Dear Parks Supporter –I am writing to share exciting news. Later today, we are announcing that the Minneapolis Parks Foundation consolidated with People for Parks, a smaller, but historically significant nonprofit with a mission to support Minneapolis Parks. As the only two non-profits supporting the entire Minneapolis Park System, this unification will allow us to work together, instead of independently, eliminating the possibility of duplication in our projects and programming, and ensuring that more of our donors’ support goes directly to the parks we all love.
Through the consolidation, People for Parks’ remaining assets will seed the newly formed People for Parks Fund, to which the Minneapolis Parks Foundation will make annual supplemental contributions. This Fund was created in partnership with leaders from People for Parks, and will become the home for the most popular and impactful services People for Parks provided to our community, including targeted grant-making, fundraising events like the Posters for Parks Show, and bench and paver sales.
I’m delighted to welcome former People for Parks Board Members Steve Bailey and Jay Halvorson to our Board of Directors. They will also help guide the work of the People for Parks Fund as founding members of its Advisory Committee, along with Keith Holloman and Nima Ahmadi from our Board, and to-be-appointed community representatives.
People for Parks’ history of grassroots, community-based support complements the Minneapolis Parks Foundation’s mission to transform lives through parks and public space by aligning philanthropic investment and community vision. We’ll continue to bring transformative capital investments like the RiverFirst Campaign and steward big ideas for Minneapolis parks through initiatives such as the Next Generation of Parks Event Series and the newly launched Reimagining the Civic Commons. Collaborations like these help to ensure that our park system continues to create opportunities and that everyone in Minneapolis lives within walking distance of a welcoming, vibrant park.
Please join me in welcoming People for Parks to the Minneapolis Parks Foundation. We look forward to sharing with you progress from this exciting new way to support Minneapolis parks.
Sincerely,
Tom Evers
Executive Director