Minneapolis Regional Chamber Development Foundation

Causes: Community & Neighborhood Development, Economic Development

Mission: The mission of the minneapolis chamber of commerce development foundation is to offer innovative ways of reducing unemployment, improve educational opportunities for disadvantaged youth, initiate and conduct leadership development programs and promote efforts that enhance the quality of life and leadership skills in the minneapolis and st. Paul areas.

Programs: Economic development: through the minneapolis regional chamber development foundation, the chamber engages in an ongoing initiative to address a regional transit system.

leadership twin cities: each year, leadership twin cities takes a cohort of 50+ high potential individuals through a nine-month program of civic education and leadership skills development. The program's mission is to identify, cultivate and inspire succesive generations of community leaders, by examining critical issues and resources, to ensure the social, cultural, and economic prosperity of the minneapolis-saint paul region. For more than 40 years, leadership twin cities has informed more than 2,000 civic leaders about the critical issues facing the region. Participants spend one day each month from september-may exploring topics such as economic development, education, arts and culture, community safety, health care and government.

keystone: minnesota keystone program promotes corporate philanthropy by recognizing and honoring companies that donate at least 2% of their pre-tax earnings to charitable organizations. Qualifying companies have an operating presence in minnesota and donate cash, in-kind donations, including pro-bono services, and/or employee paid volunteer time. Minnesota keystone companies receive recognition on the minnesota keystone website and at an annual event. Minnesota keystone has been operating consistently since 1976 and is a great reflection of minnesota's spirit of generosity and sense of community.

bloomington future leaders: provides scholarships and mentoring opportunities to students at jefferson and kennedy high schools in bloomington, mn. Students in pre-business classes take part in two one-day business conferences, one in the fall and one in the winter, as well as have the chance to participate in mock interviews in the spring. Chamber volunteers provide students with insights about their fields and career choices, act as interviewers, and take part in scholarship application review and interview process. This program works in partnership with bloomington isd #271.