Home | Register | Statewide Session | Greater MN Session | Twin Cities Session
Two days. Three funder-focused sessions. One free 2026 Minnesota Grants Directory. Discover Minnesota’s most active private, community, and corporate funders.
Day 1: Statewide Funder Session
Tuesday, January 6, 2026 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Virtual
Designed for organizations in all parts of the state, hear well-informed, external analysis and critiques from your nonprofit peers about Minnesota’s most active private, community, and corporate foundations that fund nonprofits across the state.
You’ll gain insight into program shifts and trends, staffing, and financial outlooks of dozens of Minnesota grantmakers.
You’ll learn candid, current information about significant changes taking place in Minnesota’s funding community within the larger contexts of federal policy changes impacting the nonprofit sector’s paths to critical dollars.
2026 Minnesota Grantmakers:
January 6 & 8, Virtual
Registration gives you access to all three sessions; attend which are right for your organization.
STATEWIDE FUNDERS
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Virtual
GREATER MN FUNDERS
Thursday, January 8, 2026
9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Virtual
TWIN CITIES FUNDERS
Thursday, January 8, 2026
1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Virtual
Confirmed Panelists:
- Cory Boushee: Director of Programs at Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Cory manages community grants, housing initiatives, and efforts to combat homelessness in the region. He joined NMF in 2018 and has since taken on leadership roles, coordinating regional collaborations and distributing significant funding for housing and community health.
- Jan Castillo: President and Founder of The Dotted Line Collaborative, Jan’s career spans over 20 years in the corporate communications and investor relations industry. In 2017, she left the corporate world and formally launched The Dotted Line Collaborative, a grants development firm with the mission of connecting ideas and outcomes through grants.
- Emily Essert, PhD: Director of Development at Open Arms Minnesota, Emily is a skilled and versatile writer, project manager, and relationship builder who enjoys fostering vibrant and inclusive communities through nonprofit development.
- Aileen Sánchez: Chief Development Officer at The Funders Network, Aileen’s experience includes designing and implementing philanthropic initiatives, robust donor engagement strategies, and comprehensive development programs that mobilize resources and empower community-led solutions. Aileen is a CFRE-certified fundraiser and has been recognized through fellowships from Oberlin College, LISC Twin Cities, and Hispanics in Philanthropy.
- Lori-Anne Williams: Director of Major and Planned Giving at Catholic Charities Twin Cities, Lori-Anne leads donor engagement, manages portfolios for major donors, and supervises a team focused on major gifts and estate planning. She has over 25 years in fundraising with experience in corporate, foundation, and government grants, plus freelance writing for non-profits, holding degrees from USC and the U of M.
*Registration gives you access to all three funder sessions: Statewide, Greater Minnesota, and Twin Cities; attend the sessions right for your organization. Registrants also receive a free digital copy of MCN’s 2026 Grants Directory and a recording of all three sessions. (Session recordings are available for 30 days.)*