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MCN president takes sabbatical: time for rest & reflection
From MCN’s president & CEO, Nonoko Sato: I wanted to share that the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Board of Directors approved a three-month sabbatical for me this summer. Due to office closures and some previously scheduled work travel, my last day in the office will be June 22, and I will return October 5. I…
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Action alert: Oppose sweeping changes to federal grantmaking
Top takeaway: A new OMB proposal would create significant financial risk and instability for federal grantees, including nonprofits, making it more difficult to provide vital services to communities. Sign the national letter opposing the proposal by July 13. On May 29, 2026, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) proposed sweeping changes to overhaul the set…
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A Session of Scrutiny: Fraud, Funding, and the Future of Nonprofit Policy in Minnesota
Top Takeaway: MCN tracked 100+ bills during the course of the 2026 Legislative Session, and we’re here to share the results of proposals that could affect nonprofits, in areas including fraud prevention and grantmaking. The 2026 legislative session concluded last month, defined by narrow majorities, bipartisan dependency, and heightened external scrutiny. With a 50/50 split…
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Survey: State seeks feedback on administrative cost guidance for grant contracts
Top takeaway: By July 23, share your thoughts on the state’s draft guidance on administrative costs with the state’s Office of Grants Management (OGM) through this survey: OGM Reasonable and Necessary Guidance Feedback Form. Since 2025, Minnesota state law has required grantees to have administrative costs that are “necessary and reasonable,” rather than previous language…
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MCN Elevates Nonprofit Voices in State Grant Policy Review
Top Takeaway: Nonprofits call for increased flexibility in state grant payment methods, and MCN submits feedback to the state. The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) recently submitted nonprofit community feedback to the Minnesota Office of Grants Management (OGM) as part of the state’s review of several grantmaking policies, including OGM Policies 08-08, 08-09, and 08-10.…
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MCN Member Spotlight: Equul Access
This is part of a series highlighting MCN members across the state, featuring a vast array of nonprofit focus areas, and celebrating the myriad ways nonprofits enrich lives. Marsha Anderson had a love of horses from an early age, growing up as she did in a family that raised quarter and paint horses. She went…
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Taking back the narrative: proactive nonprofit talking points
This article was written by Laura Dunford, MCN deputy communications director, and originally published in the Fall 2025 issue of Nonprofit News: Nonprofit Volatility. Read the full issue. Top takeaway: Messaging strategies and talking points that tell the value of our sector’s work before it’s defined by others. Trust in nonprofits is being undermined by leaders…
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Survey: improve state grantmaking policies
Top takeaway: The Office of Grant’s Management is asking for input by May 8 on three areas – payments, reports, and monitoring. Plus May 4 State Grant Payments Listening Session. Nonprofits across Minnesota often share how the state’s policies on grantmaking, especially around payments, reporting, and monitoring, can create real challenges to seek or manage state grant partnerships.…
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Making RFPs user-friendly: advocacy update
Top takeaway: A bill requiring a standardized RFP template has passed a committee in the House last week and can now be taken up on the floor. We are cautiously optimistic about this bipartisan bill continuing to move through the process, and possibly becoming law this year. Building on information contributions from nonprofit colleagues all…
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Court decision preserves nonprofit nonpartisanship
Top Takeaway: The Johnson Amendment, the federal law protecting nonprofit nonpartisanship since 1954, is preserved. On March 31, a federal judge in Texas dismissed the case; on April 22, an appeal of the dismissed case was filed. What is the Johnson Amendment? The Johnson Amendment, a federal law approved by Congress with strong bipartisan support…
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