Volunteer

You may have a skill set that will serve your community well. Why not volunteer to be a part of the Foundation's work to make Eden Prairie better?

Make an Impact. Become a Board or Committee Member.

You can help fill unmet needs and tackle important issues in Eden Prairie by becoming a Foundation board or committee member.

You can volunteer for the Eden Prairie Community Foundation in a number of ways according to your time, talents and interests. Most volunteers serve on the board of directors, a standing committee, or a strategic-planning team.

Current Needs

The Foundation is currently looking for “brain power”; that is help on many committees and teams where knowledge and expertise in a particular area is extremely helpful. This is includes knowledge of marketing, fundraising, event planning, diversity, affordable housing, unemployment, and much more. If you can help in any of these areas, please contact Executive Director Greg Leeper at [email protected] for more information.

Board Members

As an elected volunteer board member, you would likely serve two three-year terms and have a number of specific governing responsibilities. Those responsibilities include duties to exercise reasonable care when making decisions, complying with governing documents, and assuring the financial accountability of the organization.

You would attend monthly board meetings, serve on at two committees, attend the Foundation’s events, make a financial contribution to the Foundation, develop funding support, contribute expertise, and represent the Foundation when out in the community.

The board is for you if share our mission, values and goals for the Eden Prairie Community Foundation. Together you would work with fellow board members to expand our programs and services – while protecting the Foundation’s assets and its legal and ethical integrity.

Are you involved in Eden Prairie and interested in making it even better? Are you willing to serve the community, and would you add passion and leadership skills to the Foundation? If so, you may well be a candidate for the Eden Prairie Community Foundation’s board of directors. Or, would you like to recommend a possible candidate? Please be in touch with Greg Leeper, executive director, if you’d like to learn more.

Committee or Team Members

Serving on a committee or team is a great way to support the Foundation if board service is not for you. Many of the Foundation’s committees have non-board members on them. This is a great way to learn what the Foundation is and what it does, and to give back to Eden Prairie in a meaningful way.

Some committees and teams meet monthly; others meet just a few times per year, depending on duties. Here’s an overview of our need for committee and team volunteers:

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS – Help plan, implement, and oversee the Foundation’s annual Development and Communications plans. Committee members may be involved in activities such as donor engagement and advising on marketing. Experience in fundraising, marketing, or communications is helpful but not required. Committee meets six times per year.

EVENTS COMMITTEE MEMBERS – Help plan, implement, and oversee current fundraising events and non-revenue events, and explore opportunities for new events that advance the Foundation’s mission. Experience in event planning or marketing is helpful but not required. Committee meets as needed, typically 4-6 times before major events.

NOMINATING & GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS – Help plan, implement, and oversee the Foundation’s talent pipeline; coordinate the nomination and election of board members and officers; ensure a strong board and orderly transition of leadership; evaluate board composition and needs, and oversees governance topics such as conflict of interest and confidentiality. Past nonprofit leadership experience is helpful but not required. Committee meets several times per year, most notably in the spring to begin reviewing candidates for board election.

FINANCE & INVESTMENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS – Help monitor the Foundation’s financial status and oversee: budgeting, accounting, and reporting systems; the independent auditor in preparation of annual audit and tax returns; and investment-related policies and performance reviews. Experience in finance or accounting is helpful but not required. Committee meets monthly.

GRANTS COMMITTEE MEMBERS – Help oversee and direct grant-making and scholarship activities, including policies, guidelines, application and selection procedures, and grant award evaluations. A passion for giving back to Eden Prairie is helpful. Committee meets 2-4 times per year, mostly January through March.

CAPACITY KSI TEAM MEMBERS – Help plan, implement, and oversee the “Capacity” portion of the Strategic Plan by focusing on the recruitment, onboarding, nurturing, and retention of EPCF volunteers. Experience in volunteer engagement is helpful but not required. Team meets monthly.

HARDSHIP KSI TEAM MEMBERS – Help plan, implement, and oversee the “Hardship” portion of the Strategic Plan by focusing on current initiatives, including affordable housing and unemployment, in a systemic way that increases the impact of the Foundation. Knowledge of affordable housing and unemployment issues is helpful but not required. Team meets monthly.

DIVERSITY KSI TEAM MEMBERS – Help plan, implement, and oversee the “Diversity” portion of the Strategic Plan by focusing on board development and uniting the community on this topic. Knowledge of diversity, equity, and inclusion topics is helpful but not required. Team meets monthly.

HUB KSI TEAM MEMBERS – Help plan, implement, and oversee a “Hub” structure that connects the Foundation with nonprofits and civic organizations serving Eden Prairie, and stimulate cooperation and collaboration. Also, make residents more aware of the nonprofit services that exist in EP. A collaborative nature and passion to make Eden Prairie better are helpful. Team meets monthly.

HUB AMBASSADORS – Help the Hub KSI Team by serving as the one of about a dozen volunteer ambassadors – each of whom develops relationships with 6-8 other nonprofits or civic organizations – and serves as a liaison between these groups and the Foundation, and between these groups and other organizations in the hub. A playbook and training are provided. Ambassadors typically meet monthly as a group and spend another hour or two per week reaching out to their organizations.

HOUSING ALLIANCE MEMBERS – Help bring attention to the importance of a wide range of housing for our children, grandchildren, schoolteachers, police officers, health-care workers, and those with limited incomes. Initial work will focus on creating awareness and education. Experience in marketing, business or nonprofit work is helpful, as is a passion for making Eden Prairie better. This is a new group and the number of meetings is to be determined.

Many of these volunteer roles involve help executing the Foundation’s Strategic Plan. Download this summary to find out what our Strategic Plan is all about:

EPCF Strategic Plan Summary (PDF)

Event Volunteers

Interesting in an opportunity requiring a little less time? Volunteer at one of our two main annual events, EP Gives and Prairie Brewfest.

EP GIVES ANNUAL BENEFIT GALA – Our annual gala with program, dinner, and live and silent auctions provides community members with a fun night out and an opportunity to hear about the impact the Foundation is making in Eden Prairie. This major annual fundraiser is a decades-long tradition with all proceeds supporting the Foundation’s continued work in our community. Each year, about 20 volunteers are needed to make the event a success. Opportunities include: Greeter, Event check-in, Check-out table, Auction donation procurement, and more.

PRAIRIE BREWFEST – This annual craft beer festival is an opportunity for the community to have a good time while doing good. It is one of our major annual fundraising events, with all proceeds supporting our community-building work in Eden Prairie. Each year, more than 50 volunteers are needed to make the event a success. Opportunities include: Event check-in, vendor host, water table host, event set up and take down, and more.

For more information about the Foundation and its committees or teams, contact Executive Director Greg Leeper at [email protected] or (952) 949-8499.

Be an Event Volunteer

Would you like to help organize and carry out the Foundation’s EP Gives and Prairie Brewfest events? A small number of volunteers are used for each.

Contact Us

BECOME A VOLUNTEER

Eden Prairie nonprofits provide lots of volunteer opportunities. To find the one best suited to you, check out the list of organizations that participated in our 2020 GIVE Gathering volunteer fair.

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Signing up for the enewsletter is the best way to stay up-to-date on philanthropic events, volunteer opportunities and other ways that Eden Prairie gives back.

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Eden Prairie Community Foundation

OUR MISSION: Enriching our community through philanthropy, collaboration and leadership.

OUR VISION: Enhancing the quality of life for all who live and work in our community.

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Eden Prairie Community
Foundation
8080 Mitchell Road
Eden Prairie, MN 55344

(952) 949-8499
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