Minneapolis Parks Foundation

“The organization has an executive committee which is composed of the board chair, vice chair, secretary, treasurer, immediate past chair, and the executive director. The executive committee has the authority of the board of directors in the management of business of the foundation in the interval between meetings of the board of directors.”

“A draft of the form 990 is reviewed by management and by the finance committee of the board. A draft is then given to the full board of directors, who reviews and approves it at a meeting before the form 990 is submitted to the irs.”

“The foundation's conflict of interest policy applies to "responsible persons," as defined in the policy as directors, members of committee with the authority of the board, and officers. Responsible persons receive a copy of the conflict of policy once a year and then complete a conflict of interest disclosure form. These forms are reviewed by the executive director. In addition, when a conflict of interest arises at a board or committee meeting, the person with the conflict is required to disclose all facts about the conflict at the meeting. The board or committee reviews each conflict during the meeting and decides how to proceed on the decision. The person with the conflict does not vote on the matter and may be required to leave the room during the vote. The disclosure, review, and decision are recorded in the meeting's minutes.”

“The executive director's compensation was reviewed and determined by the executive committee, using compensation data from comparable organizations state-wide and across the nation. The deliberation was held in executive session (no staff) and was documented with a letter from the chair to the executive director, with a copy to the staff member who handles payroll.”

“The organization does not makes its governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements available to the public upon request.”

“Major multi-year capital investments: the riverfirst initiative is a 20-year vision for transforming 5.5 miles of heavily industrialized mississippi riverfront from downtown minneapolis to the city's northern limit with a series of interconnected parks and trails. The minneapolis parks foundation collaborates with the minneapolis park and recreation board (mprb), the city of minneapolis, and other public and private partners to realize the riverfirst vision of restoring a relationship between under-resourced communities in north minneapolis and the region's greatest natural asset the mississippi river. The parks foundation's role is to raise private philanthropy for riverfirst projects, including the newly opened water works at mill ruins park and overlook at 26th avenue north, and engage the community to keep this vision a priority for the city, implementing agencies, policymakers, and funders. Water works. One of the signature parks within the riverfirst vision, water works is an exciting addition to the minneapolis park system and a feature of the central mississippi riverfront regional park. In 2021, construction was completed, and this year we (1) participated in and documented construction progress to completion; (2) together with mprb, planned and hosted virtual opening event in may; (3) supported the city of minneapolis's public art process; (4) secured a grant to uncover and document untold stories from the site's past, which will inform future programming; (5) created a public self-guided walk & talk for community members to explore and learn more about the park grounds; (6) supported the opening of owamni by the sioux chef in the water works pavilion and hosted donor engagements events in the restaurant; and (7) helped generate national recognition by securing a usa today readers' choice award. Great northern greenway river link. Upstream from water works and within the riverfirst corridor, the great northern greenway river link will replace an abandoned lot with a park and trail. Phase 1 of the project, called the overlook at 26th avenue north, was completed in may 2021. This year the parks foundation (1) planned and hosted, together with mprb, a media event to introduce the completed overlook; (2) participated in project and construction management; (3) led an in-person walk & talk to the site from farview park; and (4) co-led the great northern greenway steering committee, a community-based advocacy group advancing a unified vision for the trail. Equitable investments throughout minneapolis parks: the minneapolis parks foundation is the only independent donor-supported nonprofit that contributes to the entire minneapolis park system. We collaborate with community to unlock projects and programs that promote equity and cultural inclusion, health and wellbeing, connections to the natural world, climate resilience, and economic vitality. People for parks fund. Created in 2020 through our consolidation with people for parks, the people for parks fund carries forward a 40-year legacy of grant making for small neighborhood-based projects and programs in minneapolis parks. In 2021, we (1) initiated the fund's first grant cycle, distributing nearly $35,000 to local nonprofits and agencies; (2) documented the outcomes 2021 grants with profiles on our blog; (3) hosted the posters for parks show, a virtual fundraising event co-hosted by lovemplsparks with proceeds supporting the people for parks fund; (4) produced three videos promoting the fund, its grant opportunities, and the posters show; and (5) administered the fund under guidance from the advisory committee, consisting of parks foundation board members and representatives from the community. Reimagining the civic commons (rcc) is a collaborative effort of national foundations and local partners working to transform public spaces in ways that advance engagement, equity, environmental sustainability, and economic development. In 2021, the parks foundation continued as”

“Change in funds held for others - riverfirst 21,557.”