Building Power with Participatory Grantmaking 

On July 11, the Women’s Foundation hosted a summer social to welcome 20 members who joined the Young Women’s Committee and Community Power Committee, who make key decisions about WFM grantmaking. Each committee includes a community partner from the past three years, a community leader, a donor-partner, and a staff member. A young person (age 16+) and program alumni from the Innovators and/or Young Women’s Cabinet program are also included in the Young Women’s Committee. 

The Women’s Foundation of Minnesota (WFM) has engaged in participatory grantmaking since its founding in 1983. One-way WFM puts equity into the design of programs and processes is through participatory grantmaking that engages individuals most impacted by gender and racial inequity in funding decisions that affect their communities. 

The Women’s Foundation uses participatory grantmaking to bring together WFM’s community of collaborators across race and ethnicity, geography, and socioeconomic status to support and invest in a shared vision of gender and racial justice in Minnesota. Strong grantmaking committees include participants from WFM programs and communities reflective of the diverse statewide communities we serve. Each committee member provides thought-leadership and community expertise as part of their role. 

As part of the kick-off, committee members gathered virtually to learn about different types of grant makers, how community foundations work, the history of grantmaking, and more about WFM’s funds. Committee members read a sample grant application to engage in the science and art of grantmaking by learning about the most pressing issues in our communities. Applying the Intersectional Equity Framework, committee members discussed analyzing community issues across race and ethnicity, geography, and socioeconomic status and what it means to support and invest in a shared vision of gender and racial justice in Minnesota. 

In recruiting for these participatory grantmaking committees, each member was asked to share what they hoped to get out of the grantmaking committees. Many shared their interests in: 

• Growing professionally 
• Having a sense of community 
• Building relationships 
• Learning the ins and outs of philanthropy 
• Being part of shifting power to community by sharing my story 

Grantmaking committee members were appointed to two-year terms. At the end of each term, committee members will have an option to recommit for an additional term. Committee members can serve a maximum of two consecutive participatory grantmaking terms (four years). During each term, committee members will participate in grantmaking training, site visits, and grantmaking days. 

We look forward to working with the new committee and seeing how their leadership builds community power and equity in grantmaking. 

Meet the 2024 – 2026 Participatory Grantmaking Committee Members:

Elena Brito Sifferlin
(she/her/hers)
Edina, Minnesota
Young Women’s Committee
Donor-Partner

Christina Chung
(she/her/they)
Minneapolis – Saint Paul, Minnesota
Young Women’s Committee
A young person and Community Leader

Tyrize Cox
(she/her/hers)
Minneapolis – Saint Paul, Minnesota
Young Women’s Committee
Community Leader

Reyna Day
(she/her/hers)
Minneapolis – Saint Paul, Minnesota
Young Women’s Committee
A young person, Community Leader, and Program alumni of YWI

Rebecca Froehlich
(she/her/hers)
Minneapolis – Saint Paul, Minnesota
Young Women’s Committee
Community Partner

Sasheen Goslin
(she/her/kwe)
Duluth, Minnesota
Community Power Committee
Community Leader

Ashley Hall
(she/her/hers)
International Falls, Minnesota
Community Power Committee
Community Leader

Niila Hebert
(she/her/hers)
Minneapolis – Saint Paul, Minnesota
Community Power Committee
Community Leader

Chandra Her
(she/her/hers)
Minneapolis – Saint Paul, Minnesota
Young Women’s Committee
A young person and Community Leader

Kira Holtzon
(she/her/hers)
Minneapolis – Saint Paul, Minnesota
Community Power Committee
Community Leader

Lauren Kramer
(she/her/hers)
Minneapolis – Saint Paul, Minnesota
Young Women’s Committee
WFM Staff Member

Aida Martinez-Freeman
(she/her/hers)
Minneapolis – Saint Paul, Minnesota
Community Power Committee
Community Leader

Gail Nordhaus
(she/her/hers)
Minneapolis – Saint Paul, Minnesota
Young Women’s Committee
Donor-partner

Ruwayda Omar
(she/her/hers)
Mankato, Minnesota
Young Women’s Committee
A young person and Community Leader

Andrea Pierre
(she/her/hers)
Minneapolis – St. Paul, Minnesota
Community Power Committee
Community Partner

Andi Snow
(she/her/hers)
Minneapolis – Saint Paul, Minnesota
Community Power Committee
Community Leader

Nina Terrero Groth
(she/her/ella)
Minneapolis – Saint Paul, Minnesota
Community Power Committee
Community Leader

Aimee Vue
(she/her/hers)
Minneapolis – Saint Paul, Minnesota
Community Power Committee
Community Leader

Elizabeth Winslow
(she/her/hers)
Minneapolis – Saint Paul, Minnesota
Community Power Committee
Community Leader

Dan-neya Yancey
(she/her/hers)
Minneapolis – Saint Paul, Minnesota
Young Women’s Committee
A young person, Community Leader, and Program alumni of YWI