If you add up all of the granting that passed through the Foundation in 2018 – our own grants but also grants from donor-advised funds and our community-impact funds – the total is 52 grants and $330,000 in granting overall.

Call it a fun fact, and one you would have learned by attending the “State of the Foundation, City & Schools” program held Feb. 28 at the Eden Prairie City Center.

You would have also heard about the property-tax picture in Eden Prairie and plans for a May school referendum, because in addition to the Foundation’s executive director, the Feb. 28 program also featured City Manager Rick Getschow and Eden Prairie Superintendent of Schools Josh Swanson.

This annual, free program is meant to inform residents, business people and others about the goings-on at the city, school district, and Foundation. It’s typically a quick recap of the previous year and a summary of what’s ahead. About 65 people attended this year.

It’s also one of more than 100 collaborations that the Foundation is part of, in any given year. We’re a small organization, so in order to make a big impact we need to partner with others: the city, schools, businesses, nonprofits, civic organizations, other suburban community foundations, and many others.

So, we thank the City of Eden Prairie and the Eden Prairie Schools for helping with this annual “State of Eden Prairie” program held from 5-7 p.m., starting with a social hour (appetizers and a cash bar) followed by the three presentations.

If you have suggestions on another format that would be more convenient and would increase attendance, please let us know. Contact Executive Director Mark Weber at (952) 949-8499 or [email protected].

And if you’d like more fun facts from the Foundation’s presentation on Feb. 28, take a look at the video we’ve created: