Pohlad Family Foundation Supports Major Capital Campaigns in Minnesota

In 2003, the Carl and Eloise Pohlad Family Foundation, Minneapolis, committed funding for major capital projects for health, cultural and civic organizations in Minnesota. Last year the foundation also supported programs to help economically disadvantaged youth and changed its community grant program to reflect the new economic realities being faced by many nonprofits.

In the area of health, the foundation awarded a $3 million grant to the Abbott Northwestern Hospital Foundation to help fund construction of the Minneapolis Heart Institute. The Mayo Foundation received a $1 million commitment to assist with construction of a new facility in Scottsdale, Ariz.

In arts and culture, the foundation awarded large capital grants totaling $4.3 million to several Twin Cities-based organizations for their new facilities. Recipients included the Minneapolis Institute of Arts ($1.5 million), Walker Art Center ($1 million), Children's Theatre Company ($500,000), the Guthrie Theatre ($250,000), the Minneapolis Public Library ($1 million) and the American Swedish Institute ($50,000).

Other capital grants from the foundation went to the Courage Center ($50,000), Hope Community ($75,000), Neighborhood Development Center ($100,000) and Project for Pride in Living ($250,000).

"While capital grants received the largest portion of foundation support this year, providing educational and enrichment opportunities for economically disadvantaged youth remains a foundation priority," said foundation president William Pohlad. Three foundation initiatives distributed more than $600,000 in grants for this purpose in 2003. The Summer Camp Scholarship program awarded more than $210,000 to 30 organizations throughout Minnesota for use as summer camp scholarships to more than 649 youth from 10-15 years of age. A new initiative to support effective after-school programs for youth in grades 3-8 awarded $300,000 to 18 organizations serving more than 3,200 Minneapolis or St. Paul students. And college scholarships totaling $105,000 were awarded to 42 Twin Cities-area youth through a grant to the Horatio Alger Association.

In addition to its youth initiatives, the Pohlad Family Foundation responded to the difficult economy and changes in public support for nonprofits by changing its community grant program. Beginning this year, the foundation proactively searched for a small number of effective health, multi-service, job training and emergency service organizations that assist economically disadvantaged families and children. The foundation invited a proposal for support from each selected organization, and awarded multi-year, unrestricted operating grants totaling $570,000 to 16 organizations that demonstrated positive service outcomes, sound governance and effective management. Among the organizations selected were Pillsbury United Communities, Neighborhood Health Care Network, Hmong American Partnership and Twin Cities Rise, Inc. 

The foundation also provided $50,000 to the Greater Twin Cities United Way's Strategic Planning Fund that, along with other United Way funds, assisted 34 nonprofits with planning or executing organization or program mergers, creating alliances or partnerships with other organizations, or restructuring their own organizations in response to changes in financial support.

In total, the Carl and Eloise Pohlad Family Foundation awarded more than $10 million in grants to 120 organizations in 2003. For a complete list of grants approved during 2003 and a list of Twin Cities students receiving college scholarships from the Horatio Alger Association, visit the foundation's Web site.

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