St. Paul, MN

A community foundation that makes philanthropic grants, leads charitable projects and provides a number of other services to improve the livability of residents in the St. Paul area.

Created in 1940, The Saint Paul Foundation is dedicated to serving the community. Managing over $650 million in assets, The Saint Paul Foundation is the 8th largest community foundation in the nation.

Nuts and Bolts:

• At the end of 2000, The Saint Paul Foundation and Minnesota Foundation managed 850 trusts and funds worth $666 million, received contributions totaling $27.2 million, approved grants and operated special projects totaling $28.6 million, involved more than 300 people on committees advising the Foundation, and staffed two private foundations - F. R. Bigelow Foundation and Mardag Foundation with combined assets of nearly $200 million and combined grants of more than $8 million.
• The Foundation is committed to working with donors to achieve their philanthropic goals.
• The Foundation also works with the Community Sharing Fund (CSF) – This fund works with community organizations to assist individuals and families in need. CSF approves small grants, ranging from $10-$700 to help alleviate crises and emergencies. Supported by foundations, corporations, and individuals, nearly $3 million has been donated to those in need over the years.
• The Foundation sponsors the Census 2000 Fund – With the problems the U.S. Census Bureau faces obtaining an accurate count of minority groups, especially immigrants, The Saint Paul Foundation issued grants to community organizations to fund outreach positions and translation services. Ramsey County had a higher participation rate of 78 percent for Census 2000 as a result, compared with 67 percent nationally.
• Another Foundation project,the Como Zoo and Conservatory Society, which attracts nearly 2 million visitors annually, received a $750,000 grant to build a new Visitor and Education Resource Center and animal support buildings. Some of the funds will also be used for exhibit upgrades and facility improvements

Successes:

• The Saint Paul Foundation is an asset to the community as it raises awareness of the importance of philanthropy in meeting public needs.
• By encouraging participation in community initiatives, the Foundation aims to include all interested residents in development and revitalization projects.
• Similarly, this is also accomplished by providing services and grants to charitable organizations, allowing various agencies to engage in philanthropic activities. Saint Paul is a prime example of how a strong community foundation is beneficial to a thriving region.

For more information on this program: The Saint Paul Foundation