Best Practices

Minnesota Council on Foundations Principles

Members of the Minnesota Council on Foundations recognize that they play an important role in their communities, that their role is sustained by the public trust and that certain obligations follow from that trust. Members are committed to basing their work on principles that reflect those obligations.

Members of the Minnesota Council on Foundations:

• Deal respectfully with applicants, grantees and donors, as well as those simply seeking information about their programs.
• Are accessible and respond clearly, promptly, and as fairly as possible to requests for information and meetings.
• Make readily available basic information about their programs, funding priorities, and application requirements.
• Respect the confidentiality of applicants, grantees and donors and use discretion in communicating with others about specific organizations and individuals.
• Are thoughtful and purposeful in their grant making and periodically review and evaluate their mission, priorities, policies, and practices.
• Recognize the increasing cultural diversity of the communities they serve and within the limits of their individual charters seek to reflect this diversity in their grant making and in the membership of their boards and/or among their staffs or advisors.
• Adhere to the highest standards of ethical behavior and maintain an appropriate conflict of interest policy for staff and board members.
• Are aware of and fulfill their fiduciary and legal responsibilities.

For more information about the Minnesota Council on Foundations:

Minnesota Council on Foundations

100 Portland Avenue South

Suite 225 


Minneapolis, MN 55401-2575

Phone: 612/338-1989
Fax: 612/337-5089
Email: info[at]mcf.org
Website: mcf.org