(St Cloud, MN) — June 27th, 2022 — “Central Minnesota is my hometown, I’ve grown up here in more ways than just one,” says Greta Stark-Kraker, the next Executive Director for the Central Minnesota Community Foundation (CMCF). “I believe that everyone should have a seat and a voice at the table, as I step into this new role, my goal is to bring our community together to focus on the greatest needs.”
From starting at CMCF as an administrative assistant nearly 20 years ago to now taking the reins of the Executive Director role, Greta’s past positions, education, colleagues and community mentors have all helped her grow into the professional we know today.
Most recently, Greta has been the Director of Donor Relations for the foundation, leading closely with Caryl Turnow, now retired CMCF Executive Director, to help donors with meeting their philanthropic goals. Along with developing relationships with donors and nonprofits, Greta has played an integral role in building the Women’s Fund of the Central Minnesota Community Foundation. The Women’s Fund dedicates its work to helping support women and girls in our community, Greta has been the first point of contact for all Women’s Fund volunteers. She frequently gives guidance on best practices and helps connect the fund with any resources they may need to further their goals.
Greta has built upon her relational leadership style being the lead staff for boards of CMCF’s community funds including the ROCORI, Paynesville and Foley Area Community Foundations, by helping each foundation develop and achieve their goals. Greta’s often said that the heart of the foundation lies within the community and it’s the job of the foundation to be the link that connects resources to ongoing needs.
“As I take on this new position, my goal is to help CMCF staff, board members and volunteers continue to provide a concierge level of engagement and commitment with our donors, nonprofit partners and the community as a whole. It’s CMCF’s mission to make sure we are engaging people, building our communities and connecting resources for our community now and for years to come. We are truly better together.”
Janet Grones, Board Chair of CMCF stated, “Greta is a natural fit for the role. Her ability to adapt and be a positive force within the Foundation is an essential quality for our new leader. Her enthusiasm and belief in the power of philanthropy will guide us as the Foundation continues to grow and meet the needs of our community.”
Steve Joul, President & CEO of CommunityGiving noted, “Greta has grown with her responsibilities at CMCF and CommunityGiving and we are absolutely thrilled and delighted to see her take on this new leadership role. She will bring her outstanding dedication and commitment to serving our donors, volunteers and the larger community to this new job.”
Outside of CMCF, Greta sits on the Association of Fundraising Professionals Central and Southwestern Minnesota Chapter and LEAF – Local Education Activities Foundation boards.
The Central Minnesota Community Foundation (CMCF) attracts and administers charitable funds for the benefit of the local community. Since 1985, CMCF has grown to over $110.5 million in assets and awarded over $122.5 million in grants to non-profits. The CMCF is governed by a local board of directors and is a partner of CommunityGiving, which is a collaborative of community foundations united under a single framework to create efficiencies that maximize the impact of our donors. Collectively, CommunityGiving administers over 880 funds totaling more than $200 million. Learn more at CommunityGiving.org/CentralMN.
