We proudly recognize our corporate, foundation and individual donors from across Minnesota who give to the Minnesota Private College Fund. Their gifts support the more than 56,000 students at our 17 colleges and universities. They fund scholarships that help make college affordable for deserving students and contribute general operating support for our institutions' most pressing needs. We salute all our donors for their generosity and visionary commitment to higher education!
50+ year donors
Many donors support private higher education for the long haul. Year after year, they remain steadfast, consistently at our side. In fact, for a growing number, the commitment has endured for 50 or even 60 years. Donors reaching these milestones this year are:
50-year donor: WinCraft Incorporated
WinCraft, established in 1961, is a leading manufacturer of licensed and promotional products for retailers, professional sports teams, concessionaires, colleges, businesses, distributors, and schools. They offer a vast array of products for every retail selling season, hot market, and major event. WinCraft understands the industry and works hard to deliver products that help their customers grow their businesses.
60-year donor: The Graco Foundation
Founded in 1926 as a local family business, Graco is now a global company with 3,500 employees. Graco’s goal is to be the industry’s highest-quality manufacturer of fluid handling products cutting across several markets. The goal of The Graco Foundation is to help organizations grow their ability to serve community needs through grants focused on capital projects, specific programs and technology needs. The Foundation places a priority on organizations that have a proven track record of enabling people to become self-sufficient and more productive. The Graco Foundation places emphasis on educational programs, especially STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs; human service programs promoting workforce development; and youth development programs.
Donors who have been with us for more than 50 years
Generations of students have been helped by the generosity of these donors, and others who have met this milestone. The following donors have been with us for more than 50 years:
- 68 years – Xcel Energy
- 65 years – North Shore Bank
- 64 years – Otter Tail Corporation
- 63 years – BNSF Railway Foundation
- 63 years – Merchants Bank
- 62 years – WNB Financial
- 61 years – Faegre Drinker Foundation
- 61 years – Federated Insurance Companies
- 61 years – Goodin Company
- 60 years – The Graco Foundation
- 59 years – Cargill
- 59 years – Groves Foundation
- 57 years – The Hubbard Broadcasting Foundation
- 57 years – Securian Financial
- 56 years – Emerson
- 56 years – The Medtronic Foundation
- 55 years – Wenger Foundation
- 53 years – The Jay & Rose Phillips Family Foundation of Minnesota (Phillips Scholars Program and Eddie Phillips Scholarship for African-American Men)
- 53 years – Western Bank
- 52 years – WHV, Inc.
- 50 years – WinCraft Incorporated
Donors of distinction
In 2019-20, these donors have made the largest donations this fiscal year. We welcome their critical support, which allows us to make a real difference for our colleges and their students
- Ciresi Walburn Foundation for Children
- The Council of Independent Colleges through its CIC/UPS Educational Endowment Fund
- Emerson
- The Graco Foundation
- Helen Harrington Charitable Trust
- The Hubbard Broadcasting Foundation
- Winton Jones Foundation
- Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Medtronic Foundation Communities Fund
- John & Karen Meslow
- The Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation of Minnesota (Phillips Scholars Program & Eddie Phillips Scholarship for African American Men)
- Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation
- Securian Financial
- The Teagle Foundation
- US Bank Foundation
- Wenger Foundation
- Xcel Energy
2019-20 donor list
Elite Circle ($200,000 and up)
Donor | Years giving |
Ciresi Walburn Foundation for Children | 3 |
The Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation of Minnesota | 53 |
Founder's Circle ($75,000 - $99,999)
Donor | Years giving |
Xcel Energy | 68 |
Board’s Circle ($50,000 - $74,999)
Donor | Years giving |
The Council of Independent Colleges through its CIC/UPS Educational Endowment Fund | 43 |
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research | 27 |
