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 Northeast Minnesota Grantmakers 2022, an annual exploration of trends and financial outlooks of regional funders and agencies.
Registration for this regional event will also grant you access to the
Minnesota Grantmakers 2022 - Statewide live virtual event on January 13th, and the event recording. Participants of this statewide event will learn about trends and funders that are applicable to all regions.
The regional events will feature a panel of funders from your region who will participate in Q & A that will give you insight into grantor processes, requirements, changes, and priorities. This panel will be followed by an overview of MCN's
2022 Minnesota Grants Directory, to which registrants will be offered electronic access.
Participants will receive a complimentary copy of MCN's digital
2022 Minnesota Grants Directory (Note: those who face barriers to access due to socioeconomic 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
This event will have automatic captions via Zoom’s transcription function. If you require professional captioning, or have another accessibility accommodation, please email MCN’s program assistant with your request at least two weeks prior to the start of the event.
Speaker Information
Danae Beaudette has worked for the state of Minnesota for over 23 years. After a two-year position in St. Paul at the Minnesota World Trade Conference Center, she moved back to the Iron Range and worked in marketing and communications for both Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm and Giants Ridge in Biwabik for a combined 17 years. Since 2017 she has been a grant administrator in community development with Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. She oversees multiple grant programs which improve communities and encourage economic development, enhance the quality of life in the region, and attract visitors, and address workforce and business needs.
Joan Gardner-Goodno has lived in the Duluth community for many years and has worked in the nonprofit world for close to 40 years. For the past 16 years, Joan has worked with local foundations, first with the Community Foundation as their grants manager and for the past fifteen years as executive director of the Lloyd K Johnson (LKJ) Foundation. The LKJ Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations in southern St. Louis, Lake, and Cook counties.
Sonja Merrild is director of grants at the Blandin Foundation. Sonja leads Blandin Foundation’s work to fund Minnesota organizations, which seek to grow healthy and vibrant rural communities, and its Education Grants scholarship program, available to graduates of Itasca area high schools. Sonja considers herself a rural advocate and grew up in a small town of 2,000 people in rural Denmark. After completing her education, she moved to Wyoming and –in addition to advancing her business and entrepreneurial ventures — engaged in nonprofit leadership, foundation leadership, and volunteer and consulting opportunities to advance the lives of rural residents.
Michelle Morris is the community impact director at the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation. Michelle advances the Foundation’s mission of private giving for the public good by partnering with nonprofit organizations and community leaders to create positive outcomes through grants that align with donors’ intents. She also coordinates the Foundation’s initiatives to close the opportunity gap, increase resiliency for disasters, and attract and retain young adults.
Don Ness is executive director of the Ordean Foundation, an organization focused on addressing issues related to poverty in Duluth. Prior to joining the Ordean Foundation, Don served 16 years in elected leadership, culminating with a 91 percent job approval rating in his role as Mayor of Duluth. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota - Duluth, majoring in business administration and economics, and he earned a masters in management from the College of St. Scholastica. Prior to his tenure as Mayor, he was the campaign manager for Congressman Jim Oberstar for nearly 10 years.
Whitney Ridlon has worked in community development for over 15 years in both rural and urban communities. Passionate for her home communities on the Iron Range, she moved back home from St. Paul in 2014 to work in community development for the Department of Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. She has been working to expand broadband into rural areas of Northeast Minnesota, connect local communities to financial and technical resources, and also administers a variety of community grant programs that encourage community planning, partnerships, and downtown/business revitalization.
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.