WHO WE ARE

The Constellation Fund was created to find, fund, and partner with the most impactful poverty-fighting organizations in the Twin Cities. We are evidence-directed, heart-driven, and community-informed.

Constellation supports organizations yielding demonstrable results for individuals living in poverty in the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area.

STAFF

The Constellation Fund has a growing staff of individuals committed to identifying and investing in the most impactful poverty-fighting assets in the Twin Cities.

Rose Carr

Impact Officer

Andrew Dayton

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Jose Diaz, Ph.D.

Chief Impact Officer

Amal Karim

Impact Officer

Zoe Stern

Director of Engagement

Carsen Verdin

Operations Manager

LEADERSHIP SUPPORTERS

Our Board of Directors and Leadership Funders have generously underwritten our administrative and operational costs so that every dollar donated to the Constellation Fund will directly support the most impactful poverty-fighting organizations in the Twin Cities.

Susan Bass Roberts*

Pohlad Family Foundation

Andrew Dayton*

The Constellation Fund

Eric Dayton*

Askov Finlayson

MayKao Hang*

Amherst H. Wilder Foundation

Stephen Hemsley*

UnitedHealth Group

Wendy Nelson*

The Carlson Family Foundation

Marcia Page*

Värde Partners

Robert Pohlad

Pohlad Companies

Lynne Redleaf*

Lynne & Andrew Redleaf Foundation

Phil Soran

Soran Foundation

Tim Welsh*

U.S. Bancorp
* Denotes Board Member

CONSTELLATION IMPACT COUNCIL

The Constellation Impact Council works to continuously develop and improve Constellation’s evidence-driven evaluation framework, helping to ensure that best-in-class metrics are used to bolster our grantmaking.

Aaron Sojourner, Ph.D.

Carlson School of Management

Judy Temple, Ph.D.

Humphrey School of Public Affairs and the Department of Applied Economics

Mark Wright, Ph.D.

Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

Richard Chase, Ph.D.

Amherst H. Wilder Foundation

PARTNERS

The Constellation Fund is grateful to partner with a number of incredible organizations whose generous support makes our work possible.

Amherst H. Wilder Foundation
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
Bold Orange
Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Winthrop & Weinstine
Carlson School of Management
McKinsey & Company

VALUES

The Constellation Fund is driven by a core set of values, which inspire and inform every aspect of our work.

Objectivity

We make every decision with one question in mind: what will have the greatest impact for those living below the poverty line in the Twin Cities?
We go to great lengths to carefully select our partners, and then we trust them.
We make informed, reasoned choices in the face of ambiguity or pressure.
We seek to identify root causes and to move beyond treating symptoms.

Courage

We follow the best available evidence, even when it’s uncomfortable.
We are willing to be respectfully critical of the status quo.
We make tough decisions, take smart risks, and are open to possible failures.
We question actions inconsistent with our values.

Innovation

We challenge prevailing assumptions and suggest better approaches.
We use effective tools and new insights to better address pressing challenges.
We appreciate stability but welcome disruption and thrive on progress.

Impact

We strive relentlessly to improve our organization and our community.
We invite and accomplish remarkable amounts of meaningful work.
We engender confidence by demonstrating consistent results.

Inclusion

We seek and embrace diverse perspectives to make better decisions.
We recognize that we all have biases and work to grow past them.
We prioritize cooperation and build strong partnerships.

Communication

We are detail-oriented and take pride in our internal and external interactions.
We listen well and seek to deeply understand before reacting.
We provide polite, candid, and timely feedback to colleagues and partners.
We share information and assets openly and proactively.

Integrity

We treat everyone with kindness, respect, and compassion.
We admit mistakes freely and openly.
We make time to help colleagues and give due credit to our partners.