The Minnesota Council on Foundations has announced the creation of the Russell V. Ewald Fund to strengthen philanthropy and build the human capital of grantmakers in Greater Minnesota. The Fund provides financial support to help cover training and professional development costs for staff and boards of grantmaking organizations located outside the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. The Fund was created by the six Minnesota Initiative Funds to honor the legacy of Russ Ewald, former executive vice president of The McKnight Foundation, who passed away in March 2000. Under Ewald's leadership, McKnight created the Initiative Funds in the mid-1980s as vehicles to promote and build the assets available to communities in all regions of the state. The Ewald Fund will honor Ewald's memory by furthering his efforts to make resources accessible to those in Greater Minnesota.
Some funds are also available for board members of grantmaking organizations in Greater Minnesota.
The Russell V. Ewald Fund is operated by the Minnesota Council on Foundations. The Fund was established through contributions from the Initiative Foundation, The Initiative Fund of southeast and south central Minnesota, the Northland Foundation, the Northwest Minnesota Foundation, The Southwest Minnesota Foundation and West Central Initiative. Additional funding has come from The McKnight Foundation and Elaine and Walter Walker. Founded in 1969, the Minnesota Council on Foundations is one of the oldest regional membership associations of grantmakers in the country, with a broad and diverse membership that includes private foundations, community and other public foundations, and corporate foundations and giving programs. The Council's mission is to strengthen and to increase participation in philanthropy.