ANNUAL REPORT
6TH EDITION
A NOTE FROM OUR CEO
This year marks the fifth anniversary of our work together at Constellation. Your support has allowed us to lay the foundation for an innovative philanthropic movement that is creating real and lasting impact in our community. The five-year mark has inspired me to pause and reflect on the powerful tools that have been built and the remarkable opportunities ahead.
ANDREW DAYTON
FOUNDER & CEO
METRICS 101
WHAT IS A METRIC?
A metric is how we assemble the best available evidence about an intervention to quantify community benefits and calculate poverty-fighting impact of the work.
Each organization in Constellation’s portfolio is evaluated rigorously with a set of customized metrics. This evaluation helps determine a nonprofit’s BCR, or Benefit-Cost Ratio.
In five bright years, we have built over 240 metrics and are continually refining them to incorporate emerging evidence, improve upon our previous assumptions, and more accurately reflect evolving community dynamics to better support the fight against poverty in the Twin Cities.
PHASES OF A METRIC
1. Identification
Constellation meets with an evaluee organization to learn about how their work is likely to have a measurable impact on health or wealth.
2. Research
We perform a comprehensive literature review to understand what academic research can tell us about the effectiveness of an intervention. We extract data from available research and gather any local data we might need for different demographic groups.
3. Draft
We write the first draft of the new metric, creating a quantitative path from the number of participants served by an organization’s intervention to the amount of benefit created.
4. Review and Redraft
After a rigorous quality-check process to make sure we got it right, we check for the appropriateness of the metric as written compared to the actual use case and refine as necessary.
5. Publish and Use
The metric is published in our book of metrics and used to conduct quantitative evaluations.
6. Review and Update
Metrics are reviewed one year after creation and then, if no changes are made, every five years thereafter. Metrics relying on information that changes annually (such as the most recent graduation or recidivism rates) are updated to incorporate new evidence.
GRANTEE STORY
KEYSTONE COMMUNITY SERVICES
Keystone Community Services is a nonprofit organization based in Ramsey County providing community-based services aimed at strengthening community and serving people with the greatest needs. Their programs are designed with community input to meet the changing needs of those served. Participants include young people and families, seniors, and anyone needing food support or crisis resources. Keystone delivers a variety of high-quality, evidence-based services in neighborhood gathering places that make our Twin Cities community stronger.
Constellation Fund is proud to provide targeted support to Keystone’s basic needs food programs which have collectively distributed more than 3.4 million pounds of food this past year. Keystone’s food programs include a food shelf that makes fresh, nutritious foods available in the St. Paul area, a food delivery program designed to help low-income seniors or adults with disabilities access food options, and a Foodmobile, which brings food shelf services directly to more than 30 sites across Twin Cities neighborhoods without access to full grocery stores.
SHOPPER STORIES
Meet some of our Twin Cities neighbors who are able to access fresh, nutritious food through Keystone Community Services.
Steven and Sherida
We have been in this neighborhood for about three years but we have recently been displaced. Right now we’re dealing with a major crisis. Other than that we’ve loved the community. It's a beautiful neighborhood. We love Keystone. This is our first visit to the new building, but we watched it be made and grow and it’s a beautiful thing, what it’s become. My goodness, I couldn’t wait. It’s a total blessing.
It’s beautiful and it’s impacted us immensely. We get very little SNAP benefits and we struggle, like we all do. Keystone is very helpful to make ends meet. We haven’t had a day where we went hungry, having this access so close by.
GRANTEE STORY
ANNEX TEEN CLINIC
“The Annex is really a special place. We genuinely value authentic partnerships with young people and are really invested in young people in our community. And we’ve seen that they invest back. They really want to make a difference in their communities.”
Annex Teen Clinic is one of Constellation Fund’s 27 high-impact grantees. The Annex is a nonprofit organization committed to providing accessible and affordable sexual and reproductive healthcare to young people. They offer a wide range of services through clinical care, including birth control, STI testing, as well as educational opportunities on youth development and resource outreach for the neighboring community.
HOLLY LEPPANEN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
FIVE BRIGHT YEARS
CONSTELLATION'S IMPACT
AT THE CONSTELLATION FUND, OUR FOCUS IS CLEAR:
to fight poverty in the Twin Cities by investing in organizations that raise the living standards of our neighbors living below the poverty line. This year our portfolio includes 27 nonprofit partners who, in the past year alone, have created lasting income and health improvements for 100,000 people and counting.
