After five years of providing more than $1.5 million in grants to after-school programs throughout the Twin Cities, the Pohlad Family Foundation has chosen to focus support on youth programs and services provided in North Minneapolis schools and neighborhoods. 

Children and youth make up the largest growth segment of North Minneapolis residents.  In recent years, significant growth in African American, Asian, Latino and African residents has occurred, and, in some neighborhoods, families with children living in poverty has tripled.  High poverty and many immigrant students challenge the local public schools.  Few local businesses and limited private support mean few jobs for youth and fewer locally delivered summer activities.   Recent closing of the North Commons YMCA (for renovations), five local public schools and transportation expenses further reduce youth enrichment opportunities during the foreseeable future.

By focusing efforts to support K-12 education in North Minneapolis, foundation staff will work directly with school district, nonprofit, and community leaders to instill a sense of shared purpose and collective responsibility for the positive progress of the local children and youth served.  Selected programs will be delivered in North Minneapolis schools and neighborhood centers. 

For more information about K-12 Education Support, please contact Terry Egge, Senior Program Officer at tegge@pohladfamilygiving.org.

Education Tax Credit Pilot Project

Beginning this fall, AccountAbility Minnesota, the Minneapolis School District and the Pohlad Family Foundation are launching a small pilot project to serve 50 families at Nellie Stone Johnson Elementary School in North Minneapolis.  The pilot will test the process of enrolling children in after school enrichment activities chosen by the school district during the 2008-09 school year and paying for these classes largely using the Minnesota K-12 Education tax credit.  AccountAbility Minnesota working directly with school staff will administer the program.

AccountAbility Minnesota (AAM), a community-based nonprofit organization, is celebrating its 36th year of providing free tax and accounting assistance to low and moderate-income individuals and sole proprietors in the Twin Cities’ and across Greater Minnesota.  In 2007 AAM volunteers helped more than 14,600 low-income taxpayers receive $20.9 million in tax refunds thanks mostly to the Earned Income Tax Credit and other State of Minnesota tax credits. 

Although Minnesota’s K-12 Education Tax Credit provides low-income families with an opportunity to enrich their children’s educational experience, most families do not claim the credit because they must first pay for the cost of the enrichment activities, save receipts and then wait until tax season to claim the tax credit in the form of a refund.  For many low-income families, the up-front costs of after-school enrichment activities are too high, even with the prospect of a 75% reimbursement through their tax refund. 

The pilot project will provide 50 families with up front funds to pay for tax-credit eligible educational services and activities.  Families would pay for the classes using a no-fee, interest-free loan which would be forgiven by the families’ state refund in 2009.