Bayport, MN | 651-583-8485
Giving Statement
The Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen Foundation was established in 1959 on the core value that charitable grant making advances and builds thriving communities. With the goal of being a guiding hand and supporter of community health and stability, the founders believed in the importance of helping the underserved and under-resourced and in being a quiet leader in building healthy strong communities.
New Hire Announcement
We are pleased to welcome Aretha Green-Rupert to the Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen Foundation as our new Vice President of Programs. Aretha will help shape program strategy, build out program priorities, refine and establish grantmaking practices and systems, and ensure our grantmaking delivers meaningful impact.
Aretha Green-Rupert is a leader in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors whose work has focused on creating opportunities for communities to thrive. Her career has been defined by a commitment to listening to and learning from communities, amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities, and directing resources to where they can have the greatest impact. Aretha most
recently served as Program Director at the Carlson Family Foundation, where she oversaw the Constellation funding initiative.
Aretha began her career at Girls Inc. of Central Alabama, where she worked to ensure that girls, particularly those of color, had access to the tools and support they needed to reach their full potential. Since moving to the Twin Cities in 1998, she has held leadership roles that have deepened her impact, including serving as Regional Director at the Otto Bremer Trust, where she
led grantmaking efforts in Minnesota and North Dakota. She also served as the Chief Development Officer at Girl Scouts River Valleys and held key positions at YWCA St. Paul and AchieveMpls.
Beyond her professional role, Aretha’s influence extends across the non-profit community. She currently serves as Board Chair of the Black Collective Foundation MN and Genesys Works - Twin Cities, co-chairs the North Commons Park Capital Campaign Committee, and serves on several other nonprofit boards. Her leadership has been recognized through her selection as a 2022–2023 Change Leaders in Philanthropy Fellow.
Please join us in welcoming Aretha Green-Rupert to the Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen Foundation!
Contact Information:
Aretha Green-Rupert, Vice President of Programs
Email: Aretha.greenrupert@fkandersen.org
Direct Phone: 651.583.8525
Main Office: 651.583.8485
Mission
The Mission of the Foundation is to provide resources to nonprofit organizations that build thriving communities and improve the quality of life primarily in the St. Croix Valley geographic region of Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Funding Priorities
The Foundation has established a focused set of priorities and welcomes requests for general operations, programs, or projects. Capital requests may be considered on a more limited basis.
Priorities | Areas of Focus |
|---|---|
Healthcare | Medical research, mental/chemical health, hospitals |
Housing | Affordable housing for families and seniors |
Education | Youth education initiatives |
Human Services | Basic needs, food insecurity, employment |
Civic | Local initiatives, community projects |
Environmental | Environmental education |
Geographic Area
The Foundation primarily serves and prioritizes funding to organizations that are working and delivering services in the geographic region of the St. Croix Valley of Minnesota and Wisconsin. However, consideration may be given to organizations outside of the geographic footprint, if they are delivering services that address a funding priority.
Eligibility Guidance
Organizations seeking funding must be 501c(3) public nonprofit organizations. Endowment funding does not fall within the guidelines of the Foundation. The Foundation also does not provide funding to individuals, political campaigns, sponsorships, or lobbying activities.