A close-to-30-year-old environmental non-profit has closed its doors
Officially, the Boundary Waters Preservation Association is closing down.
(FOX 9) – Daydreaming of summer sunshine and trips to the Boundary Waters, it’s fair to say this and dozens of other natural treasures across our state have in some way benefited from the Minnesota Environmental Fund (MEF).
Rylee Hince stated to FOX 9 that “the boundary waters remain so pristine because they have groups protecting it.”
Hince is a member of MEF’s board and said that the long-standing nonprofit is officially closing. All partner groups have received final checks.
Structured similar to the United Way, MEF relied heavily on workplace giving through people’s paychecks. Since 1991 MEF has directed more than $14 million toward protecting Minnesota’s air, land and waterways while also combating against climate change and advocating environmental justice.
“It’s been a resource for especially some of the smaller nonprofits doing work in Minnesota,” Hince said. “They wouldn’t necessarily have access to those kind of funds without this sort of umbrella organization that is allowing those funds to pass through.”
“We have many members who came to MEF,” said Pete Marshall (communications director for Friends of the Boundary Waters).
Friends of the Boundary Waters (FOB) is one of 20 partner organisations that have had to diversify their fundraising efforts because of changing styles of giving. MEF has experienced a decline in donations, which have fallen from approximately half a million dollars a ten-year ago to just $10,000.
Marshall states that even with fewer dollars, MEF collaboration within non-profit sector will be a significant loss.
Marshall stated that a large part of that was reducing administrative costs. “You have to spend a little money in order to make money for any nonprofit. So through MEF it wasn’t a lot of work we had to put on our end to receive those donations.”
Hince hopes that individual donors will continue to remember the importance of nonprofits, even when there is change.
“It’s sad to see something that has been so helpful for Minnesota’s environment go away” Hince said.
You can find a list of MEF partner charities that you can donate to. Click HERE.
