The Russell V. Ewald Fund seeks 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 Ewald Fund was created by the six Minnesota Initiative Funds to honor the legacy of Russell V. 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 honors 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.
If your organization is not among those listed above and you believe it is a grantmaking organization, you will need to provide information to demonstrate that it makes grants annually to multiple, unrelated organizations. The Ewald Fund provides financial support to cover the registration costs for professional development and training programs. Attach a copy of an announcement or flyer describing the program and its registration fee . Be sure to include a brief narrative on how the program will build your capacity to strengthen philanthropy in Minnesota. Applications must be signed by the executive director to indicate an organization's support of the applicant.