Minnesota Climate Donors Table: In-Person Meeting

Join the Climate Donors Table for an in-person gathering, hosted at the McKnight Foundation.

Agenda Items

• Introductions and check-in time
• Discussion about action ideas (see draft list, below)
• Kick-off of Network Mapping project (Point #3, below)
• Donors Table Spotlight: Anna Wasescha, President, West Central Initiative

Proposed 2024 Q1-Q2 Action Ideas

1. Increase Access to Federal and State Funds: Expand ability for communities to access climate resources, including Federal funding. Especially focus on communities that have less access including communities that are small, rural, BIPOC, etc.
2. Expand Clean Energy Workforce Training: Explore opportunities to support clean energy economy workforce training - both at the programmatic level and necessary policy and ecosystem improvements. One specific upcoming opportunity to be discussed is aligned funding with MN DEED on a new BIPOC targeted RFP.
3. Produce a Network Map: Interview current and potential climate funders to learn about funders’ focus areas, gaps in resources, and communities served. Learn who else is not at the table that could be invited as a current or possible future funder. This work will be led by McKnight Foundation through a contract.
4. Engage in Peer and Expert-Led Learning: Plan at least quarterly meetings of the Climate Donors Table to coordinate actions, learn from experts, learn from peers, and build momentum for climate action in the state.
5. Consider Resilience as an Umbrella Term: Consider language that may bring along more support from funders and communities.

Steering Committee

In 2024, steering committee members include:

• Anna Wasescha, President/CEO, West Central Initiative
• Ben Passer, Senior Program Officer, Midwest Climate and Energy, McKnight Foundation
• Don Hickman, Vice President for Community and Workforce Development, Initiative Foundation
• Jean Sazevich, Executive Director, Wilson Foundation
• Maryan Abdinur, Community Relationship Officer, Sustaining Environmental Systems, Mortenson Family Foundation

For questions, please reach out to Katina Mortensen, kmortensen@mcf.org, and Paul Masiarchin, pmasiarchin@mcf.org, Minnesota Council on Foundations.