Meg Payne Nelson
The Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota (CCF) is happy to announce the promotion of Meg Payne Nelson to the newly established role of Vice President of Impact. Meg has served CCF’s mission for the last five years as Program Officer. In her new role as Vice President of Impact, Meg will oversee CCF’s grantmaking strategy, including charity screening, impact goal setting, and grant program design.
Since joining CCF in 2015, Meg has streamlined CCF’s grantmaking programs and cycles significantly. After conducting a survey to identify the most pressing needs facing our Catholic community, Meg led the CCF Grants Committee in defining three strategic impact goals that address each of CCF’s three mission areas — spiritual, educational, and social. “These goals of revitalizing parishes, building the capacity of Catholic schools, and serving vulnerable populations through parish ministries reinforce one another in beautiful and efficient ways,” says Meg. “Supporting parish ministries can engage parishioners in meaningful service to those in greatest need, and revitalizing parishes can increase enrollment in parochial schools.”
“Meg has been a force, establishing grantmaking practices that are clear as well as considerate of our grantees’ capacity and resources,” says CCF President Anne Cullen Miller. “As an avid researcher and willing listener, she’s a fount of community insights, ensuring our grantmaking is both relevant and responsive.”
CCF’s relevant and responsive grantmaking is readily apparent in the new and timely Minnesota Catholic Relief Fund (MCRF). This fund was created in response to the declining plate collections many Minnesota parishes were experiencing while public Masses were suspended due to the pandemic. Just a few short weeks later, grief and outrage swept through our streets in the form of peaceful protests and destructive riots sparked by the unjust death of George Floyd. As a result, many of our neighbors experienced displacement, distress, and a lack of access to basic necessities like food and medicine. The MCRF Advisory Committee, skillfully led by Meg, created the Neighbors in Need subfund to expand the MCRF’s capacity to meet the most urgent needs of our community.
“It’s been a privilege to work alongside Meg in expanding CCF’s impact over the last several years,” says Anne. “Her passion for our mission, her knowledge of Catholic morality and social teaching, and her care for our shared faith and community position Meg perfectly to be CCF’s first Vice President of Impact. I am excited to continue advancing CCF’s mission alongside her in this new capacity.”
If you have questions or would like to congratulate Meg, you can contact her at 651.389.0882 or nelsonm@ccf-mn.org.