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Industry Insight
Measuring Impact & Planning Growth
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Nancy Zallek, President and CEO of Mankato Area Foundation (MAF), likes to measure success by the impact of charitable giving in her region. When she joined MAF in 2009, it had a little over $2M in assets. And because of that, their annual granting to regional nonprofit organizations ranged from $80K to $100K.
Flash forward to 2022, the Foundation now has assets of more than $30 million, and annual granting well exceeds $2 million. Zallek, however, does not measure success strictly in funds granted.
Under her leadership, MAF strives to elevate philanthropy as a resource for defining and advancing solutions to the community’s most pressing challenges and opportunities. “Our strategic goals are to build and share knowledge, strengthen nonprofit capacity, and create an impact that leads to a more vibrant, prosperous, and welcoming region – today, and into perpetuity,” Zallek says.
In 2009 Zallek joined MAF as its first paid executive. Before that, it was a volunteer-run organization. “When I started, I was hired for 25 hours a week, and the only other person was our accountant who was contracted for 8 hours,” Zallek says. Together with the Board of Directors, the priority at the time
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was developing a clear strategic plan that emphasized creating the necessary infrastructure to support MAF’s vision – to be the trusted philanthropic resource for local donors and nonprofit organizations.
The Foundation’s growth also means they now have a team of six, all working in various areas of charitable giving and community impact. Each team member strives to ensure MAF is a knowledgeable and innovative community foundation working to promote philanthropy, strengthen the region, and improve lives. “I am incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by such talented co-workers,” says Zallek, “The Foundation has benefited significantly from their commitment to our work.”
However, Zallek emphasizes that charitable giving is highly personal and takes time. “The role we are most passionate about is the opportunity to engage every day with individuals and families wanting to make a difference through charitable giving,” Zallek says. She points out that each individual/ family is incredibly unique in how they want to give back. “I often say, “when you’ve met one donor, you’ve met one donor.”
“So, if we can identify what gets them excited about philanthropy, I know the community will benefit,” Zallek adds, “If we can leverage that knowledge, our relationships, and resources, we can improve the lives of our neighbors and address our area’s most pressing needs.”
The MAF team does not always have fixed working hours or regular days. On any day, they can be collaborating with a regional nonprofit, working closely with a donor regarding their charitable footprint, strategizing with the board, or talking with a local university class. “It’s the variety, the significance of the discussions, and the Foundation’s ability to help meet needs that gets us excited to come to work,” Zallek says.
Since Zallek started with MAF, it has changed significantly, but she believes that this change is just the tip of the iceberg. Along with her team, she feels that there will always be a need to be responsive, creative, and visionary, and they are committed to expanding MAF’s regional impact. Her personal goal for the organization is to make sure that in the future, the Foundation is in a position to continue to grow and evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of the region. “As this region continues to transform, so will MAF.”
