Women'S Foundation of Minnesota

“The Executive Committee is comprised solely of the officers of the board of trustees. The Executive Committee shall have the authority of the Board of Trustees in the management of the business of this Foundation in the interval between meetings of the Board of Trustees and such other authority as is delegated by the Board of Trustees by resolution. As required, the Executive Committee shall have responsibility for overseeing and responding to personnel matters of the Foundation.”

“The Foundation's Audit Committee will review and recommend approval. Each trustee will receive a copy of the Form 990 for review and approval prior to filing.”

“All employees and trustees are required to review and sign the conflict of interest form annually. Except as permitted by law, with respect to any contract or other transaction between the Foundation and any Trustee (or an organization in which a Trustee is a Trustee, Officer, or legal representative or has a material financial interest), the material facts as to such contract or transaction and as to the Trustee's interest must be fully disclosed or known to the Board of Trustees prior to approval of such contract or transaction, and the interested Trustee may not be counted in determining the presence of a quorum and may not vote.”

“Compensation for all positions, including the President and CEO, is determined annually based on documented performance reviews and consistent with periodic compatibility studies. The last compensation study for all staff positions was done in FY 2025. Changes in the President and CEO compensation is recommended by the Chair and Vice Chair, reviewed by the Executive Committee, and approved by the full board.”

“The Foundation makes its governing documents, conflict of interest policy and financial statements available upon request.”

“We Thrive invests in strategies to close the gap in generational wealth-building for marginalized, low-wealth, and rural women and gender-expansive people across Minnesota. In addition, WFM awarded a $100,000 grant to the Neighborhood Development Center (NDC) to support entrepreneurs and businesses through partnerships and investments, so they have increased access to capital, technical assistance, mentorship, and skill-building resources to grow their ideas. 6. Young Women's Initiative of Minnesota (YWI MN) Launched in 2016, YWI MN is a multi-year, multi-million-dollar investment and a public-private partnership with the Governor's Office of the State of Minnesota to achieve equity in opportunities with and for young women of color, American Indian young women, young women from Greater Minnesota, LGBTQ+ youth, and young women with disabilities. YWI MN is on a mission to create a Minnesota where every young woman thrives with economic opportunity, safety, and leadership. YWI MN centers the leadership and solutions of young women of color, American Indian young women, young women from Greater Minnesota, LGBTQ+ youth, young women with disabilities, and gender-expansive youth. The YWI MN's statewide partnership and direct investments in young women and gender-expansive people are being replicated across the nation through the National Philanthropic Collaborative of Young Women's Initiatives. A public-private cross-sector partnership is essential for changing inequitable systems that create barriers for young women's ability to thrive, despite their potential. No state in the country established a formal statewide initiative for young women in partnership with a Governor until the Young Women's Initiative of Minnesota. YWI MN is built on girl-focused work WFM has led since 2002, including our girlsBEST (girls Building Economic Success Together) program and our MN Girls Are Not For Sale campaign to end sex trafficking in Minnesota. YWI MN is driven by and with young women and gender-expansive leaders. In the last fiscal year, 23 young women and gender-expansive leaders were appointed to the statewide Young Women's Cabinet by the Office of the Governor and Lt. Governor. In addition, WFM awarded a grant to YWCA St. Paul to continue building leadership and advocacy skills with the Governor-appointed Young Women's Cabinet. In FY25, WFM expanded the Cabinet program to greater Minnesota, led by a former member of the statewide Young Women's Cabinet. Eleven young leaders were named to the inaugural cohort of the Young Women's Cabinet of Mankato, supported by the YWCA Mankato. In addition, WFM made new investments in its seventh cohort of Innovators 14 young women and gender-expansive people whose leadership, ideas, and solutions advance key recommendations in the Young Women's Initiative of Minnesota (YWI MN) Blueprint for Action. Each Innovator pairs with a professional mentor of their choosing and meets three times a year for professional coaching and development. This year, WFM increased its investment in each Innovator to a grant of $3,000 grant, representing a total investment of $42,000. Since the inception of the Innovators program, the Women's Foundation has made 145 grants totaling to $369,500 to 115 young women and gender-expansive youth, ages 16 to 24. Total grantmaking through YWI MN in FY25 is $320,334. This year, WFM hosted a YWI Summit for all the statewide and Mankato Cabinet members and Innovators to gather for the first time and build connections, train on policymaking and civic engagement, and foster understanding of using our Intersectional Equity Framework. Internship & Fellowship Program Through the Wenda Weekes Moore Internship and Dr. Reatha Clark King Fellowship WFM has engaged more than 51 Black, Indigenous, and women of color in all aspects of the foundation, including evaluation, fundraising, grantmaking, and administration. The program also provides training and professional development opportunities. For FY25”