I love our state, from the fudge stores that line Highway 35 tempting cabin traffic headed to Duluth to the corn stalks along the Iowa border (knee high by the 4^th of July!) to the fancy new Twins stadium with the amazing vista of downtown Minneapolis. 

I visited a new destination for me yesterday - Little Falls, where I led a workshop for over 50 organizations in Central MN who wanted to learn more about GiveMN.  Huge kudos and thanks to Matt Kilian and the Initiative Foundation for hosting the training and for working with an anonymous donor who is putting up $25,000 in matching grants for five organizations in an upcoming promotion on GiveMN in August - the Ripple Effect Lakes Area Challenge.  And after meeting with the selected organizations, I am sure they are going to take the challenge and then some... stay tuned for more details!  And yes, there are lovely, not-so-little falls in Little Falls.

Last Thursday I attended the Social Venture Partners Conference (www.svpmn.org/) and heard Majora Carter (www.majoracartergroup.com/)speak.  Wow!  She told her life story about growing up in the South Bronx and her amazing efforts to build a green economy.  “No one should have to move out of their neighborhood to live in a better one.”  Her inspiring comments were another reminder of the role GiveMN can play in the green scene.  Our hopes are that nonprofits across the state will be able to connect with more donors online and eventually move away from using as much paper as part of the fundraising process.  I’d love to hear from you about how you are using less paper - are you emailing thank you notes?  How about doing an online Annual Report?  Although it doesn’t seem nearly as drastic as turning a garbage dump into a park, imagine the collective impact we can have if we all take steps in the direction of not filling our landfills with glossy reports about our work!

Also, huge CONGRATS to our friends at Springboard for the Arts, the winner of the 2010 Social Entrepreneur Cup.  Laura Zabel gave an awe-inspiring talk about how seven artists came up with a plan to provide health care (not insurance!) for artists across the Midwest.  To make a donation and support the work of the newly crowned cup holders, click here.

So Minnesotans in Little Falls and elsewhere, Jeff and I want to hear from you, please comment below or email us at info@givemn.org and let us know how you are using GiveMN!

Late breaking news flash - our friends at the Initiative Foundation and West Central Initiative are matching donations to support tornado recovery efforts in Wadena.   DONATE NOW to double your dollars and help in the clean up and rebuilding effort.