Foundation Annual Report 2023
Letter from the Board
The Affinity Plus Foundation had a year of growth and impact in 2023, and we’re excited about continuing this momentum into 2024.
We began the year by taking a detailed look at what the Foundation does and how it could grow its impact, and in doing so determined there was a need to re-envision the Foundation’s overall mission and vision to one that more closely aligns with the work of the credit union and tackles today’s most important community challenges. The new mission states, “As a 501c3 charity, we aim to end cycles of financial inequity through life-changing programs that transform lives and communities for generations to come.” In 2024 and beyond, we’ll bring this mission to life by expanding our focus and directing funding toward 4 key areas: Housing stability, financial well-being, access to education and food security.
Our ultimate goal, and the Foundation’s new vision: “To bring financial health and well-being to every community we serve” became our rally cry.
With this new framework, the Foundation sought to elevate both of its core programmatic elements; financial grants and scholarships. To address a major shortage in safe and stable housing in communities across the state, the Foundation donated $150,000 to 10 organizations devoted to providing access to meeting this critical basic need. We also strengthened the impact of our scholarship program by increasing the dollar amount of our scholarships from $3,000 to $4,000 in order to better support increasing costs associated with higher education.
In 2024, we look forward to offering more housing stability grants and scholarships along with deepening partnerships with Junior Achievement North and Feeding America Food Banks of Minnesota in order to bring our new mission to life and make Minnesota a better, more financially healthy place for everyone.
This was also the year the Friends of the Foundation really flexed their influence in their communities, with more than 1,600 Friends providing more than $50,000 to fund grants and scholarships. It’s been an honor joining together with all of you and building toward a future with housing and educational opportunities for all – thank you for your support!
We don’t intend on letting up on our efforts in 2024. With a new mission and vision – and a focus on housing stability and education in Minnesota – the Affinity Plus Foundation is well-poised to make 2024 another year of progress, impact, and connection.
Jessica Volkmann
Board Chair
Joel Swanson
Treasurer
Ann Koetz
Amber Shanley
Jacquie Twedt
Friends of the Foundation
Our Friends of the Foundation had an incredible year of making direct impact across Minnesota. Thank you to all of our Friends who supported the Foundation’s efforts of people helping people – your contributions are helping build a more equitable future for all.
The Foundation is making a difference! See how:
1,600+
Total number of Friends of the Foundation in 2023
$50,000+
Donated by Friends of the Foundation in 2023
Scholarship Program
The Foundation is committed to making higher education more accessible to Affinity Plus member students. We celebrate and recognize member students who demonstrate commitment to school, work and community!
Our scholarship program exists thanks to contributions from our donors. Thank you for your belief in the future – with your continued support, we hope to offer these scholarships to deserving students for years to come.
Want to see how a scholarship can change the future? Check out Arian’s story
In 2023, our scholarship program:
- Provided $4,000 scholarships to at least 1 member student attending each of our partner college campuses
- Supported 15 students with scholarships in total
- Awarded a total of $60,000 in scholarships
Learn more about the scholarship recipients from 2023.
Grant Program
In 2023, the Foundation re-envisioned our grant program, narrowing the focus to primarily address access to stable housing in Affinity Plus communities. As one of the major challenges facing communities across the state, we supported organizations tackling issues ranging from homelessness to barriers to homeownership. In total, we dedicated more than $160,000 in grant allocations to organizations that align with our mission and help build a more financially equitable Minnesota.
In 2024, we’ll continue to address needs tied to housing stability, while also expanding support of statewide partners like Junior Achievement North, Feeding America food banks, and more, ensuring we’re supporting people wherever they are in their journey.
Our 2023 grants went toward:
- Housing Stability
- Financial Well-Being
- Food Security
- Access to Education
Meet all of our 2023 partners.
Thank you to our top sponsors
Special thanks to all our sponsors and partners. Whether you supported our second annual Dueling for Dreams event at The Fillmore Minneapolis or supported us another way, we couldn't have done it without you.
Your support has helped the Affinity Plus Foundation offer financial grants and scholarships that unlock opportunities for all and help people enrich their lives and communities.
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