Celebrating Patricia’s 22 Years of Service at MCF

After nearly 23 years of dedication and meaningful work, MCF is saying a heartfelt farewell to Patricia Starks-Faggett as she retires. 

As our Finance and Administration Manager, Patricia has been a cornerstone of our team and a steady force behind the scenes for the past two decades.

Throughout her tenure, Patricia witnessed moments of growth, resilience, and transformation for the organization. She served under four MCF presidents and navigated four separate office moves. While she expertly managed our financial operations, her role expanded over the years to include HR and administrative systems, ensuring that our small team could seamlessly support our statewide network.

Reflecting on her long career with MCF, Patricia recalls several major milestones that defined her time at the organization:

• Navigating the 2008 Financial Crisis: Witnessing firsthand how MCF and the broader philanthropic sector weathered the intense strain of the economic downturn, surviving and adapting to continue serving members
• The Rapid Shift of COVID-19: Remembering the incredible feat of a small staff quickly automating MCF’s systems, processes, and programs in March 2020 to meet the moment
• Commemorating 50 Years: Proudly helping celebrate MCF’s 50th anniversary milestone and honoring the organization's legacy

Beyond the numbers and milestones, Patricia’s true connection to MCF has always been the people and the mission. She is proud of MCF’s leadership as a philanthropy-serving organization — especially in developing the Principles for Philanthropy — and has come to recognize and appreciate Minnesota as a national leader in the field.

When asked what advice she has for those who continue to work in the sector, she shared, "Just keep doing what you are doing. We’ve come a long way and sustained many ups and downs. I’m going to miss the people immensely; the years go by so fast."

As Patricia prepares for her next chapter, she is looking forward to enjoying well-deserved time with her family, traveling, gardening, and giving back through volunteering.

Please join all of us at MCF in thanking Patricia for her extraordinary years of service, stewardship, and community spirit. We wish her the absolute best in her retirement!