The Saint Paul Foundation and Minnesota Community Foundation Introduce Minnesota Philanthropy Partners

SAINT PAUL, Minn.—The Saint Paul Foundation and Minnesota Community Foundation announced today that Minnesota Philanthropy Partners is the new name to describe their

long-standing collaboration with the F. R. Bigelow Foundation, Mardag Foundation and more than 1,600 other charitable entities across Minnesota.

For decades, this network has been a model of shared staff and services, keeping costs low and putting more dollars into the community. The name Minnesota Philanthropy Partners is a more accurate way to communicate the value of this collaboration to the community.

“We chose the name Minnesota Philanthropy Partners to describe our network because it truly describes who we are—many organizations doing great work in collaboration,” said Carleen Rhodes, CEO and president of Minnesota Philanthropy Partners.

The name emerged after public relations and marketing agency Padilla Speer Beardsley conducted a research study with nearly 200 stakeholders of the Foundations. The research identified a clear opportunity to better represent the hundreds of philanthropic affiliates—including community funds like the Hibbing Foundation and Waseca Foundation and organizations like GiveMN.org—that are working with the Foundations to create a stronger and more vibrant Minnesota.

The four anchor foundations—The Saint Paul Foundation, Minnesota Community Foundation, F. R. Bigelow Foundation and Mardag Foundation—and the other 1,600-plus philanthropic affiliates will retain their individual identities and continue to provide the same vital services and support they have for decades. Staff that support the four anchors will now be considered employees of Minnesota Philanthropy Partners.

Minnesota Philanthropy Partners has launched a new website at mnpartners.org, and each of the four anchor foundations has launched new and improved websites to help bring greater visibility to the unique work of each organization. The Saint Paul Foundation and Minnesota Community Foundation are launching new marketing and advertising campaigns, as well. Agencies that have assisted in the launch preparation and rollout include Pocket Hercules,

Rat Race Photography and Clockwork Active Media Systems.