Medtronic Foundation Communities Fund | 56 |
John & Karen Meslow | 22 |
President's Circle ($25,000 - $49,999)
Donor | Years giving |
The Graco Foundation | 60 |
Helen Harrington Charitable Trust | 42 |
Winton Jones Foundation | 1 |
Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation | 5 |
Securian Financial | 57 |
The Teagle Foundation | 2 |
Wenger Foundation | 55 |
Scholar's Circle ($15,000 - $24,999)
Donor | Years giving |
Emerson | 56 |
The Hubbard Broadcasting Foundation | 57 |
US Bank Foundation | 44 |
Benefactor ($10,000 - $14,999)
Donor | Years giving |
BNSF Railway Foundation | 63 |
Faegre Drinker Foundation | 61 |
Groves Foundation | 59 |
Marvin Windows & Doors | 31 |
Margaret Rivers Fund | 31 |
Mary Lynn & Warren Staley | 22 |
Patron ($5,000 - $9,999)
Donor | Years giving |
Baker Tilly | 45 |
Boss Foundation | 26 |
Paul Cerkvenik & Kathleen Murray | 22 |
Federated Insurance Companies | 61 |
Provost ($3,000 - $4,999)
Donor | Years giving |
The Boldt Company | 16 |
Bill Lurton | 21 |
Otter Tail Corporation | 64 |
Winona Heating & Ventilating Co. | 52 |
Dean ($1,000 - $2,999)
Donor | Years giving |
Anonymous Donor | 44 |
Dave & Muriel Arnold Family Fund | 38 |
Bush Foundation Board of Directors Fund | 1 |
Kathleen M. Cooney & Robert J. LaBombard | 6 |
David & Kitty Crosby | 31 |
Dexter Davis | 1 |
Susan M. Eich | 6 |
David & Janet Estep | 15 |
Geoffrey Glasrud | 2 |
Ann Houser Charitable Fund, a donor-advised fund of the American Center for Philanthropy | 6 |
Helen & Eldon Jones Fund of the Mankato Area Foundation | 29 |
Kuhrmeyer Family Foundation | 26 |
David B. & Joanne Laird, Jr. | 32 |
Michael & Sylvia Lovett | 7 |
Merchants Bank | 63 |
Russ & Jan Michaletz | 12 |
Teresa Mogensen | 2 |
J. Thomas & Janet Rajala Nelson Fund of The Saint Paul Foundation | 25 |
Laurie Nordquist | 10 |
North Shore Bank | 65 |
Nuss Family/Nuss Truck & Equipment Donor Advised Fund of the Rochester Area Foundation | 30 |
Premier Banks | 28 |
Slaggie Family Foundation | 17 |
Slumberland/Larson Foundation | 32 |
Western Bank | 52 |
WNB Financial | 62 |
Professor ($750 - $999)
Donor | Years giving |
James H. Barnes III & Barbara A. Barnes | 12 |
Jim & Chris Green | 9 |
LHB, Inc. | 20 |
Jay Olson | 3 |
Angela Wordell | 2 |
Graduate ($500 - $749)
Donor | Years giving |
Anonymous Donor | 3 |
Rev. James P. Burns IVD | 2 |
William & Anne Craft | 6 |
Goodin Company Foundation | 61 |
Kohner Materials | 44 |
John & Cherie McDowall | 34 |
McGough Construction | 28 |
Wm. Miller Scrap Iron & Metal Co. | 25 |
May & Vern Nordling | 35 |
Philipps Bus Service | 38 |
Abigail & Paul Pribbenow | 14 |
Rapp Strategies, Inc. | 28 |
Brian & Nancy Siska Family Fund of The Minneapolis Foundation | 17 |
Smith Foundry Company | 39 |
The Thro Company – Christopher Thro | 37 |
WinCraft, Inc. | 50 |
Baccalaureate ($250 - $499)
Donor | Years giving |
4J2R1C Limited Partnership | 27 |
Karen L. Angell | 13 |
Thomas & Rebecca Bergman | 5 |
Cargill | 59 |
Cobb Strecker Dunphy & Zimmermann, Inc. | 36 |
College of Saint Benedict | 6 |
Rev. Brian Friedrich | 1 |
Ajay Gupta | 2 |
Carolyn & Patrick Jones | 6 |
Dan Loritz | 4 |
Robert & Sharon Mattison | 16 |
Dr. Barbara McDonald | 1 |
Mississippi Welders Supply Co. | 45 |
Becky & Mark Roloff | 4 |
Jim Rustad | 9 |
Schwab | 44 |
St. Paul Linoleum & Carpet Co. | 35 |
Douglas Stang | 4 |
Julie Sullivan | 7 |
Thorne's Refrigeration LLC | 34 |
Associate (Gifts up to $249)
Donor | Years giving |
Anonymous Donor | 5 |
D.J. Bitzan Jewelers | 20 |
Marjorie A. Boening | 39 |
Thomas Fields | 1 |
Foussard Hospitality | 37 |
Dr. Stanley M. & Luella G. Goldberg | 28 |
Mr. & Mrs. Charles R. Haugh | 27 |
Joanne Kendall | 13 |
Mark Kronholm | 12 |
David Kuefler | 19 |
Dr. Eugene McAllister | 1 |
Dr. Fayneese Miller | 3 |
James J. Mongé | 28 |
Mary Alice & Tim Morin | 4 |
Rand Park | 10 |
Gene & Carrie Pfeifer | 5 |
Steven Poskanzer & Jane Nofer Poskanzer | 10 |
Reasor Family Foundation | 19 |
Tom & Susie Ries | 8 |
Stacy Rooney | 5 |
Brian Rosenberg | 16 |
Sanjit Sethi - Minneapolis College of Art & Design | 1 |
Bruce & Kaye Stender | 16 |
Robert Vanasek | 12 |
TRIBUTE GIFTS
- Thomas Fields – in memory of George Floyd
- David B. & Joanne Laird, Jr. – in memory of Doug Hennes
- David B. & Joanne Laird, Jr. – in memory of Sandy Lewis
- Reasor Family Foundation – in honor of Al Amatuzio
Includes scholarship recipient profiles, information about the Minnesota Private College Fund and a list of donors.