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Press Forward Minnesota Committees

Press Forward Minnesota congratulates the inaugural members of the Host and Grantmaking Committees. These two committees will play a critical role in executing the goals of Press Forward Minnesota:

  • Create a pooled grantmaking fund dedicated to strengthening the local news infrastructure across Minnesota.
  • Provide learning opportunities and facilitate connections between communities, the local news field, and the charitable sector.
  • Optimize philanthropy’s role in supporting the local news system.
  • Explore long-term strategies to sustain and enhance Minnesota’s local news ecosystem, such as through public policy, increased collaboration, and structural enhancements.

Committee members have a vested interest and desire to help shape the vision for a vibrant, sustainable, local news ecosystem in Minnesota. They understand the critical role local news and information play in educating our communities on the issues Minnesotans care about. The Press Forward Minnesota committees will bring a collaborative spirit to working with a cross-sector team to problem solve and advance community-informed solutions.

All committee members agree to center the values of Press Forward National:

  • Prioritize transformation
  • Center community needs
  • Enable growth with equity and diversity of thought
  • Ensure accessibility
  • Independence and interdependence

Host Committee

The host committee is inclusive of practitioners and funders that will provide directional guidance and help set priorities and strategies for Press Forward Minnesota. The committee provides high-level strategy guidance to Press Forward Minnesota, with a focus on goal setting, strategy development around grantmaking and public policy, and considering other tools and resources that will support deep learning and strong collaboration to maximize impact for Minnesota’s local news ecosystem.

Note: This committee will not be involved in reviewing applications or recommending grant decisions.

Host Committee Members

  • Tim Murphy, Program Officer, McKnight Foundation, Host Committee Chair
  • Brian Voerding, President, Initiative Foundation
  • Dominic Papatola, Chief Impact Officer, CommunityGiving
  • Jackie Renzetti, Program Manager, Minneapolis Documenters at Pillsbury United Communities
  • Kari Ruth, Communications Director, Bush Foundation
  • Kenzie O’Keefe, Director, ThreeSixty Journalism
  • Lisa Schwarz, Director of Development & Communications, Minnesota News Media Institute & Minnesota Newspaper Association
  • Manali Shah, Board Member, Woodbury Community Foundation & SoWashCo CARES
  • Morgan Baum, Vice President of Local News Sustainability, Report for America
  • Patrice Relerford, Vice President of Collective Impact & Giving, The Minneapolis Foundation
  • Tanner Curl, Executive Director, MinnPost

The host committee is staffed by Minnesota Council on Foundations (MCF) and Press Forward MN Strategy Consultant, Mukhtar Ibrahim.

Grantmaking Committee

The grantmaking committee will be tasked with reviewing grant proposals and recommending grant decisions. The committee is composed of people with relevant experience, including but not limited to local journalism knowledge, grantmaking experience, etc. The committee is dedicated to ensuring a fair and thoughtful process for grant recommendations from the Press Forward Minnesota pooled fund.

Grantmaking Committee Members

  • Andrea Pierre, Director of Community Engagement, Minnesota Public Radio
  • Dee Baskin, Executive Director, Loan Repayment Assistance Program of Minnesota
  • Enrique Olivarez, Principal, 8 Bridges Workshop
  • Jonathan Kealing, Chief Network Officer, Institute for Nonprofit News
  • Marcia Ratliff, Executive Director, Engage Winona
  • Sierra Verdin, Grants Coordinator, United Way of Olmsted County

The grantmaking committee is staffed by Minnesota Council on Foundations (MCF).