Frequently Asked Questions
Minnesota Kids Rise is a statewide, nonpartisan public awareness and engagement initiative focused on strengthening trust and increasing enthusiasm in Minnesota’s public schools and celebrating the students district staff and communities they serve. The initiative works to share positive, accurate, and student centered stories about public education while also acknowledging there are areas our public schools need to do better for students. We also support local districts and communities with communications resources and tools.
Public schools remain one of the most important institutions in Minnesota communities, but misinformation, growing polarization, and declining public trust have created challenges for schools across the state. Minnesota Kids Rise was created to provide a positive, yet accurate, fact-based, statewide voice that highlights the value of public education and the opportunities it creates for students, families, communities, and Minnesota’s future workforce.
No. Minnesota Kids Rise is a nonpartisan initiative focused on supporting public education and helping communities better understand the important role schools play in Minnesota. The initiative does not endorse political candidates or political parties and is focused on education, community engagement, and public awareness.
No. Minnesota Kids Rise is designed to complement local district communications. Local schools and districts know their communities best and continue to speak for themselves on local issues, decisions, and priorities. Minnesota Kids Rise provides statewide messaging, resources, and storytelling support that districts and organizations may choose to use or adapt. There could be times Minnesota Kids Rise assists districts in local storytelling, but only at the request of districts.
Minnesota Kids Rise is supported by a broad coalition of organizations and individuals who care about the future of Minnesota’s students and communities. Supporters include education organizations, school leaders, businesses, nonprofits, community organizations, workforce and economic development groups, philanthropic partners, and individuals who believe strong public schools are essential to a strong Minnesota. You can see our list of supporters here.
Strong public schools are directly connected to Minnesota’s economic future, workforce development, community vitality, and quality of life. Businesses and community organizations recognize that supporting students and public education helps strengthen local communities, prepare future employees and leaders, and maintain Minnesota’s long-standing reputation for educational excellence.
Minnesota Kids Rise focuses on:
- Sharing positive and accurate stories about Minnesota public schools and students
- Highlighting innovative programs, student achievement, and community partnerships
- Providing communications resources and toolkits for districts and organizations
- Supporting statewide public awareness campaigns
- Helping strengthen understanding and trust in public education
- Encouraging constructive community engagement around education
No. Minnesota Kids Rise is focused on broad statewide support for public education and does not engage in individual local district disputes, board disagreements, personnel matters, or partisan political debates.
Minnesota Kids Rise is a non-profit organization supported through voluntary contributions, sponsorships, grants, and donations from organizations, businesses, philanthropic foundations, and individuals who support public education and student success in Minnesota. Funding is used to support statewide communications efforts, public awareness campaigns, storytelling initiatives, research, marketing resources, and operational costs associated with the initiative.
The initiative is designed to operate transparently and collaboratively, with supporters representing a wide range of sectors and perspectives united around the importance of strong public schools.
Yes. Minnesota Kids Rise operates as a nonprofit initiative focused on supporting public education, community engagement, and public awareness efforts across Minnesota. The initiative is designed to bring together education, business, philanthropic, and community partners around a shared commitment to student success and strong public schools.
The Minnesota Kids Rise Fund is held at the Minneapolis Foundation in a component fund. Through this partnership, donations and charitable contributions made to support the initiative are administered through the Foundation in accordance with nonprofit and charitable giving regulations.
Fiscal sponsorship allows Minnesota Kids Rise to operate with nonprofit oversight, financial accountability, and administrative support while building long-term sustainability for the initiative. This structure also provides transparency for donors and allows philanthropic organizations, businesses, and individuals to support the work through a recognized nonprofit framework.
No. Minnesota Kids Rise is not funded by local school district operating budgets. Some education organizations that support Minnesota Kids Rise, such as statewide membership associations, receive membership dues from school districts as part of their broader work supporting public education, training, and advocacy. In some cases, those education associations have chosen to allocate a portion of their existing organizational resources to support Minnesota Kids Rise as part of their mission to strengthen public education in Minnesota.
Organizations and individuals can support Minnesota Kids Rise in several ways, including:
- Becoming a financial supporter or sponsor
- Sharing stories and positive examples from local schools and communities
- Participating in collaborative campaigns and initiatives
- Sharing Minnesota Kids Rise resources and content
- Helping amplify student success stories and public education achievements
Schools and districts may choose to share stories, utilize communications resources, participate in campaigns, or collaborate on highlighting successful programs and student achievements happening in their communities.
Minnesota Kids Rise is guided by education and community leaders working collaboratively to strengthen support for public education in Minnesota. The initiative includes participation and input from a variety of education, nonprofit, business, and community partners committed to student success and the future of Minnesota.
Minnesota’s public schools play a critical role in preparing future generations, supporting communities, and driving the state’s economy. At a time when public trust and civic understanding are increasingly challenged, Minnesota Kids Rise seeks to elevate accurate information, celebrate student success, and remind Minnesotans of the shared value and importance of public education.
Individuals and organizations interested in learning more, partnering with Minnesota Kids Rise, or supporting the initiative can contact the organization directly through the website’s contact page or follow future updates, campaigns, and community storytelling efforts as the initiative expands statewide.
Looking for tools, information, or ways to share this work?
Minnesota Kids Rise offers resources designed to help community leaders, educators, and advocates share clear, credible information about public schools.
Explore materials that are easy to use, locally relevant, and built to support conversations in your community.