$16,072,730
Invested into our community
41
Grantee partners, that’s 41 unique solutions to a brighter future
$4.80
Average BCR*
$114,075
Average grant size**
$448,000
Invested into research through CoLab across 3 studies
82
Pro bono projects catalyzed through Beyond Dollars
* weighted by grant size ** weighted by BCR
On the left we compare the percentage of BIPOC-led nonprofits across Minnesota to the percentage of BIPOC-led nonprofits in Constellation’s portfolio. On the right we compare the demographic breakdown of poverty in the Twin Cities to a breakdown of how Constellation’s impact reaches our community. We are proud to follow the evidence toward equitable impact in the Twin Cities.
COLAB BY THE CONSTELLATION FUND INVESTS IN ACTIONABLE RESEARCH ON POVERTY–FIGHTING SOLUTIONS.
CoLab aims to reduce intergenerational poverty and support thriving communities by funding and supporting actionable, longitudinal research on programs, practices, and their effects. Better data will grow evidence-informed funding and community efforts to strengthen and scale solutions.
BEYOND DOLLARS
Beyond Dollars is an innovative program by Constellation Fund that connects notable companies and their talented professionals with nonprofit grantees to deliver exceptional capacity-building services.
One of more than 80 connections made through Beyond Dollars includes Oasis For Youth, Constellation grantee, and Hayley Hadges, Senior Associate Consultant at PhData, a premier data engineering and strategy firm.
Oasis shared some of its needs with the Beyond Dollars team at Constellation to identify a clear goal together: better managing programmatic data and more efficiently and accurately tracking the needs of the young people using the services.
VOICES OF SUPPORT
SOFIA TERZIC
U.S. Bank Constellation Board Member
Constellation Fund brings together the power of purpose and data to help change outcomes in the Twin Cities, and as a member of Constellation’s Board, I see first-hand the impact that data can have on how we invest effectively in our communities. The evidence-driven approach not only affects those organizations receiving support directly from Constellation but creates an opportunity to change how we think about philanthropy across the sector. The team at Constellation takes a hands-on, listening-first approach to their strategy to ensure that the communities they are serving are helping shape the work.
DR. ABIGAIL WOZNIAK
Opportunity & Inclusive Growth Institute Constellation Impact Council Member
I’m a labor economist and longtime member of the Constellation Impact Council, a group of researchers who support and advise Constellation’s talented team on the continuous development and improvement of their metrics. As an economist, I know that distilling and deploying rigorous research leads to better policy decisions. This is what Constellation excels at, and it's exciting to see their unique approach to philanthropic impact at work here in the Twin Cities.
PAIGE KAPING & JOHNNIE HICKS
Constellation Fund Donors
Constellation Fund makes us feel like we’re making a difference in fighting poverty in the Twin Cities. The data-driven approach gives us confidence that our donation is going to the right places. The Constellation team’s passion for the mission is energizing and the stories of the nonprofits are inspiring. We recently chose to direct our wedding registry towards Constellation Fund so we could spread the message to our friends and family while giving back to the city that has given so much to us.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS & LEADERSHIP FUNDERS
* Leadership Funders who, along with our trustees, generously cover all of Constellation's operating costs
** Chair of the Board of Directors
Doug Baker, Jr.
Julie & Doug Baker Jr. Foundation
Susan Bass Roberts
Pohlad Family Foundation
Katie Clark Sieben
Cargill Foundation
Susan Corridoni
Corridoni Foundation for Agency and
Self-Determination
Andrew Dayton
Constellation Fund
Eric Dayton
Cold Climate
Renay Dossman
Neighborhood Development Center
Russell King*
Peter J. King Family Foundation
Kathleen MacLennan
Community Leader
Dr. Fayneese Miller
Community Leader
Wendy Nelson
Carlson Family Foundation
John O'Neil
Kirkland & Ellis
Marcia Page
Värde Partners
Robert Pohlad*
Pohlad Companies
Lynne Redleaf
Lynne & Andrew Redleaf Foundation
Sofia Terzic
U.S. Bank
Tim Welsh**
Community Leader
Pahoua Yang Hoffman
HealthPartners
CONSTELLATION IMPACT COUNCIL
Dr. Aaron Sojourner
W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research
Dr. Judy Temple
Humphrey School of Public Affairs and
the Department of Applied Economics
Dr. Abigail Wozniak
Opportunity & Inclusive Growth Institute
STAFF
Charlie Althoff
Project Manager, Operations & Events
Jordan Belton
Program Officer
Jadea Conway Laird
Communications Director
Andrew Dayton
Founder & CEO
Dr. Jose Diaz
Chief Economist
Ruthvin Gardiner
Research Associate, CoLab
Danyale Green
Beyond Dollars Program Director
Cooper Hanning
Managing Director of Grantmaking
& Senior Program Officer
Saanii Hernandez
Chief Operating Officer
Karisa Johnson
Program Officer
Amy Larson
Engagement Coordinator
Blaire Molitor
Vice President of Engagement
Dr. Matthew Morton, M.Sc.
