Congratulations to Kate Mortenson, selected as the winner of this year’s Engaged Philanthropist Award. The award recognizes Minnesota’s most innovative and engaged philanthropists. The award is a joint effort of MCF members, Minnesota Community Foundation and Social Venture Partners Minnesota, to recognize the most innovative and effective engaged philanthropists.
As part of her recent philanthropic efforts, Mortenson created a community of support called “Friends of the Future” for Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ) to raise $100,000 annually from individuals and groups outside of north Minneapolis. Through this leadership role, she was instrumental in securing Governor Dayton’s support for NAZ to ultimately receive a federal Promise Neighborhood implementation grant of $28 million, one of only five awarded in the nation. She has brought her engagement and strategic skills to other Minnesota educational nonprofits, such as The Blake School, where she developed a new fundraising approach that tripled the number of annual fund gifts at the highest giving level.
Mortenson and her husband are committed to donating 10 percent of their annual income to the community. Her personal giving is complemented by the charitable work of The Mortenson Family Foundation (also an MCF member), which she and other family members help to guide. The Mortenson Family Foundation provides charitable grants and program-related investments that represent the family members’ interests in education, environment, human services and many other areas.
Mortenson will receive the award at SVP Minnesota’s Engaged Philanthropy Conference on August 23. Minnesota Community Foundation will also designate a $2,500 grant to the organization of her choice; she has selected the Northside Achievement Zone.
