Participatory Grantmaking Kickoff Engages Community Power

On May 25, 2022, the Women’s Foundation kicked off the start of participatory grantmaking by welcoming 22 members who joined the Young Women’s Committee and Community Power Committee for grantmaking. Each committee includes a grantee-partner from the past three years, a community leader, a donor-partner, a WFM Trustee, 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 stakeholders 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 representation from WFM programs and participating communities reflective of the diverse statewide communities we serve. Each committee member will provide thought-leadership and community expertise as part of their role.

During the orientation day hosted online, committee members gathered to learn about different types of grantmakers, the philosophy of a community foundation, the history of grantmaking, and an overview of each of 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 deliberated on the importance of analyzing community issues across race and ethnicity, geography, and socioeconomic status to support and invest in a shared vision of gender and racial justice in Minnesota.

At the end of the meeting, participants shared reflections about what they enjoyed about the exercise and training:

• “The power of community being able to be a part of the process!”
• “The process felt very participatory!”
• “This was a great example of how to bring a group come together and make them feel comfortable and like a community of our own”
• “Feeling connected!”

Grantmaking committee members will participate on a two-year term with each grantmaking committee. 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.

Meet the 2022 – 2024 Participatory Grantmaking Committee Members:

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

Ashley Charwood
(she/her/hers)
Bemidji, Minnesota
Young Women’s Committee
Community Leader

Sierra Charwood
(she/her/hers)
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Young Women’s Committee
Young Woman Leader

Mameneh George
(she/her/hers)
Maple Grove, Minnesota
Community Power Committee
Community Leader

Chandra Her
(she/her/hers)
North Saint Paul, Minnesota
Young Women’s Committee
Community Leader

Neda Kellogg
(she/her/hers)
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Community Power Committee
Grantee-partner

Narate Keys
(she/her/hers)
Minnesota
Young Women’s Committee
Community Leader

Lakeisha Lee
(she/her/hers)
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Community Power Committee
Grantee-partner

Kayla Love
(she/her/hers)
Minnesota
Young Women’s Committee
Young Woman Leader

Nicole Matthews
(she/her/hers)
Burnsville, Minnesota
Community Power Committee
Grantee-partner

Nicole Mills
(she/her/hers)
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Community Power Committee
Grantee-partner

Polina Montes De Oca
(she/her/hers)
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Community Power Committee
WFMN Staff

Gail Nordhaus
(she/her/hers)
Plymouth, Minnesota
Young Women’s Committee
Donor-partner

Oluwatobi Oluwagbemi
(she/her/hers)
Minnesota
Young Women’s Committee
Program Alumni

Jamie Pierce
(she/her/hers)
Edina, Minnesota
Young Women’s Committee
Young Woman Leader

Nasibu Sareva
(he/him/his)
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Community Power Committee
Grantee-partner

Stephanie Silvers
(she/her/hers)
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Community Power Committee
Grantee-partner

Nelima Sitati Munene
(she/her/hers)
Brooklyn, Park
Community Power Committee
Grantee-partner

Anne Soto
(she/her/hers)
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Young Women’s Committee
Community Leader

Maikao Vue
(she/her/hers)
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Community Power Committee
Community Leader

Afiya Ward
(she/her/hers)
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Young Women’s Committee
Program Alumni

Dan-neya Yancey
(she/her/hers)
Maple Grove, Minnesota
Young Women’s Committee
Program Alumni