Few things brighten a Minnesota morning more than good news. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I’m delighted to share that we have selected Michelle Tran Maryns as the next President of the Minnesota Council on Foundations, effective August 20, 2025.
During our six-month search, members, partners, and staff urged us to find a leader who blends lived experience with strategic vision—someone who can turn values like equity, belonging, and collective impact into bold, practical action. Michelle rose to the top.
Many of you know her as Vice President of Innovation & Strategic Communications at the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, where she has championed research, storytelling, and advocacy that drive gender and racial equity across the state.
Michelle’s path to philanthropy is rooted in public service and powered by a deep commitment to economic inclusion. She previously served as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer, where she helped develop the State Department’s first mobile app—early proof of her ability to bring innovation into complex systems. She later founded We Sparkle Co., a Techstars-backed public-benefit company designed to help women- and BIPOC-owned small businesses grow and thrive with accessible digital tools.
Her cross-sector experience is matched by a strong foundation in policy and leadership. Michelle is a 2021 Bush Fellow—recognized for her vision to build a more inclusive economy—and holds a Master in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School, where she honed her strategic thinking and systems-change approach.
Across every chapter of her career—public service, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit leadership—Michelle is known for listening deeply, asking the right questions, and bringing people together around a shared path forward. These qualities are exactly what our sector needs in this moment of both urgency and possibility.
Please join me in warmly welcoming Michelle to the MCF community. We’ll share opportunities to meet her in the coming weeks. For now, mark August 20 as the start of an exciting new chapter for our organization and for the broader philanthropic community we serve.
We want to thank the search committee, our interim President, Donna Dalton, and everyone who helped shape and support this process.
With gratitude and excitement,
Flor Treviño Frey
Board Chair, Minnesota Council on Foundations
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