Grant funding has become an even more crucial resource for nonprofits as the economic and operational challenges of COVID-19 continue to deepen their impacts. The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits invites you to Minnesota Grantmakers 2022, formerly known as Minnesota Foundations, an annual exploration of trends and financial outlooks of dozens of the most important Minnesota foundations.
A team of panelists conduct interviews with foundation representatives and then offer key insights you won't find anywhere else. This information-packed workshop will be hosted virtually; over 300 participants enrich the event by offering insights in real time through the chat. Region-specific events are offered separately.
Participants will receive a complimentary copy of MCN's digital
2022 Minnesota Grants Directory (Note: Those who face barriers to access due to socio-economic status, disability, geography, and/or technological accessibility, are able to request one of a very limited number of hard copy directories. If you qualify, please contact
info@minnesotanonprofits.org).
Event Details
10-11:30 a.m. Statewide presentation
11:30-12:15 p.m. Break
12:15-1:30 p.m. Twin Cities presentation
Statewide Panelists:
- Jon Pratt, former executive director, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
- Michelle Edgerton, founder and principal, Edgerton Group
- Erik Torch, director of grantmaking, Northland Foundation
Twin Cities Panelists:
- Jan Castillo, president and founder, The Dotted Line Collaborative
- Georgina Chinchilla Gonzalez, executive director, ComMUSICation
- Nicole Conti, grants manager, Rise, Inc.
Speaker Information
Jan W. Castillo’s career spans over 20 years in the corporate communications and investor relations industry. For ten years she was partner and minority-owner of The Carideo Group, Inc., an integrated communications consulting firm. In 2015, Jan began volunteering for a small dental clinic, where she donated her time providing grant research and proposal writing services to support the growing nonprofit. Here, she found her passion for grantwriting and in early 2017, Jan left the corporate world and formally launched The Dotted Line Collaborative, a grants development firm with the mission of connecting ideas and outcomes through grants. Jan is an active member of the Minnesota NorthStar Chapter of the Grants Professional Association where she currently serves as secretary, and is a member of the Association for Fundraising Professionals.
Georgina Chinchilla Gonzalez is the executive director of ComMUSICation, a St. Paul music youth development organization. Her recent work experience includes fundraising roles at Think Small and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, as well as roles in youth development through Girl Scouts of MN and WI River Valleys and as a Peace Corps volunteer. Georgina holds a masters of business administration from the University of St. Thomas, a masters in musicology from the University of Minnesota, and a bachelors in violin performance from Eastern Michigan University. She volunteers as a youth program quality external assessor through Sprockets, the St. Paul out of school time network.
Jon Pratt is the former executive director of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits. He has worked at Minnesota Public Interest Research Group as an attorney and lobbyist, as regional director at the Youth Project, and as director for the Philanthropy Project. In 1982 he was campaign manager for Paul Wellstone candidacy for Minnesota State Auditor. In 1987 he became director of MCN, an association of 2,000 organizations that sponsors research, training, lobbying, and negotiated discounts to strengthen Minnesota's nonprofit sector. Jon has consulted with nongovernmental organizations on the development of NGO associations and services in Canada, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Serbia, and Turkey. Jon has a law degree from Antioch School of Law, and a M.P.A. from Harvard University.
Erik Torch is the director of grantmaking at Northland Foundation. The Northland Foundation invests in people and communities to support a thriving Northeastern Minnesota. Erik was previously served as executive director of Damiano Center and the program manager for Catholic Relief Services. Erik has a B.S. from Northland College and an M.S.W. from University of Minnesota – Duluth.