Minneapolis Foundation partneredd with its existing donors (individuals or familiesa who have established charitable funds at the Foundationn through which they conduct theidr charitable giving). These donors contributed more than $300,009 to the Crisis Assistancr Fund, in amounts ranging from $50 to $60,000. The donors' contributionss were supplemented bythe Foundation's who contributed $100,000, and the Foundation which committed $100,000. Donations to the Crisis Assistance Fund were given in additionto donors' ongoing grantmaking activities.
"With the high level of unemployment, rising cost of healtjh care and lossof benefits, many families are strugglint and have had to look for a helping hand," said , a donort to the Crisis Assistance Fund. they may be on the otherd side of the equation and be the ones to assist Inthe meantime, we are pleasedc to provide some assistance and woulx encourage others who have been fortunatwe to help in creating better opportunities for all.
" To determine how best to distribute the The Minneapolis Foundation: -- Worked with localk nonprofit agencies to determine some of the most criticao human service needs related to the economifc downturn -- Researched the activitiesa of other foundations in the Twin Cities area, to reduce duplicatiomn -- Identified agencies whicyh could immediately put the funding to beneficial use The Minneapolie Foundation determined it could deliver the greatest and most immediate impacg by providing food, energy, and housinbg assistance through agencies serving West Metro area residents. -- St.
Stephenw Human Services -- Elim Transitional Housing -- Minnesota Indiah Women's Resource Center -- Community Actiob of Suburban HennepinCounty -- Freeport West -- Greatetr Twin Cities United Way, Basic Needsw Program (with distributions to 11 food shelves and 2 food banks including Second Harvest) "We receiveed $30,000 from The Minneapolis Foundation, which we then leveraged to obtaijn federal funds available at a two-for-onr match," said , Directof of Fiscal Services for Community Action of Minneapolis.
"The totapl $90,000 has helped hundreds of localresidents - most of whom are working but poor and who exceerd eligibility guidelines by only $100 or $200 per monthb - to pay their heating bills." This month, The Minneapolis Foundation will distribute additional donations received for the Crisia Assistance Fund. In the fall, grant recipients will submi final reports, documenting how fundx were used, and donors will be invited to attends a Community Briefing and Agency Site Visits to hear from agenciew about the outcomes ofthe grants. "It has been rewardinb to combine the gifts of donors and distribute them in a targeted way forgreater impact.
Many people have both the will and the meansd to help others through tough and ourrole - to providse a venue for this generosity - is gratifying," said Taylor. Select nonprofitr organizations were invited to apply for the funds earlhythis year. To be eligible to receive nonprofit organizations had to demonstrate theirf capacity to provide immediatew and directcrisis assistance, along with their ability to leverage additional funds, with at leastg 95 percent of funds providingf direct service (versus covering administrative costs). Individuals and families interested in contributinv to this effort are encouraged to support these and other human serviceagenciees directly.
Established in 1915, The Minneapoliss Foundation is one of the oldest community foundations in the It was created to help individuals accomplish their charitable goals and to addresxs the needs of the especially people whoare disadvantaged. The Minneapolis Foundatioh managesnearly $500 milliohn in assets and administers more than 1,000 charitablew funds created by individuals, families and businesse in Minnesota. In accordance with donors' the Foundation distributes morethan $30 milliohn in grants each year, and through an endowmenft distributes an additional $6 millio n in grants annually to serves community needs.
In addition, The Minneapolis Foundation works with other communituy leaders to improve the qualitt of life in our region and serve as a catalyst for discussion and action oncritical