| Part III Line 4a |
We Thrive supports women entering high-wage, high-demand fields and roles by obtaining certificates, associate's, and bachelor's degrees in programs such as welding, information technology, auto mechanics, engineering, robotics, architecture, and other STEM-related fields. In addition, to launch the second phase of We Thrive, WFM awarded a $100,000 grant to the Neighborhood Development Center (NDC) to support Black, Indigenous, and other women of color (BIPOC) entrepreneurs and businesses through partnerships and investments, so they have increased access to capital, technical assistance, mentorship, and skill-building resources to grow their ideas. 5. Young Women's Initiative of Minnesota (YWI MN) Launched in 2016, YWI MN is a multi-year, multi-million-dollar investment and a public-private partnership with the Governor's Office of the State of Minnesota to achieve equity in opportunities with and for young women of color, American Indian young women, young women from Greater Minnesota, LGBTQ+ youth, and young women with disabilities. YWI MN is on a mission to create a Minnesota where every young woman thrives with economic opportunity, safety, and leadership. As an eight-year, $11 million statewide initiative, YWI MN is focused building equity in opportunities with young women and gender-expansive people, ages 12-24, from eight communities facing the greatest systemic disparities in our state: Black, Indigenous, young women of color, young women from Greater Minnesota, LGBTQ+ youth, and young women with disabilities. A public-private cross-sector partnership is essential for changing inequitable systems that create barriers for young women's ability to thrive, despite their potential. No state in the country established a formal statewide initiative for young women (ages 12-24) in partnership with a Governor until the Young Women's Initiative of Minnesota. YWI MN is built on girl-focused work WFM has led since 2002, including our girlsBEST (girls Building Economic Success Together) program and our MN Girls Are Not For Sale campaign to end sex trafficking in Minnesota. YWI MN is driven by and with young women and gender-expansive leaders and supported by cross-sector partners including business, government, education, and organizational leaders on the Executive Council for the Young Women's Initiative. In the last fiscal year, WFM made $337,500 in general operating grants to 11 organizations serving young women, girls, and gender-expansive youth, ages 12-24. The grants support organizations working in the intersecting areas of economic opportunity, safety, and leadership with and on behalf of young women and girls to advance key YWI MN Blueprint for Action recommendations. In addition, WFM awarded a $75,000 grant to YWCA St. Paul to continue building leadership and advocacy skills with the Governor-appointed Young Women's Cabinet. In this recent cohort, 45 percent of YWI MN partners are led by Black and Indigenous women and women of color, and 36 percent are based in Greater and rural Minnesota. In addition, WFM made new investments in its sixth cohort of Innovators 15 young women and gender-expansive people whose leadership, ideas, and solutions advance key recommendations in the Young Women's Initiative of Minnesota (YWI MN) Blueprint for Action. Each Innovator pairs with a professional mentor of their choosing and meets three times a year for professional coaching and development. Each Innovator was awarded a one-time $2,500 grant, representing a total investment of $37,500. Since the inception of the Innovators program in 2018, WFM has made 138 grants totaling $345,000 to young women and gender-expansive youth, ages 16 to 24. Total grantmaking through YWI MN in FY24 is $375,000. Internship & Fellowship Program Through the Wenda Weekes Moore Internship and Dr. Reatha Clark King Fellowship WFM has engaged more than 50 Black, Indigenous, and women of color in all aspects of the foundation, including evaluation, fundraising, grantmaking, and administration. The program also provides rigorous training and professional development opportunities. For FY24, WFM had one intern and one fellow. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 12c |
All employees and trustees are required to review and sign the conflict of interest form annually. Except as permitted by law, with respect to any contract or other transaction between the Foundation and any Trustee (or an organization in which a Trustee is a Trustee, Officer, or legal representative or has a material financial interest), the material facts as to such contract or transaction and as to the Trustee's interest must be fully disclosed or known to the Board of Trustees prior to approval of such contract or transaction, and the interested Trustee may not be counted in determining the presence of a quorum and may not vote. |