Kate Mortenson Named 2012′s Engaged Philanthropist

July 16, 2012

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.

Comments Off | awards, community foundations, conference, youth | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by MCF Webmaster

Meet the Mosaic Social Entrepreneurs Cup Finalists

July 13, 2012

MCF member Social Venture Partners Minnesota has announced this year’s finalists for the Mosaic Social Entrepreneurs Cup, which celebrates and promotes Minnesota’s most innovative and effective social entrepreneurs. The four finalists are Brotherhood, Inc., Nice Ride MN, Twin Cities RISE! and Tuloko.

The next step takes place at the Engaged Philanthropy Conference (EPCON), which takes place August 23 in Minneapolis. The four finalists will make their pitch to judges and the audience, and the winner will be decided based on:

  • Social Value Proposition: Finalists must make a compelling case for why the community needs this social venture and the value it would add to our society.
  • Innovation: Finalists must demonstrate innovation in their product, service or business model.
  • Social Return on Investment: Finalists must demonstrate the outcomes they create for the people they serve and the long-term benefits accrued to society at large from their work.

The winner of the competition receives a $20,000 grant, 40 hours of consulting services from partners at SVP,  participation in a design thinking boot camp, and an opportunity to compete for the Minnesota Cup grand prize of $40,000.

This year’s EPCON also features the presentation of Social Venture Partners’ Engaged Philanthropist Award and a keynote presentation from Timothy F. C. Knowles, John Dewey director and clinical professor at The University of Chicago Urban Education Institute. Tickets for EPCON are available now on Eventbrite.

Congratulations and good luck to the finalists!

Comments Off | awards | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by MCF Webmaster

A Minnesota Innovative and Engaged Philanthropist Earns Award

June 8, 2011

“John Larsen has made significant contributions in advancing the issue of equity across Minnesota,” says Carleen Rhodes, president and CEO of Minnesota Community Foundation and The Saint Paul Foundation.

“John’s strategic, multi-faceted and outcome-oriented approach to philanthropy exemplifies the work of an engaged philanthropist,” adds Brad Brown, executive director of Social Venture Partners Minnesota (SVP).

For his work, John Larsen will receive the 2011 Engaged Philanthropist Award, a joint effort of Minnesota Community Foundation and SVP Minnesota that recognizes the most innovative and effective engaged philanthropists. The award, launched in 2010 with the late Winston Wallin receiving the inaugural recognition, will be presented at SVP Minnesota’s annual Engaged Philanthropy Conference on June 16, 2011, in Minneapolis.

Larsen is an original funder and a visionary behind Project 515, an organization with a mission to ensure that same sex couples and their families have equal rights and considerations under Minnesota law.  Project 515 has approached the issue of full equality for same sex couples through multiple avenues, including business outreach, education, research, advocacy and media.

Larsen serves as trustee and administrator of the John Larsen Foundation, a member of the Minnesota Council on Foundations (MCF). The foundation is a private grantmaking organization with a mission to better the lives of individuals and families, both traditional and non-traditional.  Program priorities derive from the active, passionate involvement of family board members in their own communities. Primary areas of focus are arts and humanities, community enhancement, education, environment, human rights and human services.

Larsen was a six-year member of MCF’s board of directors, is a current member of the strategic planning committee, and a leader of MCF’s LGBT Funders network. Larsen also serves on the board of directors for Project 515 and has volunteered with the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus, Headwaters Foundation for Justice and Together Minnesota. Earlier this year, Larsen was recognized with PFund Foundation’s First Annual Power of Philanthropy Award.

- Chris Murakami Noonan, MCF communications associate

Comments Off | awards, community foundations, diversity, family foundations, in the news, leadership, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Chris Noonan

Recognize an Exemplary Philanthropist!

March 9, 2011

Minnesota Community Foundation and Social Venture Partners Minnesota are co-sponsors of the Engaged Philanthropist Award honoring exemplary social investors.

Do you know any individuals whose outstanding practice of engaged philanthropy has had a transformative impact on your community? If you do, please consider nominating her or him for this award.

The winner will receive the award at the June 16 EPCON: The Engaged Philanthropy Conference. The winner designates a cash award of $2,500 to the Minnesota based 501(c)3 organization of his or her choice, will be highlighted in a video at the conference and will receive a commemorative plaque.

The deadline for nominations is 5 pm, March 18. You can learn more about this award opportunity and download application materials at the Social Venture Partners Minnesota website.

Comments Off | awards | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by MCF Webmaster

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 2,454 other followers