Steve Lear

It’s nearly summer in Minneapolis. Our temperature has hit 90 degrees in Minnesota, and I have my first mosquito bites. (It seems every ballfield where I am coaching is parked next to a bug hatchery.) Like anyone, I’m looking forward to the variety of adventures, vacations, and spoils of the season, whether it’s the first taste of that fresh, ripe produce from a CSA or Farmer’s Market, or the smell of the grill working its magic on something delicious, I revel in this energy.

I can’t help but balance those positive, warm thoughts with the cold reflection of what this region has endured over the first half of this year. There are substantial, long-winding effects from Operation Metro Surge and the economic uncertainty and fear it cast upon so many. If you’re thinking, “That was Winter, they left months ago, get with it!”, I hope you’ll examine this position and contemplate the ways you can help.

So, what are the most critical funding priorities for Minnesotans right now? The Minneapolis Foundation observes that many of our neighbors have not yet recovered from being perilously close to a breaking point early in 2026. Nonprofits that are providing what some may term ‘Core Support for Wellness’ are in higher demand than ever in our region, including those with missions supporting:

• Food insecurity and hunger relief
• Affordable housing and rent relief
• Legal/immigration/human rights support
• Mental health

The needs are substantial, and many families’ economic positions have also been exacerbated by global conditions that ripple out to homes with skyrocketing consumer prices due to current US geopolitical pursuits. Whether you’re reading this and saying, “ENOUGH PAUL, GEEZ”, or you are getting fired up, I welcome the opportunity to serve as a resource to help you navigate these times by supporting organizations that make our community more resilient.

Together, our support can make a huge difference for the nonprofit community that is meeting this demand.

Paul Odegaard, Philanthropic Advisor, Minneapolis Foundation.

PS – if you want to learn more about where the Minneapolis Foundation has been focusing, we’ve administered multiple grant rounds to support the economic resilience of our community, including from our OneMPLS Fund and direct support for our restaurant community.

I’m glad to share more and welcome your outreach – podegaard@mplsfoundation.org.