Impact and Programs
Accomplishments
2015 Grantmaking Impact:
- $2.5 million awarded
- 178 grants awarded
- 128,415 women and girls served
- Total Reach: 541,414 Minnesotans
girlsBEST Fund Impact:
- girlsBEST grantees are serving 1,957 girls across the state.
- girlsBEST participants have a 99% high school graduation rate, compared to 65-93% in Minnesota overall, depending on ethnicity.
- girlsBEST participants have a 76% post-secondary education enrollment, compared to 34-54% in Minnesota overall, depending on ethnicity.
- girlsBEST participants have a teen pregnancy rate of 1 per 1,000 in Minnesota overall, compared to 32-132 per 1,000 in Minnesota overall, depending on ethnicity.
Pathways 2 Prosperity (P2P) Fund Impact:
- Approximately 75% of P2P Funds are targeted to programs serving women of color
- Approximately 30% of P2P Funds are targeted to programs in greater Minnesota
-1913 participants demonstrated increased financial practices such as opening a bank account, increasing credit score, developing a financial plan, and budgeting.
- 3006 participants completed basic education, soft skills training or job training including certificate or credential programs.
MN Girls Are Not For Sale Fund Successes:
- In our last fiscal year, MN Girls grantees served over 12,000 girls/women; impacted another 9,000 who attended grantee programs; conducted more than 1,100 trainings and presentations; and met with over 680 elected officials and community leaders.
- Minnesota is the first state in the nation to provide state funding for sex trafficking victims. We went from zero state funding in 2011 to a state-funded infrastructure of $8 million (as of May 2015).
- We increased housing and trauma-informed care for victims, from two beds in 2011 to 60 beds as of January 2016.
- Our direct outreach to educate, update and engage Minnesota’s Congressional delegation through multiple meetings in Washington, D.C. (2012, 2013) resulted in federal child sex trafficking legislation -- Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (S. 178) -- modelled in part on Minnesota’s Safe Harbor law. The Act was passed by the U.S. Senate and House in January and May 2015, respectively.
Current Goals
In November 2015, the Foundation’s Board of Trustees approved a new, 10-year Strategic Plan (Apr. 1, 2016 - Mar. 31, 2026). The four new Strategic Goals represent the Foundation’s commitment to field-building, creating economic security for low-income women and girls, strategic investments, and ending sex trafficking in Minnesota:
GOAL 1: Invest in organizations and leaders to create conditions for women and girls to thrive.
GOAL 2: Focus grantmaking, research, and policy to create pathways to prosperity and security for low-income women and girls.
GOAL 3: Fortify Foundation’s assets to maximize impact and scale.
GOAL 4: Galvanize resources to end sex trafficking in Minnesota.
Community or Constituency Served
Through annual statewide grantmaking, research, and policy, the Women's Foundation of Minnesota is building pathways to economic security for women and girls who experience the greatest disparities in outcomes, particularly low-income women and girls, women and girls of color, and women and girls from greater Minnesota.
Geographic Area Served
Minnesota