Executive Director, CoLab
Dr. José Pacas, M.P.P.
Director of Data Leadership & Investment, CoLab
Sam Storck-Post
Evaluation Officer
Chris Wentzlaff, J.D.
Vice President of Advancement
OUR GENEROUS DONORS
$1,000,000+
Foundation for Educational Research and Development
$500,000 - $999,999
Lynne & Andrew Redleaf Foundation
$200,000 - $499,999
Anonymous (2)
Alyssa and Andrew Dayton
Cargill Foundation
Halloran Family Foundation
Marcia Page and John Huepenbecker
U.S. Bank
$100,000 - $199,999
Alida and Bill Messinger
Carlson Family Foundation
Cornelia and Eric Dayton
David and Kathleen MacLennan
Elizabeth and Tim Welsh
George and Mary Dee Hicks
Jeff and Mary Werbalowsky
Jim and Norma Leslie
John and Lynn O’Neil
Julie and Doug Baker Jr. Foundation
Peter J. King Family Foundation
Pohlad Family
Smikis Foundation
The Corridoni Foundation for Agency and Self-Determination
$50,000-$99,999
Anonymous (1)
Colleen Hartmon Bollom and Pat Bollom
Kevin and Nancy Rhein
Laura and Paul Bergren
Oxbow Foundation
Racciatti Family Fund
Rolf and Nancy Engh
Soran Foundation
$20,000 - $49,999
Anonymous (5)
Amy and John Higgins
Amy Langer
Andrew Longen and Krista O’Malley
ARR Family Foundation
Barry and Kathleen Langton
Charlie and Sally Lannin
Christianson Family
Chuck Rottinghaus and Kirsten Voss
Dan and Mary O’Keefe
Dave and Sophie Miller
David Fiocco and Charlie Sellew
Don and Lisa Beaupre
Ed and Libby Hlavka
Greg and Lori McMillan
Jacqui and Ronald Mason
James and Kathy Ganley
Jim and Lauri Roberts
John W. Mooty Foundation
Karin Birkeland and Lee Mitau
Kirkland & Ellis Foundation
Knutson Construction
Krisbin Foundation
Lenzmeier Family Foundation
Maria and William Bloomfield
Paul and Mary Donovan
Rhonda and Rory O’Neill
$10,000 - $19,999
Anonymous (1)
Berit and Michael Francis
Brian and Erika Ginkel
Caroline Dayton
Cheryl Appeldorn and Tom Schnettler
Cristiana Giordano and David Kristal
David Miller and Jennifer Melin Miller
Dayton King Foundation
Doug and Nora O’Leary
Dr. Allan Stillerman
Helios Foundation
Janis Berman
Jay Cowles and Page Knudsen Cowles
Joel and Laurie Kramer
John and Susan Simon
Johnnie Hicks and Paige Kaping
Josephine Lawrence Hopkins Foundation
Kathy and Ward Armstrong
Lyle and Theresa Ward
Merle and Mort Kane
Shannon Evenstad
SKL Family Foundation
Spencer Family Foundation
The Jay & Rose Phillips Family Foundation of Minnesota
$5,000 - $9,999
Abigail MacKenzie Kerl and Ben Kerl
Anna and John Helms
Audrey and Jim Lucas
Baker Foundation
Ben and Mary Whitney
Bill and Meghan O’Keefe
Charles and Tara Maxwell
Christine Meuers
Clayton and Janna O’Toole
Craig Bentdahl and Stephanie Simon
Daron and Jamie Dolynchuk
David and Kiara Powell
David Wilson and Michael Peterman
Dianna and Joel Grebenick
Elizabeth Borman
Gigi and Ron Fingerhut
Google
Greg and Whitney Blasko
Hal Kaufman and Julie Berman
Jacob Fishman and Kimberly Lear
Jamie and Tammy Thingelstad
Jean and John Geisler
Jeff and Terri Greiner
Jen and Matthew Bertolatus
Jeremy Steiner
Jessica and Matt Scherer
John Larsen
Marshall & Elaine Siegel Foundation
Matt Mach and Rita Mehta
Maurice and Sally Blanks
McKinsey & Co.
