FACT: The Twin Cities is one of the most generous philanthropic communities in the country.
FACT: The proportion of our population living in poverty has risen by 60% over the past two decades.
At the Constellation Fund,
we don’t like that math!
Bright Giving
We use the best available evidence to invest in the fight against poverty. We conduct deep benefit-cost analyses to understand the projected per-dollar impact of poverty alleviation programs. Our rigorous quantitative analysis is matched with thoughtful on-the-ground community insights in order to find and empower poverty-fighting organizations creating transformational impacts in the Twin Cities.
Powerful Partnerships
We work alongside world-class experts to measure the projected poverty-fighting impacts of our investments. Top local companies surround our grantees with pro bono capacity-building support through our innovative Beyond Dollars program. And our generous Leadership Supporters pay for all of our overhead costs so that every dollar you donate goes directly to effectively alleviating poverty in our community.
Measurable Impact
Everyone experiencing poverty deserves the opportunity to break the cycle once and for all. By leveraging the best available evidence — quantitative and qualitative — we ensure that the precious philanthropic resources of our donors are invested into organizations creating deep and measurable lifetime benefits for those living in poverty in the Twin Cities.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
100% Impact
Our Board of Directors and Leadership Funders cover all our operating costs so that every dollar donated to Constellation goes to a portfolio of impactful poverty-fighting nonprofits across the Twin Cities.
One Goal
Constellation has a single-minded dedication to fighting poverty in the Twin Cities. We judge our success solely by the demonstrable impacts of the grantees that we support.
Evidence-Driven
Central to Constellation’s decision making is a rigorous, evidence-driven process to identify the most promising nonprofits. We do this data- and research-heavy work so our donors don’t have to.
Unrestricted Support
Once the most promising, results-driven organizations in our community have been identified, Constellation supports them with grants, usually of unrestricted funding, allowing them to grow their impact purposefully.
Beyond Dollars
Constellation’s grantees are provided not only with funding, but also with connections to best-in-class pro bono partners to provide services and expertise otherwise inaccessible to most poverty-fighting organizations.
