Convening for Corporate Purpose: Four Workshops on Corporate Philanthropy and Employee Engagement

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Join MCF for a series of four timely workshops focused on philanthropy and charitable purpose in Minnesota today. These sessions, led by your peers in corporate philanthropy, will be particularly useful for staff and trustees at corporate foundations, staff engaged in corporate charitable purpose, and others who are interested in themes of the various workshops. Come for all four workshops or join us for the day and take advantage of our Quiet Room and working spaces, if you need to step out for a quick meeting or to address your inbox. 

The day’s sessions include:

• Workshop 1: 9:00 – 10:10 a.m. | Collective Giving: Engaging Community and Employees in Grantmaking
• Workshop 2: 10:30 – 11:40 a.m. | Trust-based Philanthropy in a Corporate Philanthropy Setting
• Networking Lunch: 11:40 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.
• Workshop 3: 12:20 – 1:30 p.m. | From Access to Impact: A Future-Focused Talent Strategy
• Workshop 4: 1:50 – 3:00 p.m. | Building Grantee Capacity Through Strategic Skills-Based Volunteering Partnerships

Collective Giving: Engaging Community and Employees in Grantmaking
Amy Podlesak, Senior Community Impact Manager, Land O'Lakes Foundation; Bill Sternberg, Director, Business Development & Philanthropic Advisor, Minneapolis Foundation; Julia Ruther, Program Manager, Impact & Collective Giving, Minneapolis Foundation    
Collective giving, from community giving circles to corporate employee grantmaking groups, is transforming philanthropy by pooling resources, elevating diverse voices, and deepening community impact. At its core, collective giving brings individuals to the table for a transparent, hands-on experience where they explore critical issues and collaborate to drive positive change. In this session, the Minneapolis Foundation will share insights on building and sustaining successful collective giving programs with community members. From a corporate perspective, Land O’Lakes will detail the adaptation of a Minneapolis Foundation giving circle to launch an employee grantmaking group. Participants will leave with the framework for designing collective giving programs, along with practical ideas to strengthen engagement and maximize impact in their own organizations.

Trust-based Philanthropy in a Corporate Philanthropy Setting
Elyse Coleman, Sr Program Manager, Medica Foundation and Shelly d'Almeida, Sr Program Manager, Medica Foundation    
Using trust-based philanthropy (TBP) within corporate philanthropy requires adaptation and translation for corporate cultures and jargon. The Medica Foundation has adapted its practices to center TBP  principles and advance health equity, while equipping its grant review council and Foundation board to align with the TBP model for increased impact. Attendees will identify who, in their organization, needs to make decisions about how different grantmaking structures are created and find their agency. They will see examples of tools that can be adapted for their own purposes, and they will identify one or two areas they, as staff, have agency to create change that aligns with trust-based philanthropy principles. They will also identify ways to educate their board about TBP values and principles if leadership has not yet adopted it as an approach to grantmaking.

From Access to Impact: A Future-Focused Talent Strategy 
Olivia Jefferson. Vice President, Social Impact, Best Buy and Executive Director of the Best Buy Foundation, Best Buy and the Best Buy Foundation and Jermaine Hampton, Vice President of Workforce Development & Strategic Initiatives from the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation
Discover how Best Buy and the Best Buy Foundation are reimagining career pathways for young people by collaborating with community leaders, nonprofits, business partners, and government agencies. This session explores how a future-focused strategy blends philanthropy and business by centering on mentorship, social capital, and skill-building in unlocking tech-reliant opportunities in four key cities. From social impact initiatives to skilled trades development, attendees will gain insight into the forces reshaping the tech-reliant workforce of the future and how Best Buy is responding with bold, human-centered solutions for economic mobility.  Community partner The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation will join this conversation to share examples of what this looks like in action.  Walk away inspired and ready to activate change within your own organization.  Ideal for: Foundation leaders, educators, employers, policymakers, and changemakers committed to preparing the next generation for meaningful, modern careers.             

Building Grantee Capacity Through Strategic Skills-Based Volunteering Partnerships
Danyale Green, Beyond Dollars Program Director, The Constellation Fund; Elisa Pluhar, Associate President of Advancement, Project for Pride in Living, Inc.; and Jason Giltner, Senior Manager, Champions of Change, Ovative Group.       
Most foundations provide funding. The best foundations provide funding plus capacity building. Discover how Constellation Fund's Beyond Dollars program has become a critical external resource for corporations seeking meaningful social impact—while simultaneously addressing the persistent capacity gaps that limit grantee effectiveness.  Learn how a demand-driven, readiness-assessed approach to skills-based volunteering delivers transformative results. This session explores how foundations can serve as intermediaries, brokering high-quality pro bono expertise that grantees actually need while providing corporations with curated, high-impact volunteer opportunities.  Participants will understand the strategic value of skills-based volunteering, explore four flexible delivery models, and learn how readiness assessment ensures sustainable capacity gains. Leave with practical frameworks for launching similar programs and connecting corporate talent with nonprofit capacity challenges—creating a win-win-win for grantees, corporate partners, and your foundation."

Additional Meeting Details

This meeting will be hosted at a Twin Cities location, TBD. Watch this page for further details including exact location and parking information.

This meeting includes a catered lunch. Please update your online MCF profile with any dietary restrictions or notify Paul Masiarchin, [email protected]. We will attempt to accommodate all requests made at least one week prior to the luncheon.

MCF takes seriously the health of staff, members and other stakeholders. Please see the public health measures that we've instituted for in-person programming. In order to create the best in-person experience, this event will not be simulcast. Learn more here.

If you would like to receive an auto-generated invoice to pay later, please log in to your account before registering.

Please reach out to Paul Masiarchin with questions, [email protected].