Piper Sandler
Rob Albright
Robert Beach
Senator Tina Smith and Archie Smith
Sheri and Steve Lear
SPS Commerce
$1,000 - $4,999
Anonymous (1)
Aaron Pearson and Lisa Sheppard Pearson
Abbey Voelker
Adam and Hunter Wright
Aika Shoo and Alex Herman
Alix and Ben Aase
Amanda and Richard Thomson
Anna and Jacob Herd
Andrew Cholakian and Jessica Nordell
Andrew Hanson
Ann and Mark Schulze
Anna and Willie Argo
Bank of America
Barbara Lannin
Barry and Elizabeth Knight
Ben and Eva Rasmussen
Blakely and Ryan Petersen
Caitlin Van Kooten
Charlie and Emily Kelley
Christina and Alex Clark
David and Ann Heider
David and Cassie Benowitz
David and Jill Orbuch
David and Leni Moore
Deb Keeley and John E. Chadwick
Denise and Mark Rabogliatti
Eileen Supple and John Byom
Geoff Turgeon
Henry and Jessica Edelstein
Hilary Caligiuri
Jacqueline Crowley
James Bremer and Tim Manning
Jean Taylor
Jesse and Jessica Grittner
Jim and Peg Hicks
Justin Freiberg
Karen Grabow and Keith Halperin
Laura Fiedler
Mark and Rebecca Shavlik
Mary Burnton
Matthew Riggs
Microsoft
Mike Johnson
Mike McCloskey
Mike McHugh
Nordson CyberOptics
Pam Nightingale
Paul Cowdery
Robert Bruininks and Susan Hagstrum
Scott Beuning
Steve Beuning
UnitedHealth Group
UP TO $1,000
Anonymous (4)
Aaron Sojourner and Kathy Cassidy
Alexander Simpson
Amanda and Ryan Siewert
Andy Lenk
Arvind Sastry
Ashley Bakken-Martin and Matt Martin
Ben and Kendra Reichenau
Beth Silverwater and Norman Greenberg
Boston and Molly Cardinal
Brigitte Mussack and Mark Waller
Bruce Boyce and Sally Takala
Carrie Block
Cassie and Tom Jones
Charlie McGlynn
Chris Geyer
Christopher Rogers
Dana Marti
Daniel Frankowski
Dave Newman and Francesca Salvadori
David Oman and Laura Meier
Dawn Renner
Debora Slee
Deborah McNally
Deniz Cultu
Doreen Frankel and Jake Hurwitz
Douglas and Lori Weissman
Ela Rausch
Elastic Co.
Ellen Roos
Eric Roden
Fern Peterson
Gordon Paynter
Gregory Ruhland
Jamie Hanson
Jenna Cormier
Jennifer Berg
Julie and Kirk Mitchell
Kaitlyn Anderson
Kay Thomas
Kong Cheng Moua and Tiffany Xiong
Kristin Price
Kyle Lee
Laura Beth Landy
Lazard Middle Market LLC
Leif Selland
Linda Pascoe
Lisa and Norberto Moran
Maddy Morehouse
Maggie McCracken
Marg Penn
Martha Ballard and Paul Chrenka
Mary Cate Peris
Mary Honstead
Mary Jane Keller
Mary Mullen
Matthew Dalton
Max Willingham
Murid Amini
Nanilee Robarge
Natalie Johnson
Patricia Layton
Patty and Tom O’Reilly
Paul Manning
Premier Banks
Rebecca Pinard
Richard and Roxanne Penk
Richard Black
Samuel Cowan
Sarah Hauge
Sarah K. Oltmans
Scott Glickstein and Sydney Kase
Sheila Pearson
Spencer Lee
Stephanie Peterson
Rachel and Tal Ganani
Teri Berglund
The Dante Moreira Gilbert Fund
Theresa Hartson
Thomas Haller
Thomson Reuters
Toby Hammer
Todd Johnson
Tom & Patty Doar Foundation
Traci Beach
Will Lyle
William Hicks
