January 7, 2008, HUDSON, WI – The St. Croix Valley Community Foundation announced today the result of their presidential search: Jane Hetland Stevenson has been named president of the Foundation, succeeding David H. Griffith.
Stevenson brings a long and distinguished national career in community building and foundation leadership, most recently as vice president for Philanthropic Services at a Phoenix-based consulting firm. Earlier in her career, she served as an associate director of The Aspen Institute in Washington D.C., and as executive director of the Arizona Community Action Association.
Leadership of the Hudson-based St. Croix Valley Community Foundation brings her back to a region she has served before: from 1989 through 1994, she was an associate professor in the Department of Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota; from 1979 to 1989, she worked for the State of Minnesota: first as a senior planning officer in the Minnesota State Planning Agency, and then as executive director of the Governor’s Rural Development Council.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled to be returning to the Midwest, and to the St. Croix Valley in particular,” Stevenson said. “I have fairly deep roots here through family and friends, and am honored and excited to have the opportunity to join the Foundation. It has a great history of both professional and volunteer leadership – and seems to me poised to grow dramatically both in assets and in its relevance to the people of the St. Croix Valley.”
The St. Croix Valley Community Foundation was established in 1995 by a group of Valley residents to provide an effective means for people who care about this unique region to be part of shaping its future. As of 2007, the Foundation has assets of approximately $15 million, and is active in grantmaking in five counties that border the St. Croix River – three in Wisconsin and two in Minnesota.
“As the Foundation recently completed a new strategic plan, we knew that finding the right president to succeed David Griffith as he retired was a critical success factor,” said Gretchen Stein, board chair. “In Jane Hetland Stevenson, we are confident that we have just the right leader – not only for our Foundation, but also a vital new civic voice in the Valley.”
Griffith served as president of the Foundation for seven years, and announced his intention to retire early in 2007. A presidential search committee, led by retired Andersen Windows executive Mike Johnson, began its work in August of 2007.
“It was gratifying to realize just what an attractive opportunity this was for many very impressive professionals,” Mike Johnson said. “We had literally dozens of very qualified applicants – both from the region and from across the country. The selection process helped us really focus on the needs of the Valley, and the corresponding needs of our Foundation. We are confident we found the right choice in Jane Hetland Stevenson: knowledge of the region; great experience in community foundations; real enthusiasm for both suburban and rural community-building strategies. So we are thrilled that she said ‘yes’ to our offer!”
Stevenson joins the Foundation effective January 8.
This October the Foundation will launch
the Nonprofit Management Assistance Grant
program designed to help nonprofits deal
with change, bolster their governance or
conduct an array of projects that would
enhance their operations or effectiveness
in reaching their missions.
Grants will range up to $2,500 and are
available to eligible nonprofit organizations
in Polk, St Croix and Pierce counties in
Wisconsin and Washington and Chisago counties
in Minnesota. Grant
guidelines and application
form are available online.
The Nonprofit Management Assistance Grants
are one component of the Foundation's Community
Partnership Initiative, a program supported
by the Otto Bremer Foundation.
In June 2004 the St. Croix Valley Community
Foundation was recognized for meeting the
Council on Foundation's National Standards
for U.S. Community Foundations. Certification
is only granted to foundations that meet
each of forty-four standards of excellence.
It demonstrates that a foundation is accountable,
connects donor gifts with charitable needs,
and honors donors' charitable intentions.
"Receiving certification is a notable
achievement," remarked former President David
Griffith. "It demonstrates the professionalism
our board has applied since we were founded
in 1995 and it is an important milestone
in the life of this foundation."
The National Standards were created by
the Council on Foundations the national
association for private, family and community
foundations. They are designed to encourage
excellence, ensure consistency, and to articulate
the value community foundations provide
to donors and their communities. Certification
involves a process of voluntary self-assessment
followed by a rigorous review by other community
foundations attentive to best practices
in the field.
The St. Croix Valley Community Foundation
named Jill A. Shannon as its Director
of Community Partnerships, effective February
4, 2004.
Jill comes to the Foundation to launch
its new Community Partnership initiative,
a program designed to strengthen local nonprofit
organizations. "Nonprofit leaders,
staff and volunteers bring passion and talent
to address a wealth of services and causes
in our region," said President, David
Griffith. "Our goal is to provide Nonprofits
with training, technical assistance, and
grant funding that will better help them
carry out their missions, to support our
affiliated community funds and to connect
effective Nonprofits to our donors' charitable
interests."
"I've worked with a range of nonprofit
organizations ranging from rural grassroots
organizations, large agencies and community-based
initiatives," Jill reported. "It
has given me a deep appreciation for the
day-to-day reality of voluntary endeavors.
I look forward to working with new and established
organizations as they are the heart of community
action and service delivery in our region."
Previously, Jill was a consultant with
Greater Twin Cities United Way helping nonprofit
agencies build their skills in program evaluation.
She also worked at Search Institute in Minneapolis,
supporting communities build initiatives
around positive youth development. She lives
in Baytown Township and worked for numerous
health and human service agencies, community
collaborative and grassroots organizations
serving rural communities in Northern California
before making the St. Croix Valley her home.
Jill recently completed her Ph.D. in Educational
Policy at the University of Minnesota.
