Minnesota Disaster Recovery Fund: Learnings From Collaborative Funding to Support Communities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Just one year ago, the Minnesota Disaster Recovery Fund for coronavirus (MDRF) made its first grants to the community in response to the emerging threat of COVID-19.The effort came together quickly as people and organizations across the state navigated enormous uncertainty and unprecedented need. We had no way of knowing how long the pandemic would last - only that we must do something.The Minnesota Council on Foundations (MCF), in partnership with the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, created the MDRF in March 2020. By August 2020, the fund had raised and distributed $11.6 million and supported 93 organizations throughout Minnesota