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THE
FREY FOUNDATION, Minneapolis
The Frey Foundation’s mission as an independent,
private, grantmaking foundation is to act as a catalyst
in strengthening its community by investing in a
statewide plan to end homelessness. Established
in 1985, the Foundation now has the combined effort
from three generations of the Frey Family. Through
direct giving, Frey Foundation hopes to promote
self-sufficiency and creative change that will result
in community members reaching their full potential
and the quality life for all.
In February 2006, the Frey Foundation announced
they would commit $5 million dollars over five years
to aid the end of long-term homelessness, which
was defined as more than 1 year of continuous homelessness
or 4 stints of homelessness over the course of 3
years. Through involvement with the Minnesota Business
Plan to End Long-Term Homelessness, the Frey Foundation
has allotted $50,000 for general operating expenses
to the Family Housing Fund and Corporation of Supportive
Housing, and $200,000 to the Partners Fund for distribution
through the Partners Fund process. The Frey Foundation
also distributed the remaining $700,000 per year
directly to providers, primarily in the Twin Cities
area.
One
unique aspect to the Frey Foundation’s participation
in ending homelessness is its willingness to have
others decide on how and to who their funds should
be distributed. Frey Foundation still continues
to allocate the bulk of the funding themselves,
but by the time $10 million is distributed by the
Foundation, $2.25 million will have been distributed
through the Partners Fund. The Partners Fund is
where  members
of the community decide what will work best for
their communities, ultimately opening the Foundation
to new ideas and ways to focus their funding.
In
2009, the Frey Foundation committed a second $5
million to ending homelessness. However, their contribution
to eliminating long-term homelessness does not only
exist in monetary terms. Jim Frey, co-chair of the
Steering Committee of Heading Home Minnesota, has
been instrumental in bringing other philanthropic
and business leaders to the cause. By speaking at
a number of events, his advocacy and the advocacy
from the Frey Foundation as a whole, has provided
the necessary momentum to make homelessness initiatives
gain momentum.
Visit
The Frey Foundation: www.freyfoundationmn.org
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