Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Inc

Programs

1. Education: MCN strives to provide educational events, networking opportunities, and publications that center equity and respond to the expressed needs, interests, and experiences of individual organizations to support the growth, health, and future of the sector and its people. In 2025, MCN sponsored approximately 97 public events with over 9,120 total attendees. The majority of MCN's workshops were offered virtually in response to member feedback and choice. Our 2025 Annual Conference was held with registration across the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors of 1,300 people. The Annual Conference, Nonprofit Leadership Conference, and Nonprofit Fundraising Conference each sold out. Our Finance and Sustainability Conference remained virtual and had 447 attendees. Other paid and free events focused on a wide range of topics including voter engagement, equity and justice, cybersecurity, mental health and inclusive practices in the workplace, board governance and financial literacy, storytelling for successful communications and fundraising, effective and healthy leadership, and more. In 2025, MCN continued its role as a researcher and publisher, releasing the annual 2025 Minnesota…

   $812,297 spent$634,449 earned by the program
   24% of program spending

2. Public Policy and Civic Engagement: MCN builds the capacity of nonprofit leaders to be confident and competent voices on issues impacting their constituents and communities by providing them with workshops, briefings, and other informational resources. MCN's Minnesota Budget Project educated nonprofits, decision-makers, the media, and the public on budget, tax, and economic policy issues through a range of activities. In 2025, MCN offered public policy training and information series attended by several hundred participants that included presentations on nonprofit advocacy, state agencies,as well as conversations with elected and appointed officials including federal leaders on policy and administrative actions that impact nonprofits and the communities they serve.

   $1,000,281 spentof which $530,000 as grants$535,316 earned by the program
   30% of program spending

3. Membership: In 2025, 2,119 charitable organizations, 245 businesses, 48 individuals, and 4 foundation memberships contributed dues to support the full array of MCN's work priorities. MCN members receive discounts on publications, in-person and virtual workshops, and full-day conferences. Additionally, nonprofit members have access to free postings on MCN's highly trafficked job board and up to two free resource publications from MCN's available catalog. In 2025, MCN members posted 9,197 free staff, board, volunteer, and intern openings on MCN's job board. Through the use of free member publication vouchers, MCN nonprofit members requested and received 728 free copies of regularly updated publications in 2025. Publications accessed include the 2025 Minnesota Grants Directory, 2024 Minnesota Nonprofit Salary & Benefits Survey, Minnesota Nonprofit Legal Handbook, Handbook for Starting a Successful Nonprofit, and Principles and Practices for Nonprofit Excellence. MCN also capitalizes on the group purchasing power of its members to negotiate lower prices and better service on many products and services that nonprofits need, including banking, insurance, health plans, grant seeking…

   $437,356 spentof which $9,826 as grants$1,230,817 earned by the program
   13% of program spending

4. Research: With the support of MCN's nonprofit members and charitable contributions from foundations and corporations, MCN studies nonprofit sector trends and shares this research with members, other nonprofits, decision-makers, and the media. In 2025, MCN shared information widely on Minnesota's nonprofit sector, demonstrating the economic impact of nonprofits on the state's economy and challenges faced by nonprofits through three published research reports, public presentations, media citations, and more. MCN also conducts nonpartisan research and analysis on tax, budget, and economic issues through the Minnesota Budget Project. The Minnesota Budget Project's analysis particularly focused on state and federal policy choices and economic trends that impact low- and moderate-income Minnesotans and communities of color, budget and policy choices that impact Minnesotans' access to prosperity and economic opportunity, the contributions of Minnesota's immigrants to the economy and local communities, and progress toward a fair and sustainable tax system.

   $694,041 spentof which $10,000 as grants
   21% of program spending

5. Advocacy: MCN undertakes nonpartisan advocacy efforts to strengthen the nonprofit sector and its ability to serve communities throughout Minnesota. MCN's major advocacy efforts in 2025 included advocacy in support of public availability of data on the nonprofit sector, and federal charitable giving tax incentives, as well as educating lawmakers on the impacts of reforms to state grantmaking and oversight of state grants to nonprofits. MCN's Minnesota Budget Project identifies and advances public policies to make Minnesota a place where all can thrive, especially in the areas of tax, budget, and economic policy. The Minnesota Budget Project's 2025 federal and state policy priorities included protecting Minnesotans' inclusive access to basic needs services (including affordable health care and food assistance) and educating on the harm to Minnesotans' well-being that would occur if funding for these services is eroded by large tax cuts.

   $371,824 spentof which $5,000 as grants$5,333 earned by the program
   11% of program spending

The 5 programs described on its FY2025 Form 990, listed largest first by expense. Program spending in total: $3,315,799.